Dec 30, 2022Dear Nonprofit Development Professionals: I’m Asking You To Care More About People & Less About MoneySeveral months ago, I began working for a nonprofit organization that serves the immigrant and refugee community in Pittsburgh. I was hired as staff to the youth mentorship program, where I, alongside my supervisor and 2 other staff members, work to put together after-school programming for youth in grades 6–12…Nonprofit4 min readNonprofit4 min read
Nov 23, 2022The Complexities of Jewish Racial Identity, ExplainedA number of recent celebrity statements continue to have very real, life-threatening ramifications for the Jewish community. I’d like to dispel some of the disinformation perpetuated by these statements. — In the last six weeks or so, there has been a dramatic uptick in vocal antisemitism here in the United States. Several celebrities spewing both disinformation and general vitriol have directly impacted the safety of the American Jewish people.Jewish Community10 min readJewish Community10 min read
Nov 2, 2022Two Things This Week Reminded Me of Our Resilience, Even As We Remember the Tree of Life TragedyAn interesting juxtaposition of events took place around me this past week. As the Pittsburgh Jewish community marked the anniversary of the most deadly antisemitic attack in American history, which happened here four years ago, I was reminded of the resilience of the Jewish people and of humanity as a…Tree Of Life Synagogue4 min readTree Of Life Synagogue4 min read
Oct 26, 2022In Metaphor, Mayyim ChayimWhen I was fourteen, my family took a weekend trip to Lake Chautauqua, New York. It was early October, and the leaves had already turned bright orange and crimson. …Jewish5 min readJewish5 min read
Sep 14, 2022On ForgivenessNot long ago, I sat down and watched an episode of Red Table Talk featuring Jennette McCurdy, former Nickelodeon actress and author of the recently published memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. The title of the book has elicited shock from many. Yet, as McCurdy sits down and tells a…Jennette Mccurdy3 min readJennette Mccurdy3 min read
Jun 23, 2022Dear Thin People: “Fat” Isn’t The Bad Word You Think It IsHello, my name is Juneau, and I’m fat. I wasn’t always a fat person, but I am now, and it’s very likely I will be for the rest of my life. If you’re interested in hearing my “fat person origin story,” you can read about it here. It’s true that…Fat2 min readFat2 min read
Jun 19, 2022Confession: I was the struggling camper.I’m an introvert who is occasionally mistaken for an extravert. It’s fair that some people believe I am extraverted; Even if I’m unfamiliar with a few of the folks I’m speaking with, I can normally hold a decent conversation, and in a lot of situations, I don’t have any trouble…Camp3 min readCamp3 min read
Jun 10, 2022An Open Letter to the Parents of Mt. Lebanon: Discussing Queerness Harms No OneDear Mt. Lebanon Parents, My name is Juneau. I grew up in the Mt. Lebanon School District. I attended kindergarten through fifth grade at Hoover Elementary, sixth and seventh grade at Jefferson Middle, eighth at Mellon Middle, then I graduated from Mt. Lebanon Senior High School with high honors. Honestly…Gender Identity3 min readGender Identity3 min read
Jun 5, 2022I’m A Birth Worker. Visiting The Mütter Museum Has Me Reflecting On So Much.Content Warning: This article describes fetal developmental defects, the fetal specimens with these defects I observed at the Mütter Museum, and my reactions. I do not use any images. Over Memorial Day weekend, my friend Nico and I took a little road trip to Philadelphia. One of the items on…Mutter Museum4 min readMutter Museum4 min read
May 27, 2022My Fat Body Isn’t Apologizing AnymoreAt a recent appointment with a new PCP, I sat on the rickety, crinkly-papered table while describing the agony of my constant chronic pain, the frustration of never getting a diagnosis of any kind, and the unending exhaustion I feel. The doctor sat on his little swivel chair while my…Fat4 min readFat4 min read
