jimcollinsfoundation.org

footnote 2

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:21:44 +0000

Jim Collins Foundation urges health insurance carriers and healthcare providers in the US to eliminate transgender exclusions and to provide coverage for transgender patients and the medically necessary prescribed sex reassignment services necessary for treatment and well-being, and to ensure that their ongoing health care is readily accessible.

matthew blinstrubas

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:04:55 +0000

Matt lives in New York and dedicates much of his time to working for equality for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions. After graduating from the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in Social Justice in the American Experience, Matt has gone on to work in various capacities for organizations that serve LGBT youth, advocated to enact legislation to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in the state of Connecticut as well as to secure the freedom to marry for same sex couples in CT, that work to address LGBT sexual health needs, and for HIV prevention and care for people with HIV/AIDS. Matt is shamelessly addicted to musical theater and can often be found in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn or the East Village.

Julie Thibodaux

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:03:21 +0000

Julie Thibodaux is a young activist and Trans-ally from New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently serving as the Education and Outreach Coordinator of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Julie lobbies state legislators, educates the general public about civil liberties, and maintains contact with a large network of progressive activists across the South. She is regularly asked to appear on television and radio programs in Louisiana. As a lifelong devout Catholic, Julie believes that central to the Church’s teachings on Catholic social justice is not only an acceptance of our differences, but a celebration of the diverse human beings God has created—in all of our beautiful shapes and sizes. Julie has a J.D. and two B.A.s from Loyola University of New Orleans. She is very excited about her new role on the board, and looks forward to contributing her passion for equality, enthusiasm for transgender issues, and proud sense of Southern hospitality.

Stephanie Houle

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:06:19 +0000

Stephanie serves as the Treasurer of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. She graduated from Bay Path College with her MS in Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy, after receiving her BA in General Psychology. Full-time, Stephanie works in the Office of Diversity at Baystate Health in Western Massachusetts where she actively engages employees at all levels to create an inclusive environment where all employees are able to bring their whole selves to work. Stephanie also runs the Western Massachusetts Transgender Providers Network, which seeks to bring together healthcare providers working with the transgender community and provide them with a source of support and further education about their work. Additionally, she consults with various organizations to help them create trans-inclusive space for their employees. Stephanie spends her spare time with her husband, their rambunctious puppy, and queer books.

justin adkins

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:06:56 +0000

justin adkins is a trans activist and website developer living in Williamstown, MA. In 2008 he joined Williams College as the Queer Life Coordinator where he coordinates LGBT programing, advises students and advocates for LGBT inclusive policies on campus and beyond. justin was part of the steering committee for New England’s first-ever Transgender Pride March and Rally in June 2008, which was attended by a thousand people in Northampton, Massachusetts. He serves on the boards of the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition, and Bennington Pride. A student of the Buddhist teacher Noah Levine, justin is the founder and facilitator of the peer led meditation group, Berkshire Dharma Punx, in Williamstown.

justin is a regular speaker at high schools and colleges in the North East. His talks focus on LGBT terminology and his trainings are founded in radical queer feminist theory. justin is also an active member of the IWW and is passionate about anti-politics and community organizing, especially in rural New England.

In his spare time justin is a full-time website developer building small business and non-profit websites with Brainspiral Technologies.

www.justinadkins.com

Vanessa Pomarico, APRN

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:06:11 +0000

Vanessa Pomarico is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Women’s Health. She is a guest lecturer for the Yale School of Nursing and Southern Connecticut State University Nurse Practitioner programs. She is a preceptor for their nurse practitioner students. She is the past president of the Mu Beta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and has also served on the board for the Connecticut APRN Society. Vanessa is the co-author of two nursing pathophysiology textbooks and has presented her lectures numerous times at a variety of schools and conferences on transgender health. She currently provides a full spectrum of health care at Medical Associates of North Haven.

Nancy E. Kirk, LICSW

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:05:44 +0000

Nancy E. Kirk, LICSW is an experienced psychotherapist and Gender Specialist practicing in Western Massachusetts. She received her MSW from Smith College School for Social Work and was trained in gender issues by Diane Ellaborn, LICSW, an advocate and pioneer in the trans community. Currently in private practice, she sees adults and adolescents, couples and families, from all ends of the gender spectrum. She also specializes in treating mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, and addictions. Her therapy style, while informed by psychodynamic theories, is primarily relational with a strengths-based practical approach. Attending conferences, trainings, and peer supervision groups, she keep up to date on the most recent developments in caring for the trans-community as well as in her other specialties.

note 1

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:55:56 +0000

Rachel Pepper

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:28:20 +0000

Rachel Pepper is a well known community activist and writer. She and her daughter recently moved back to the west coast after spending five years in CT where Rachel was the coordinator of LGBT Studies at Yale University. Currently, Rachel has gone back to school to get her Masters in Counseling in Community Mental Health. She hopes to work with gender variant and transgender youth as a licensed MFT upon graduation. Rachel is the author of three nonfiction books and the longtime book editor of Curve magazine. She lives with her daughter Frances in Oakland and San Francisco, California.
The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals (Cleis 2008)
The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life (Princeton Review 2006)
The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy for Lesbians (Cleis 1999)

www.rachel-pepper.com

Kim Watson

webadmin@brainspiral.com — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:01:39 +0000

Kim Watson has recently been appointed to be the chair-person for the New York City Prevention Planning Group in New York City’s Transgender Advisory Committee. Kim has recently completed being filmed for a documentary featuring non- smokers which was directed by Stephen Israel to be used as a learning tool for New York City’s LGBT Center smoking cessation project. She is the Founder of Community Kinship Life, an up-rising 501(c) 3 foundation (State incorporated) which provides a web site with resources on an international level. Kim is also a political activist and has worked with Trans Justice , a political group created by and for Trans and Gender Non-conforming people of color, a new project of The Audre Lorde Project which is a LGBTST People of Color community organizing center in New York City. Ms. Watson sits on several boards for HIV/AIDS along with other health related issues affecting the transgender community.

She is quoted as saying “You can own your achievements, but at the same time you have to learn to give it back to the community.”