In this episode, community connector and educator Carey Gibbons (she/they) shares trauma-informed and cultural humility strategies from their work with LGBTQ+ communities, people experiencing homelessness, and trauma-impacted individuals. Carey highlights how these strategies shows up in action—grounded in safety, mutual trust, collaborative care, and genuine human connection.

From medical systems to street outreach, Carey challenges us to shift from transactional to relational care, create inclusive spaces in binary systems, and remember that real impact happens when we walk with, not for, others. 

Learn more about Carey:

Carey Gibbons is a passionate community advocate and leader with over a decade of experience advancing equity for marginalized populations, with a strong focus on the LGBTQ+ community. As Director of LGBTQ Navigation at the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), Carey led transformative outreach, education, and advocacy efforts to support unhoused LGBTQ+ individuals—building vital partnerships and creating pathways to safety, stability, and dignity.

In July 2025, Carey will make history as the first-ever LGBTQ Liaison for the City of Cleveland, where they will continue their work as a trusted connector, fierce advocate, and champion for visibility, inclusion, and policy change.

Carey’s career includes impactful roles at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and the May Dugan Center, where they provided trauma-informed care, coordinated life-changing resources, and deepened community ties. A firm believer in joy as resistance, Carey is also an active member of Stonewall Sports, where they bring people together through sport and shared purpose.

Carey’s work is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, safe, and supported.

Connect with Carey: 

Email: [email protected]

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