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Joy, Backlash, and the Bravery of Youth with Domenico Ruggiero #45
37 Plays17 days ago
Domenico Ruggiero shares with co-hosts Hunter and Mattie Bynum how his leadership began “at the margins” as a first-gen, biracial, queer student from an immigrant background who often felt like he didn’t fully belong anywhere. He describes becoming a bridge-builder across siloed campus spaces, a throughline that shaped his career in multicultural and LGBTQ centers before leading We Are Family in South Carolina. Domenico reflects on how working alongside queer and trans youth has helped him find language for parts of himself he hadn’t named before. Throughout, Hunter and Mattie keep it playful and real while staying rooted in what it takes to build community that’s life-affirming and life-saving.
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Transcript
Acting Against Oppression and Embracing DEI
00:00:00
Speaker
I think we just can't be neutral in the phrase of this oppression. Now is the time to double down on DEI rather than lick retreat from it The idea that we just can't let sort of like this fear-based narratives to dictate policy, dictate decision-making rather than sort of like lived experience data.
00:00:22
Speaker
Pride was never meant to just be paraded in parties. It was a protest. And so I think that by getting back to basics, we have to protect trans lives, defend queer joy, fund grassroots organizations, and refuse respectability politics. All the things that can come at the price for acceptance.
Introduction to 'Power Beyond Pride' Podcast
00:00:43
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Power Beyond Pride, a weekly queer change making podcast bringing you voices and ideas from across our fierce and fabulous spectrum to transform our world. I'm a Hunter and I am this week's fruit fairy delivering all the delicious goods. And I am Maddie Bynum, the host with the most actress, comedian and lover of fruit. So I cannot wait, Hunter. Yes.
00:01:08
Speaker
Let's get started
Meet Domenico Ruggiero - Transformative Leader
00:01:09
Speaker
on this journey. So on this episode, we are focusing on the lovely, beautiful Domenico Ruggiero, which rhymes in cheerio. That's what I was told earlier. So speaking of fruity pebbles and everything, yes, we love it.
00:01:24
Speaker
However, but he is a transformative leader, social justice educator and strategist and executive director of We Are Family. Welcome, Domenico.
00:01:35
Speaker
Hello, hello. Thank you for that. Welcome, Hunter and Maddie. It's great to be here. I am a proud fruit consumer over here. And so I will take some some peaches from your basket. Yeah.
00:01:48
Speaker
thank You know, I am a southern Georgia peach. So, yeah, even I'm from North Carolina, but I will consider Georgia peaches. Mm hmm. And I mean, honestly, so for context, y'all that are tuning in to us before we got on the air, we were talking about one of my favorite hobbies, which is jam making. And it's just kind of like leading into the conversation. So this is a little heads up.
00:02:12
Speaker
So, yeah, thank you for joining us today.
Domenico's Journey and Leadership for Youth
00:02:14
Speaker
For those of you who might not be familiar with your journey, could you please share your story of being a leader for low income and BIPOC youth and how you provide them with social support they need to develop their leadership qualities?
00:02:25
Speaker
Absolutely. Absolutely. So a little bit of context and I'll talk a little bit about like how I came to do what I do and why it's important. So we are family. We are a grassroots nonprofit. We are based in South Carolina and we are the oldest nonprofit in the state that provides life-saving, life-saving programs for queer and trans young people that have a lasting and measurable impact with a focus on those who are BIPOC and or like lower income.
00:02:49
Speaker
um We are a team, we are a boots to the ground nonprofit. I've been leading the organization and the executive director to role for this past four years in a week. And we have grown from a team of two to a team of nine now and doing all the things needed to support our youth South Carolina.
00:03:10
Speaker
And so a little bit about how I came to do this work. So My story didn't start in leadership. It started at the margins. So during my formative years when I was in college, I was, as you would imagine, a first-gen, biracial, queer student from an immigrant background, and i often felt like I didn't belong sort of anywhere.
00:03:31
Speaker
I was constantly navigating spaces where parts of me were either invisible or questioned. And so early on, I struggled to find my voice, not because I didn't have anything to say, but because I didn't find a place to say it so navigating sort of navigating those col a small private little work school in upstate new york it was i felt like i was seen as too queer in some communities of color spaces and sort of like too brown or other in queer spaces you know so it was sort of like a an outsider experience sort of
00:04:08
Speaker
was a powerful lesson in that community doesn't have to be one dimensional and it can be built in sort of like the
Intersectionality and Community Connection
00:04:15
Speaker
in-between. So things started to shift for me when I threw myself into leadership roles. I was a student intern at our student of color cultural center, our LGBTQ center, women in studies center. And And i really wasn't content on staying in one lane. i saw the opportunities to build bridges across these very siloed parts of the institution and and trying to build something much more whole, much more intersectional. And so played that role. i was sort of like a connector then. And that has transformed into sort of my life beyond my time in college.
00:04:55
Speaker
And so... Afterwards in college, I found jobs and opportunities to be able to do just
Career Path in Multicultural and LGBTQ Centers
00:05:03
Speaker
that. I made a tour, I say a tour of the smaller art schools up and down the East Coast, and a little bit in the Midwest. I first started working at Oberlin College in their Multicultural Resource Center, which is a sort of like a a mega center with both. It was like a race center and a queer center in in one.
00:05:20
Speaker
Then after that, I was at Ambassador College running their student of color cultural center. And then during my time there, that's the reason why they tapped me to to run their LGBTQ center at the same time.
00:05:33
Speaker
Don't recommending to doing two jobs and to do two roles at an institution. Not fun. Oh, no. And so, yeah. Right. And so, ah yeah. And then sort of that has led me to do the work I do now, which is supporting youth who need the support in South Carolina.
00:05:49
Speaker
Yeah, and so so a long-winded way to say something, just something that is sort of like my personal journey is very intertwined with my professional journey. That makes sense. And I do want to say before I ask this next question, first, i want to say thank you for what you're doing.
00:06:06
Speaker
Because as a child growing up in the 80s and ninety s we didn't have anybody to facilitate a talk for the youth. And i remember growing up and all we would hear back in the day was that was someone's friend, roommate, or that's Auntie Jackie's best friend, you know.
00:06:21
Speaker
So I'm grateful that you are here to do that. So with that being said, what, according to you, is meaningful change one? And what kind of change do you see that the program can do for children and youth in our country across the U.S. today?
00:06:37
Speaker
Meaningful change. My goodness. I think meaningful change is very, it's it's simple. We want to make sure that our young people are able to be young people, are able to find spaces where they could feel joy, are able to thrive, are able to be their full authentic selves.
Creating Spaces for Youth Empowerment
00:06:56
Speaker
I was raised on Long Island and Long Island. i lost my Long Island-ness years ago. But I think there, when I was in high school there, I worked with a local organization to create our GSA, which is ah a queer club in high school.
00:07:12
Speaker
it's And that was, oh my goodness, that was a long time ago. And i was over 20 ago now. But, you know, we sort of doing this work in South Carolina, that is a big part of our work now in in the state is sort of like those spectrum clubs, those queer clubs, the GSA clubs.
00:07:30
Speaker
The idea that these spaces are very much needed here, you know, and so... So yeah, finding spaces where they could be, their authentic selves, and as well as sort of leading from that center, leading from that space and in their communities, in their schools.
00:07:47
Speaker
So there's that. Going back to my earlier thoughts about why you do this work, and it is, our work really is focused on making sure that QD BIPOC youth, queer and trans BIPOC youth in the South, in South Carolina, are able to have the resources and the spaces they need to thrive and be and and do well.
00:08:09
Speaker
Our work is both as well as direct services and making sure that our youth get the life-saving programs that they need, free therapy, emergency mutual aid, sort of. And then then our life-affirming side is like the leadership development pieces so they can lead their communities.
00:08:23
Speaker
And so that sort of... that fall all under the the understanding or the sense of urgency around sort of like intersectional liberation. So that is sort of like the the answer to that is is that is the goal.
00:08:37
Speaker
My leadership journey is has never been separate from my identities. And in doing so, in sort of like building these bridges and imagining the possibilities, and it really encourages our young people and our youth to be able to the create the spaces where they can lead from their full selves. We've been around for, this year is our 30th year in the state. And so been around for 30 years. And it's really great to sort of see our alums, folks who graduated from our programs. go up to the age of 24. So at that point, like young adults.
00:09:13
Speaker
It's really great to sort of see them do all of the things from being... drag queens in the community to folks who are like now doctors and lawyers and whatever it would makes them thrive is just regardless of where you find yourselves, the idea that you are still sort of like an engaged citizen and you care about community and in whatever way that makes
Youth Assertiveness and Societal Norm Shifts
00:09:33
Speaker
sense for you. Yeah.
00:09:35
Speaker
So ah kind of this next question feeds into what you just mentioned about the evolution of like how people are developing into who they are with their queerness and their identities being a part of that.
00:09:49
Speaker
How do you see the desire for change manifest in young people? Ooh, desire to change manifest. um I think our youth our our use are...
00:10:02
Speaker
they don't pull up if They don't put up with the bullshit in the same ways that we put up with the bullshit nowadays. yeah i think I think they're willing to call a spade a spade and are not willing to compromise in the ways that I could talk about myself, in the ways that I've had to compromise in terms of like my politic and what it means to be a professional and navigate the spaces that I you know that i navigate. There's always a there's always sort of like the moment where it's sort of like a Now, where is my limit to where in my agency, and where I feel like I don't need to compromise? Anyway, so our youth are very much more that they will not, in all the great ways, are not willing to put up with bullshit. there
00:10:45
Speaker
very simple ways. They're not going to be, they're not going to work the 80 hours a week jobs and and getting paid just 20, 20 hours. They are not willing to compromise on, I don't know, on it it's important them for them to like work from home, like that's it, you know?
00:11:00
Speaker
And so there's, there's that piece to where, um where I think, and I would love to sort of see, Other grassroots organizations, as well as funders and all of those institutions to be able to ah follow the leadership of the youth, of those most impacted in ways that they don't do necessarily now.
00:11:26
Speaker
Yeah. okay And that sounds wonderful, but I do say it right now. We do have to go for a quick break right now, Domenico and Hunter, but I want people to understand. First off, this is just our first break of many. That's coming. I do promise y'all, but we are coming back and it's going to juicy and juicier. So don't leave us. Stay with us and continue to listen to Power Beyond Pride. And we'll be right back.
00:11:53
Speaker
Welcome back. We just were having a fun conversation about Gullah Gullah Island, but that will continue later. Dominica, we are going to start with some more questions for you. Let's take it away. So, Dominica, in this current presidential administration and political client, have y'all suffered, your company and that you work with, your group, have y'all suffered any cutbacks or are you having any pushback?
Challenges in LGBTQ Funding and Legislation
00:12:20
Speaker
Let's talk about that. How is it affecting your work? Oh, absolutely. So we have, we don't have much sort of like state and federal grants, but we do have one and we definitely and got it pulled and it it was only, only it was only six figures, but that sort of when you have sort of an administration that let's talk about like just won like SAMHSA grants. These are like the National like Mental Health, National Institute of Health, NIH sort of like grants. Like they pulled out, my goodness, I don't forget the the actual amount, but 70% of the grants that they pulled were LGBTQ sort of like specific grants for for mental health, for research. and So, uh,
00:13:07
Speaker
For us, it was smaller grant and we are we have, and we are an organization that doesn't rely on the state and federal grants to do what we do. And so it's, it is just very disheartening to know that a lot of organizations just don't.
00:13:26
Speaker
A lot of nonprofits broadly are seeing their funding, regardless of the work that they do, and the work that they do is just getting funding sort of like pulled in in very, very tragic ways. And it's, yeah.
00:13:42
Speaker
Yeah, it's crazy how they're pulling funding left and right here, there, and everywhere. And it's just amazing to me how they're wanting to... I go back to when I was a child and it was the no left no child left behind type situation. Now I'm like, well, at this point, i think we just left everybody behind. At this point, we have completely left the children, the mothers, the fathers, the aunts, the uncles, everybody has been left behind. And I'm just like, where do we go from here? Like...
00:14:11
Speaker
How do we even I was talking to a friend over the weekend. I'm like, how do we get back to a better place from here? I'm kind of scared because it's almost as if like the bridges that have that we need to lead us back are being burned as we speak.
00:14:26
Speaker
Absolutely. The way I think about it is, i mean, it's not quite right because I feel like it's incomplete, but sort of the pendulum sort of analogy that the Obama years it swung this way. Now you see it like swing all the way to the the other side. And clearly this is all a...
00:14:44
Speaker
You know, our reaction to Trump and his MAGA people championed the birther, whatever. So like this is all a pushback against sort of like in this progress. Pushback against DEI things. i think I think we're just living in an error of a like ah coordinated like erasure. If folks had their if and the folks in power now had their way, they would absolutely erase all things. And look you see them doing that now. removing a trans folks from the military, removing. In South Carolina alone, in this past year or two, we've seen, this past legislative year, we've seen over 20 anti-LGBTQ bills coming through the statehouse. We've seen the attacks on DEI and inclusive education.
00:15:30
Speaker
We've seen... In just the case of schools, we've seen banning of books, banning of sports for trans youth. We've seen barring access to medically necessity necessary care.
Pride's Protest Origins and Ongoing Struggles
00:15:44
Speaker
And so I don't think it's not new, clearly, but it is a continuation of the backlash that that has always followed the progress, you know, um It reminds me to it it also gives me pause in terms of realizing that pride itself started off as a a pri ah mean a riot and a protest. And so I think this moment calls us to remember that.
00:16:11
Speaker
feel you on that one. I definitely think that in this moment, it's just we have to just stay, I guess, vigilant in everything we do. yeah I did want to go back towards, I guess, when we were talking about your journey earlier, what was a pivotal moment that really sticks out in your mind, I guess, that and that you can go back to that really shaped who you are today and in your activism journey?
Enrichment through Youth Engagement
00:16:34
Speaker
Absolutely. o but i mean, within the past couple of years, I would say that working staff, The We Are Family Youth now, I think they have given me more than what I have ever sort of have given the organization in what I do.
00:16:50
Speaker
i think they have given me permission to select name and own identities that I didn't have the framework or language to before then. And so parts of those were living my best gender non-conforming self and and and embracing sort of what it means to be ace and be part of the ace spectrum. of Things that I never thought that Or i one, didn't have the language or framework, but also like just then giving me, again, permission and seeing them be and live authentically is has given me permission to do that, too.
Founding the Transformative Teaching Collective
00:17:23
Speaker
So in talking about that, you're the co-founder of Transformative Teaching Collective to promote social justice education. One of the many ways you are building towards the future.
00:17:34
Speaker
and What made you start the Transformative Teaching Collective? Absolutely. So that was the Transformers of Speech Love. That is sort of like a ah collective of folks who care deeply about social justice, about creating the spaces for folks to be able to ah learn and learn from each other, create spaces for dialogue. We started...
00:17:58
Speaker
TTC, right a couple of months after Emanuel 9 massacre ah here in Charleston, I think there was a moment where a bunch of us were looking at everybody, of like holding hands on the bridge. Well, it's great to have that sort of like moment and that performative sort of we are one, we are healing.
00:18:19
Speaker
But, you know, it only goes so far. And so a bunch of us are saying like, OK, how can we or how do we be able to do any sort of work to be able to like dig a little deeper than then the sort of kumbaya sort of like moments. And so we created this organization and we started doing dialogue parties. It literally started on inviting two friends over to somebody's house, potluck style. People grab, bring your wine. People will bring a side dish and we had dialogues around lots of different things around specific identities, and around specific topics and just creating the space for folks to like talk real. and
00:19:00
Speaker
And that has transformed us and it's been, my gosh, it's 10 years. I think we're still doing our 10th year of being around this year. And from doing that work, it would really has transformed Transformed into, just recently got a half a million contract with Santa Clara County in in California doing a ah a trans a trans train the trainer workshop out there for the county. So it really has become something that has grown beyond any what any of us thought it would be.
00:19:34
Speaker
So what are some of the most in-demand workshops in TTC and why?
Workshops for Inclusive Environments
00:19:38
Speaker
I think anything that is around around sort like facilitation, facilitation, like technical skills around facilitation, as well as any sort of train-the-trainer model. We've been sort of finding our niche shit doing that when it comes to both what it means to have a trans-inclusive workplace, to to what it means to live your racial justice and values in in your workplace. a lot of the work that we are a little niche has been sort of like a the train-the-trainer model, as well as using using facilitating dialogue as sort of like the tool to make that happen.
00:20:23
Speaker
Okay, and so as we go to break, I have a motto in life. You get what you ask for, so I have no problem with asking for certain things, so that way we can always get everything we need. So as we go to break, real quick, what are some things that you think that you would need or the movement that you are working with needs to continue to do the great things and to make a value in our
Advocating for DEI and Grassroots Funding
00:20:43
Speaker
lives?
00:20:43
Speaker
a This is a big question. Coming back to you our earlier part of this conversation, i think that we just can't be, sort of like meeting the moment we're at now, I think for our youth, for the community in general, I think we just can't be neutral in the face of this oppression.
00:21:02
Speaker
i think now it's the, dot for example, now is the time to double down on DEI rather than like retreat from it. and We sort of see a lot of institutions retreating real quickly from it.
00:21:13
Speaker
ah The idea that we just can't lay it let sort of like the this fear-based narratives to dictate policy, dictate decision-making rather than sort of like lived experience data.
00:21:27
Speaker
I think that... I think that, again, this idea of getting back to basics in terms of, I know that world pride is, a well, it iss it's it's coming up, or if this airs, it might have just happened, but pride was never meant to just be paraded parties. That's great, and that's fantastic, and we love a good party, but it was a protest, and it was led by...
00:21:49
Speaker
Trans women of color, street youth, sex workers fighting for their lives. And so I think that by getting back to basics, it we have to protect trans lives, defend queer joy, fund grassroots organizations and refuse respectability politics. All the things that can come at the price of for acceptance that sort of we see now.
00:22:15
Speaker
All right. Well, there you go, folks. You heard it first. So we need to get back to basics. As we go to our quick break, just remember the basic things in life that you need and we'll be right back.
Engaging Spirit of the Podcast
00:22:32
Speaker
We are back with Power Beyond Pride. I am Maddie Finham, your hostess with the mostest. I'm joined by my amazing co-host, Hunter, who is just the most phenomenal being I have ever been in the presence of. And love it.
00:22:48
Speaker
They're just gorgeous in all aspects. Yes. And this is a podcast that y'all can't see, but I feel like we were, it was a very sexy man tonight. Domingo is just gorgeous and sexy. Don't you think so?
00:23:04
Speaker
Stunning. Stunning. We're going to gas you up with an ounce and the cheeks. Look, you look so moisturized. You look so moisturized and just so comfortable and just rested. And I mean all these things with the utmost praise. It's the Filipino jeans. That's what it is. yeah now look we not Now that we got you all hyped and gassed, we do have a quick question
Exploring 'Power Beyond Pride'
00:23:34
Speaker
for you. I think Hunter said that she they had the next question to ask.
00:23:38
Speaker
Let's So when we talk about queer movement, we often talk about pride. And when we say power beyond pride, what does that mean to you? Oh, power beyond pride.
00:23:51
Speaker
i think that for me sort of highlights the idea that power beyond pride, the idea that we no longer have the luxury to be sort like static and lay in the background, but live our little silo mentalities. I think power beyond pride is it's like a call to action that folks got to be active. so It's in whatever way that, you know, means for you.
00:24:17
Speaker
but Folks got to be active. If you're an ally, you have to sort of ask yourself what you believe in and what you're willing to risk for the movement and for for pride. Yeah.
00:24:28
Speaker
Okay. Sounds good. I love that answer. So now we're coming to my favorite part of the show.
Domenico's Personal Preferences and Humor
00:24:34
Speaker
It's called the rapid fire round. I love it, Domenico, because you can't think about it. I just need the first thing that pops in your head. And whether it's G-rated, X-rated, or in the middle of between,
00:24:46
Speaker
L-rated, let's just put it there because the L word was a good show back in the day. oh Just whatever pops in your head. And so Hunter's going to ask the first question, but the juicier the better. So let's go.
00:24:58
Speaker
time so ah let's see. i just want to make sure. ah the This is where we ask you some questions and you don't get any time to think about it.
00:25:09
Speaker
You just have to give us the first answer that comes to your head. Are you ready for this? Yes, Please. Okay. So first question, what's your favorite way to spend a lazy Sunday aside from hanging out with us on an episode of Power Beyond Pride? I'm very much a sitting lounging on the couch and just ah watching my shows, binge watching shows a whole season in a day or a weekend. Like that is my guilty pleasure.
00:25:40
Speaker
it is the, yeah, that's how it turned my brain off. Okay, so you stated earlier that you're from Long Island. So what does the long in Long Island stand for?
00:25:51
Speaker
ah that The long in Long Island stands for, it stands for how, my goodness, how phallic the island is in on on in New York. How how fishy it it also it looks. So it's, yeah. Yeah.
00:26:11
Speaker
Okay now. You little a fishy Long Island. and Y'all better go on up there. i love it. So this is definitely in no way related to that. If you could make the ultimate sandwich, what would be on it?
00:26:25
Speaker
Ooh, the ultimate sandwich. Define sandwich. Are we talking about food or are we just talking about a good sandwich? If you know what mean. I mean, we could talk both.
00:26:38
Speaker
We could talk both. What comes to mind for me is, have y'all had Cubans before with the pressed panini in the Cubans? Like with the pickles and the ham and the mustard. Like to me is a Cuban is like the ultimate like yummy sandwich. Yeah. love a good And so if you could be sandwiched between two of your favorite people and it doesn't eat, it can be X rated. It could be, it could be anything G rated to X rated. If you could be sandwiched between your two favorite people, who would they be?
00:27:07
Speaker
Who would they be? Oh my goodness. Are they like, oh, okay. i was going to be like, are they like two favorite people? One would be, i was going to say, it can they be i was could they be like a live, dead, fictional character? I was going to go down that route. was like, maybe not. Whoever. You can pick whoever.
00:27:26
Speaker
Whomever. Okay. I would love to be sandwiched in between. Let's see. Let's do some recently departed like elders and mentors and in and organizing an artwork. So it would be let's do and Giovanni in the back and let's do bell hooks in the front. Yeah.
00:27:45
Speaker
Yeah, this sounds... ah Yeah, perfect. You can't be cute to see me. i would have said Aquaman and Venom, honey, because between the water and the sun, I'm going to have a good time. I'm just going to honest with you.
00:27:57
Speaker
yeah Okay, so what's the weirdest gift you've ever received? The weirdest gift I ever received... Weirdest gift. fit- two- to- do I can't think of anything from the top of my head. Weirdest gift. It must be like one of my siblings at some point who gave me a gag gift for Christmas or or sp or one of my birthdays. What would you imagine that you got at your local guilty pleasures store? Some sort of toys?
00:28:26
Speaker
Yeah. What's the worst date you've ever been on? boom Worst date I've ever been on Worst date I've ever been on.
00:28:36
Speaker
i went on a date at, have you all been to like a melting pot, like the quintessential like Valentine's with the fondue sort of. The weirdest thing I've been on was definitely at one of those, one of those places. It was, there was no, it was like a blind date situation, but there was like no connection. You know, it felt weirdly intimate in a way that was sort of uncomfortable, but yeah. yeah but Especially with all that hot cheese and everything. i don't want to be in an intimate space with hot cheese, to be quite honest.
00:29:11
Speaker
ah You look at the cheese, I look at the fact that I wear wigs and weaves and I don't want to be that close to an open flank. So yeah, that might I might have a Michael Jackson remembrance. This is true. I mean, honestly, I would have my hair ah i'd have my hair up or something like that because I'd be like, you know what? I'm messy. I'm clumsy as it is.
00:29:31
Speaker
and Speaking of that, and I know this is off on a tangent, so I do apologize, but I've always been knowing, don't feed me. Please don't feed me no food or fruit or fondue. That's just not cute when it dribbles, but that's another story for another day. Okay, Domenico, what is the worst television reboot that you have seen? Because I've seen a few, but would say half.
00:29:53
Speaker
The worst television reboot I do. I did not like the Charmed reboot that came out a couple years ago. I wanted to like it. it just did. It was a big miss for me. Somebody who grew up on the OG, you know?
00:30:06
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. going to be honest. I'm a Shannon Doherty fan. So even when they subbed out Paige, don't give me a love me some Paige. But there was nobody like, bru I'm sorry. There nobody A stan.
00:30:18
Speaker
stan. Okay. So I know we've talked about like worst, weirdest, or like things like that on the negative end of the superlatives. What is one day that you wish you could relive over again?
00:30:33
Speaker
Like the best day for you? Ooh.
00:30:39
Speaker
One day after you live. It was it was Obama's second inauguration win for sure. I remember fully well where I was. i was small town, Oberlin, Ohio, middle of a beautiful gym outside of Cleveland. And sort of like this town city erupted. Everybody was out in the streets with their pots and pans and just walking up and down the streets. It was it was pretty magical.
00:31:08
Speaker
I can definitely agree with you on that one. Yeah, definitely. That was a great day. That great day. So I would also like to ask this question, and this might take you a minute to think, even though it's the rapid fire question, but where can people
Connect with Domenico and His Work
00:31:20
Speaker
find you? Where can they connect with you and get to know you on social media and online?
00:31:25
Speaker
Absolutely. So again, we are family. Our website is waf.org. org WAF.org the work that we do, we can just sort of look for, I guess, We Are Family Charleston and all the socials and get connected that way.
00:31:41
Speaker
Okay, perfect, perfect. And in life, what do you like to do for fun? And life, what I do for fun? I am a true Gemini. I have a far-reaching interest like glittery, shiny things. And so I've been playing a rugby. I'm part of the Gay Rugby League for over 10 years now. and that has been very fun and painful at the same time. My body cannot recover once ah it used to. So that is telltale sign that I've got one or two years of rugby left in me. i
00:32:13
Speaker
I'm also part of a lovely, queer, gay, spiritual, raj say, community. And we go to gatherings outside of Asheville every couple of years. And so that's a big part of of places where I find community. Yeah.
00:32:33
Speaker
Okay. OK, well, Dominica, thank you so much for being here. We're out of time for the podcast, but I want to make sure first that we give you the space to tell folks about maybe some of the websites or some of the places that they can find you or the nonprofits that you are a part of.
00:32:54
Speaker
Yeah, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. i am one of those people where I i only give myself a so like one social media platform because I know myself and I don't have the energy or time to have the upkeep with all of the things.
00:33:13
Speaker
So I'd love to share again the how you can find information about We Are Family and learn more about the work that we do supporting youth in South Carolina.
00:33:26
Speaker
Visit WAF.org or check out our work in and all of our socials. If you look for We Are Family or We Are Family Charleston, you can find us that way.
00:33:40
Speaker
Would you like to share anything about the Transforming a Collective? Oh, Transforming Teaching Collective? Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Yes. Transformativeteaching.coop. Transformativeteaching.coop. And you can find information about our work through there.
00:33:59
Speaker
Okay. Well, once again, I want to say thank you. Like I said earlier in in our show, thank you for creating a space that was not there for us when we were growing up and coming along. I thank you for making it safe for our younger children to just be able to be themselves and thrive and shine raising and raise and grace.
00:34:18
Speaker
And I thank you for gracing us with your presence. You are so handsome and sexy. I love it, baby. I've enjoyed my time with you this evening. Yes! Thank you for having me. Yeah. Anytime. And with all that gushing aside, my name is Maddie Bynum. I am one of your co-hosts here at Power Beyond Pride.
00:34:36
Speaker
Letting you go on this queer journey along with us. You can follow me at Maddie Simone 737 on Instagram. You can also find me at Maddie Bynum on Facebook. And you will not find, well, no, you can find me on it. I just don't like to get on there too much because I'm more of a wise and an expert. But you know, that's just who I am.
00:34:55
Speaker
You're not. And I'm your co-host, Hunter. You can find me on Instagram at HNTRgraphy. Yeah. And that links to my website and all that other good stuff, which I need to update my website, but I'm doing a million things at once. But here we are.
00:35:12
Speaker
So remember to subscribe and get your friends and family to subscribe to Power Beyond Pride on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. And check out our website at powerbeyondpride.com.
00:35:24
Speaker
And Power Beyond Pride, and I challenge anybody who is not a host on this show, say that fast three times. I promise you, you will get tongue-tied. But Power Beyond Pride is a project from A Great Idea, a queer-owned design and content agency.
00:35:39
Speaker
Learn more about them at agreatidea.com. This episode is produced by Shane Lucas. Mito Sarkar is the project developer. Our editor is Jared Redding with support from Ian Wilson.
00:35:51
Speaker
And we are both part of the podcast. Awesome host team. Like I said, it's a multitude of us, but only you get to spend time with two of us at a time because we're only a sandwich team. Come on, people.
00:36:02
Speaker
And we invite you to send in your questions and comments to PowerAndBeyondPride.com so that we can always answer the most up-to-date and current topics that we have. So check out our new episodes each week and we look forward to clear change making with you next time.
00:36:16
Speaker
Thank you from all of us at Power Beyond Pride.