personal
looking future 2024
one step forward, two steps forward
essay
not my business
on those who put the "business" back into "LGBTQ+ business"
essay
the power of 'Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles'
this is a collaborative post: concepts and words by Jamie Martinez and josh martinez. I’m so excited to unveil my 200th post for be the future. It’s wild that I’ve been at this for more than four years. I couldn’t have done it without the love
personal
all that i didn’t do
Two months is a long time to be away from a routine. I shared back in January that I’d be away for a couple months. I stepped back from work, and this blog, and many more responsibilities during that time. Before I left, I thought I was fortunate because
working
the host with the most
This post is narrated! Listen below… I like socializing among many different groups. Some of my friends I’ve met through work. Others I met in school. Still others started out as friends of friends that I made into my own. I also love hosting parties, the bigger the better.
personal
looking future 2023
I’ve been writing here on be the future for four years! I have written nearly 200 posts since I started blogging in 2019. Over the years, these posts have helped me refine my ideas and explore new ones I’ve learned about. They’re also an avenue for me
essay
decision to leave
This post is narrated! listen below… I had a situation gnawing at me for the better part of a year. I was working with a group for several months and had a good rapport with almost everyone. One person in particular was stirring conflict in ways I struggled to respond
working
time for introductions
This post is narrated! Listen below… Every month I join an affinity group for BIPOC folks that’s hosted by my faves SeattleWorks. My pal Clara told me about them a couple years ago. This year, with my business secure and time less frantic, I started attending more often. They’
personal
pride and liberation
I still remember the afternoon of the day I came out as gay. There were rumors floating around my family. A few of my friends had guessed the truth before that night, but I denied it was true. That afternoon I felt terrified. I spent years hiding who I was.
essay
visions of safety
Last year I joined a coalition of small-business owners whose members are LGBTQIA+. They recently advertised a forum on community safety. Safety is a high-priority topic in most major cities these days. Lots of people live in cities; local media loves covering things that scare people. The forum featured three
working
the right stuff
A lot of nonprofits collect more data than they know what to do with. We might have a cool idea for a survey question. Or a foundation that’s giving us money asks us to collect it. Sometimes an off-hand request from the ED sends the staff down a data
personal
looking future 2022
What a year 2022 was. I launched my own business! I got covid and the flu. My grandmother and then my cat Waffles passed away. I’ve gotten older and hopefully a little wiser. I’ve found myself coming into a new form of power. I noticed this year that
