On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States of America repealed a fifty-year precedent, characterized by many on the bench as, “The Law of the Land”. They killed the 14th Amendment which has provided safe health care for women since 1973. Prior to, women were often forced to obtain unsafe abortions or suffer financial ruin, or other hardships. This decision has placed an unfathomable burden on women of child bearing age who have lived with Roe V Wade their entire lives. Until now. Choice was theirs, until now.

We are hurt and numbed by this decision, this disregard for our gender, our bodies, our freedoms, our choice.

However we will prevail. We will gather and fight. We will have our day. In the meantime: this document is for anyone who wants to use it directly, as a template, or as a talking point. Feel free to download and share.

Intimacy Choreography

I began the year 2020 with the goal to train as an Intimacy Director/Coordinator. I completed Level 1 late Feb. of that year. I began an independent education in being a leader in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion around the time our country was confronting again, our inhumane legacy of racism. George Floyd was casually murdered, Breonna Taylor’s murder was threated to be discarded and so many more–too many more. Asian Americans are being blamed for the pandemic and it goes on and on.

My personal commitment has been that the spaces I fill; my home, work, board rooms, etc. . . will be more diverse. I am a lifelong learner as an engaged citizen artist.

In the past year I have been certified as a Transgender Ally/Advocate by The Transgender Training Institute

I have been certified in Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid.

 

Fundraising

– Play Away the Hunger  The Radford Food Pantry was depleted of resources in early July 2014 as a result of school being out, and economic hardship in the area. My husband’s and my original idea was a concert in our backyard, but in less than 3 weeks and without any capital,  donations of signage, venue, water, food, porto-johns, and advertising from the city and local businesses were solicited and secured. Over 20 musicians volunteered their time and talent, and dozens of volunteers helped with parking, collecting food, and advertising. Despite the rain, we had approximately 200 attendees for the concert, we raised over $9000, we filled two trucks with food. Our community came together in a meaningful way. https://www.facebook.com/PlayAwayTheHunger . Besides organizing the event, the acoustic duo I am a member of, Ball & Chain, also performed. The effort was repeated in 2015.

–Side Door Revue Ball & Chain participated and helped with logistics for the Winter of 2014 benefit concert for the Radford Food Pantry. We, along with 12 other acts performed. The event raised over $600, and collected a van load of groceries. I designed the flyer.

 

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Stop Hunger Now From 2007 until 2011, I

was Director of Canterbury House, the Episcopal Campus Ministry at Radford University. Besides programming, I managed the physical Canterbury House location, literally a house across from campus that provided sanctuary, fellowship, services, and meals to a minimum of 15 students, and rented to 3. We had a weekly coffee hour on campus. One of my first efforts was to Safe Zone Canterbury House, and provide training for others.  In early 2010, after hearing about the earthquake in Haiti and the extreme need, I organized a Stop Hunger Now Packaging Event. I coordinated volunteers from other university organizations to help fund raise, advertised through the university and via social media. We raised over $10,000, had approximately 530 volunteers to package over 40,000 meals. More photos of the event

Community Outreach

– T@G, Elf Shelf  In 2005, along with my husband Jon Piro and friend Sarah Himmel, we started a teen group at Grace Episcopal, Radford, called Teens @ Grace, or T@G. I initiated an annual Toy Drop (the Drive By Toy Drop) to collect toys for our community outreach program Elf Shelf, which provides families in need with a means to have Christmas for their children. This event not only helps others, but it gives our teens an opportunity to give back.

The group has also been involved with Project Linus Blanket, which provides blankets for children who are hospitalized or have been through some trauma. After 9/11, every child who lost a parent received a blanket from this organization.

Mission Trips to New Orleans T@G has been on several mission trips, and I had the honor of leading two to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, the first I was directly involved with organizing and raising funds for.

– The Vagina Monologues Since 2009, I have directed and co-produced The Vagina Monologues with the Women’s Studies Group at Radford University. We have played to sold-out houses, and per the V-Day Organization’s requirements donated 90% proceeds to a local organization. This has raised over $5000 for the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley. 10% goes back to the V-Day Organization to help build hospitals and safe zones in countries where violence against women is even more rampant than in the USA. My casts have consisted of professional and first time actors. We assist with advocacy of women’s issues during Women’s History Month.

– Eric & Elliot   In late 2012, my son was cast in Roanoke Children’s Theatre Production Eric & Elliot. He played a teen struggling with depression who ultimately commits suicide. The theatre provided mental health professionals as part of a talk back following the production. This play was offered free of charge through a grant to Roanoke City and County middle and high schoolers. I thought this play should be seen by our Radford high school students and community, however, the school system when asked, stated they could not afford the $1000 fee. I asked if they would proved the venue, which they did, and I set out raising the funds to cover presenting the play, and advertising it, which I did in a matter of weeks. The production was very successful despite having had its date moved twice because of snowy weather.

– ArtsXtreme  In summer of 2006 I designed, organized, and directed a multi-arts summer workshop for children grades 2 through 12 on the campus of Radford University. We were given space at the College of Visual and Performing Arts, thus children were able to take dance in a dance studio, learn acting on a stage, pottery in a pottery studio, etc. . . 58 children participated. I hired a faculty of professional teaching artists, and graduate assistants. No child was turned away for lack of funds as I had fundraised an Angel Scholarship Fund, soliciting generous donations from local businesses and private sources. There was a desire for ArtsXtreme to continue, but new administration at Radford University wanted to charge an amount for space use that would have made scholarships impossible.

Supporting Arts and Artists

– Lyric Theater and the Community Arts Information Office In 2009 I was asked to facilitate a conversation between artists and arts organizations in the New River Valley of Virginia with the Lyric Theatre of Blacksburg, Virginia. The Lyric, a 501C3 desired to create an entity that would meaningfully support community arts with a one stop shop for information about events and arts in the area. I was honored to be asked to facilitate this discussion.

– A+ School Programs in 2011 I began apprenticing as an A+ School Program Fellow for the state of North Carolina. The following year I was made a full fellow. A+ Plus is the longest running, most successful arts based, whole school reform program. I bring my expertise as a theatre practitioner to help teachers of non-arts subjects integrate theatre arts into their curriculum in meaningful ways. True integration addresses the Multiple Intelligences, and ensures that every individual learner is reached. An example is a workshop I’ve developed paralleling Dramatic Play Structure with Scientific Method. Through hands-on experience, students and teachers realize that both subjects use similar approaches of inquiry by asking the question, what’s the story? I’ve also created workshops with masks, and character development.