Keeping Up with Kris
I’m Kris (they/he) a trans, neurodivergent, Kenyan-born human exploring what inclusion and community really means.
Happening Now
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I finally joined Substack! This Substack is my personal blog, journal, and thinking space. I write candidly about my life - my childhood and upbringing, relationships and dating, my gender transition, and the journey of de-centering my whiteness and learning what interdependent community really means. I don’t sanitize the stories or flatten them into lessons. If it’s real, it belongs here.
Alongside that, I write through my working thoughts: neurodivergence, disability, accessibility, work, systems, power, and what I’m learning while growing a company and being honest about the mess, the momentum, and the moments in between.
This space is where my most authentic, deepest stories are shared. Thank you for honoring me with the privilege of sharing them with you.
Please note this space may include discussions of trauma, sex, and mental health.
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I’m settling into Richmond VA for a few months, building community and trying to figure out if I’m leaving the country or staying here…
No big deal./s
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The Advocates Empowered Community was launched in December and we’re having so much fun growing and learning about each other’s experiences and how we can create community that’s grounded in inclusion and centers the most marginalized.
We are hosted on Discord and have monthly support groups, body-doubling sessions, book clubs, gaming and more! This is a space to build real relationships, share experiences, and find practical support.
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Here’s what I’m reading:
The Colonizer and the Colonized
Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life
Here’s what I just finished:
A glimpse of I’m currently up to.
Conversations with Kris
There is so much power in sharing our stories, and I’m passionate about highlighting how intersectionality deeply affects our experiences. Check out my latest conversation with my friend Konnor and our experiences as trans humans where we discuss masculinity, patriarchy and gender expression.
What Drives Me (besides my van)
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I’m passionate about inclusion and creating spaces for all brains, bodies, and backgrounds. My expertise in educating diverse learners, lived experience as a neurodivergent, disabled and trans human, and the stories of folks in the global majority motivate me to make change.
I founded Advocates Empowered to help organizations and individuals create accessibility for the most marginalized. Whether it’s challenging those around me to be more inclusive, or training organizations and teams, I’m always figuring out how to make the circle bigger.
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From growing up as a minority in the complex web of colonization to solo traveling across the globe as a third culture kid, I’ve often struggled defining what “home” means.
I’ve found the same to be true for many queer, trans, neurodivergent, disabled and other marginalized folks. I’ve been studying community through an anti-colonial lens and striving to learn what belonging actually looks like through the lens of intersectionality. Come join me on the journey.
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Learning how to share our stories and advocate for what we need is one of the most challenging things for folks to do, especially those of us who grew up in cultures or environments that did not allow us to safely be ourselves.
With 7 years of leadership development experience, a background in teaching, and a certified neurodiversity coach, I‘m passionate about helping people understand what they need and how to communicate it. I focus on these four areas:
Self-Advocacy at Work
Executive Function & Organization
Career Growth & Communication
Community & Daily Life
Let’s work together to amplify your voice and empower your journey. Learn More
Follow the journey!
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