11: What Brings You Hope

With our constant news cycle that is constantly filled with negative news, it’s important to remember what brings us hope in our lives. Claire, Jessica and Laine are joined by Stella Keating to talk about what brings them hope in dark times. Much of what is discussed today is the hope that young people bring to many of us in the fight for justice. Stella is a trans youth who is taking a role in politics, she has been involved in numerous political actions and is deeply involved in the fight for trans rights and recognition in U.S. law. The energy and motivation that young people continue to bring into the world is admirable and definitely something that we need in our current climate. 

Stella is a part of a new nonprofit, Gendercool (https://gendercool.org/), that aims to share powerful and positive stories on who transgender kids and their peer allies are rather than what they are. This project is illuminating as it seeks to build understanding through storytelling about the accomplishments of young remarkable leaders. Another group of young people who give us hope are the Planned Parenthood Teen Council (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest-hawaiian-islands/education/teen-council) , who advocate for LGBTQ inclusive sex ed and peer-to-peer education.

Laine brought up travel as something that gives her hope. Sustainable and equitable travel is deeply important to broadening your horizons and meeting people you would never talk to is invaluable. There are also so many organizations doing great things in conjunction with travel – in Vienna is Magdas Hotel (https://www.magdas-hotel.at/en/ ) which takes refugees in and educates them on travel and tourism, teaching them the ins and outs of running a hotel. In addition to all of that, the hotel’s furniture is built from recycled materials (#zerowaste). Another cool travel organization is Copenhagen’s Street Voices (https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/street-voices-gdk1092925), which employs people experiencing homelessness as tour guides to show tourists a different side of the city. Travel allows you to meet people you would never meet and hear perspectives you never could before.

What gives us hope is connecting with other people and finding both our similarities and differences. What gives you hope?

A special thank you to this episode’s sponsor – Move to Tacoma (http://www.movetotacoma.com/)!