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Ideas worth spreading

LSU Professor Lori Latrice Martin Explores The Intersection of Race, Money and College Sports

2/27/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Lori Martin holding a basketball in an office
For LSU African and African American Studies and sociology professor and author Lori Latrice Martin, sports are about far more than entertainment, especially from the perspective of student-athletes. But these sometimes painful challenges for student-athletes are often hidden from fans who see only the competition on the field of play.

A former collegiate athlete herself, Lori uses the lens of sports to study important issues of race, education and class, revealing the ways in which race and sports are related historically and in contemporary times.

Born and raised in Nyack, New York, Lori has published numerous books on race, education and athletics, and is a leading voice on racial disparities in athletic programs and the ongoing debate over the compensation of student-athletes.

Her latest book, Black Women as Leaders: Challenging and Transforming Society, will be published in 2019. In addition to her academic work, Lori is also active in efforts to honor and remember the sacrifices of people of color in their struggles for justice. She played a leading role in the Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project’s recognition of the historic 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott and has co-authored a book uncovering the history of African Americans in South Baton Rouge.

We recently spoke with Lori ahead of her March 23 TEDxLSU talk about her research, her prolific writing and her life outside of academia. Check out the highlights of the conversation below.

How did you come to study race in athletics? Why do you believe it is such an important topic to explore?
I found that talking about athletics was a great pedagogical strategy for discussing race, which can be a very controversial subject. I also found that many people think they know a lot about race and about sports but few people consider the ways in which race and sports are related historically and in contemporary times.

Are there any lessons from your collegiate sports career that have stuck with you to this day?
I learned that sports are about more than individual contests. Sports is about more than entertainment, especially from the perspective of student-athletes. Being a student-athlete is hard work and sometimes the pain experienced by student-athletes is masked by the enjoyment of the fans.

What is something interesting that you learned through the research of your South Baton Rouge book?
I learned about the historic South Baton Rouge community and its historic role in the global civil rights movement. The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott should be more well known by area residents and the nation as a whole.

What prompted your work with The Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project?
I think it is important to honor and remember the sacrifices of people of color in their struggles for justice. The Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project is an important effort to promote the preservation of historical memory for historically marginalized groups.

If you weren’t doing the work you do now, what would you be doing?
I cannot imagine doing anything else. Writing, conducting research, and encouraging people to think critically about seemingly mundane subjects are all really important to me. It is what I do and who I am.  

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I enjoy walking on the treadmill and playing Words with Friends with my uncle and cousin.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I have completed the Louisiana Marathon twice and the Northshore Half Marathon twice. I enjoy completing races for a good cause.

What is your superpower?
My superpower is motherhood. It empowers me with patience, understanding and unconditional love.

To learn more about Lori or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Researcher Reagan Errera Investigates The Toxic Punch of Algal Blooms And Their Role In Global Climate Change

2/21/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Reagan Errera in a lab, standing next to beakers under a light
In research ecologist Reagan Errera’s opinion, phytoplankton, the microscopic algae and other organisms floating in unfathomable numbers throughout the world’s oceans, don’t get the proper respect they deserve. In reality, these tiny single-celled life forms are just as important as trees, cleaning the air we breathe and impacting the global climate in profound ways.

A native of Florida, Reagan developed a fascination for algae blooms as an undergraduate studying abroad at the University of Queensland in Australia. She continued her passion for ocean science at Texas A&M, earning a master’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and her PhD in Oceanography.

She moved to Baton Rouge in 2014 and worked as an assistant professor in LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources. Today she is a research ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, researching phytoplankton ecology with a special focus on global climate change and harmful algal species that produce a variety of toxins.

Her research is uncovering the massive impacts some of the planet’s tiniest organisms have on humans and the environment.

We recently chatted with Reagan ahead of her TEDxLSU talk on March 23 to discuss her research, her life and what it was like swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

Why should we be studying harmful algal blooms?
Because they are awesome. Phytoplankton in general get a raw deal — no one really thinks about them or cares about them, though they are just as important as trees and in some cases more so. Harmful algal species are just a subset of phytoplankton, and what sets them apart is their ability to cause detrimental effects to the ecosystem. Only a handful produce toxins — that we are aware of. It’s the toxins that make them unique, and harmful to human, wildlife and ecosystem health.

What is your favorite part of you work?
I love watching students that were not passionate about the subject in the beginning become passionate over the semester based on the knowledge that I’m conveying. It’s amazing to see the light bulb go on and someone understand and make the connections needed to fully grasp ecosystem sciences.

In addition, an important aspect of my work is related to human health, which is why harmful algae are important to understand and recognize their presence. Being able to identify toxins or relate environmental conditions to toxin production and then relay that information to management in order to inform people of potential illness is what drives my work.

Tell us about your work in Mozambique and your association with All Out Africa.
All Out Africa is an amazing organization, one of their main goals is to educate individuals around the world about natural resource conservation in Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana and South Africa. The key to this is working with individuals in each country — so it is not South Africans coming into Mozambique teaching and promoting conservation, but Mozambicans.

In 2016, I bought my first study abroad class — only 3 students — over to Tofo and started a research project looking at the harmful algal bloom species Pseudo-nitzshia, which was mentioned to be in the area through other research, although not explored further.

I could not do this work with out All Out Africa’s support. Without their support and partnership, it would be difficult to relay the findings of the work back to the people of Mozambique, as I mentioned earlier, due to human health aspect of working with toxic algae, that relationship and communication is key. Working with people on the ground that are vested in the work but also curious has been key to my success.

What was it like to swim with whale sharks?
It’s surreal. I think that’s the best way to put it. Most of the whale sharks in the area are juvenile so not fully grown — yet they are still huge. You feel so small next to them, though they are so peaceful swimming and basically ignoring you in the water. Watching them feed is my favorite part because they have all these cleaner fish hanging out with them. As a phytoplankton ecologist, I often have to pinch myself when I get the chance to swim with them or with Giant Manta Rays, which are highly impressive as well.  

What is your philosophy or approach when performing research in a community?
Working with individuals within the community is important. When working with other harmful algal bloom (HAB) species within the US, I always consulted local members of the fishing community or general public. This approach can help you understand the history of the area and where blooms maybe occurring but also helps build a relationship with the people within the community where you can relay information back. Without the help of people on the ground and the community “buying in” to what you are studying, biological oceanographic studies would be hindered due to lack of local knowledge. This is true in developed world, but is of utmost importance in the developing world.

Many studies and researchers in developing countries come into a country, do a study and move on. This can be do to a number of factors including lack of funding, lack of access, graduate students finishing projects and so on. Due to the short time scale of these projects, most researchers aren’t able to develop long-term relationships with the community. The issue with this is that very little knowledge is passed on to the community in which the study was completed, this in many ways is a helicopter researcher.

I have made it a point in the last three years to build relationships with the people of Praia do Tofo, such as Peri Peri Divers, in addition to working with All Out Africa, who has a constant presences within the area. I can not be present in the community all the time therefore I relay on these relationships to transfer the knowledge and information back to the people of Tofo.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
Lego’s with my kid. I love to organize them, its my zen time.

To learn more about Reagan or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

5 Reasons Not To Miss TEDxLSU on March 23

2/18/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
TEDxLSU logo

This March 23, TEDxLSU welcomes 12 new Talks to its growing idea library from artists, scientists, forward-thinkers and change catalysts that have shared their knowledge on the TEDxLSU stage.

The seventh annual event, held at the at the LSU Union Theater, is an immersive, day-long, intellectual experience for our Baton Rouge community.

Although the big day is rapidly approaching, there is still time to reserve your seat. Here are five reasons why you don’t want to miss out on this truly unique and illuminating community event.

Illuminating Science Talks
TEDxLSU has a long history of highlighting some of the brightest and most innovative scientific minds in and from the Southern Louisiana community — and our 2019 lineup is no exception.

This year evolutionary biologist and paleontologist Emma Schachner will highlight her research investigating how the specialized dinosaur lung may have helped the ancient creatures take over the planet and thrive for millions of years in a low-oxygen environment.

Brandon Ballengée — a visual artist, biologist and environmental educator whose nature-inspired artworks are raising awareness of the human impact on the environment and garnering international acclaim — will detail his “love motels for bugs” project.

Research ecologist Reagan Errera will tell us why phytoplankton is an important factor in global climate change.

Geographer Clay Tucker will explain how he uses tree rings to tell stories of Louisiana’s environmental past.

​Organic chemist and science communicator
Rolanda Wilkerson will shine a light on the science of beauty.


And LSU professor and researcher Juan Martinez will share his groundbreaking work on antibiotic resistance.

Old-World Circus Performer LadyBEAST
LadyBEAST in front of a curtain, sitting in a chair that is balanced on its back legs
New Orleans-based circus artist LadyBEAST, who has been wowing crowds across the country with amazing performances (she is the first woman to perform an escape from a strait jacket dangling below a hot air balloon), will hit the TEDxLSU stage March 23.

A specialist in Houdini-esque illusions, aerial displays and bottle walking, LadyBEAST’s dedication, skill and artistry are helping keep the magic and spectacle of old-world circus performance alive in modern times, while inspiring others to do amazing things of their own. You won’t want to miss her combination talk/performance on the TEDxLSU stage.

Connect With Other Interesting People
TEDxLSU — like all TEDx events — is not organized for political reasons, monetary reward or personal gain. Everyone associated with TEDxLSU does so because they believe in the power of ideas to ignite progress. Much like TED Conferences, TEDx events are centered on big ideas and inspiring talks intended to spark deep discussion and connection among participants — that includes you!

Our hope is that the ideas featured on the TEDxLSU stage and among our attendees spur conversation and action in our community.

Something for Everyone
TEDxLSU participants, speakers, volunteers, and organizers come from all walks of life — business, non-profits, art, education, technology and more. This year’s speaker lineup features a huge range of speakers, from scientific trailblazers to illuminating storytellers.

LSU librarians, Sarah Simms and Hayley Johnson, are uncovering the human stories of WWII internment camps in Louisiana.


Clothing designer and educator Andrea Eastin is demystifying the unseen forces behind mass-produced clothing

Physical therapist Sara Reardon is on a mission to revolutionize the way we approach women’s health, and she’ll tell us why that matters to everyone.

LSU African and African American Studies and sociology professor and author Lori Latrice Martin will dive into the complex and controversial world of compensating college athletes — and how race plays a role.


And Queer Black artist, activist and writer Nalo Zidan will share how she’s highlighting the nuanced lived experiences of masculine-identified women and nonbinary people.

An Exclusive After Party
Reserving your seat to TEDxLSU gives you a few perks, and one of our favorites is exclusive access to the TEDxLSU after-party hosted at Tin Roof. With brews and bites, games, good conversation — and for the first time ever, exclusive brewery tours to areas of the facility the public has never seen before — you won't want to miss this part of the TEDxLSU experience.

What can you expect at TEDxLSU 2019? Think high-energy. Think community. Think creativity. Think illuminating ideas.

Reserve your seat today.

To learn more about the speakers TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

​

Clothing Designer and Educator Andrea Eastin Reveals the Secrets Behind Mass-Produced Clothing

2/15/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Andrea Eastin standing in a studio, leaning against a dress form
Clothing designer, educator and TEDxLSU 2019 speaker Andrea Eastin is demystifying the unseen forces behind mass-produced clothing and helping others create their own attire truly designed for their bodies and lifestyle.

Andrea has honed her practice via her clothing design practice, sewing in the film industry and private consulting positions, but her roots in maker communities keep her passionate about illuminating clothing and our relationship with it. Today she is the owner, designer and educator of Fair Fit Studio, a sewing studio in Baton Rouge that offers personalized instruction on how to sew and make your own clothing.

Andrea teaches sewing instruction for students at all levels of experience, from absolute beginner to seasoned sewers seeking more advanced methodologies. She holds a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has worked in various fashion creation, presentation and curation capacities in the making and business of clothing.

Through her teaching and advocacy, Andrea is raising awareness of the environmental and human implications of off-the-rack clothing while empowering people to understand the concepts, systems and mechanics behind clothes so they are inspired to engage their own creations.

We recently spoke with Andrea ahead of her March 23 TEDxLSU talk about her work, her life and how she’s teaming up with other businesses to help creative entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge. Check out the highlights of the conversation below.

Where in Iowa are you from?
I grew up in Madison County, on a farm near Winterset. This area is famous for the Bridges of Madison County, and it has always been a craft and quilt community, before crafting and quilting was the maker phenomenon that it is today.

What prompted you to start making your own clothes?
I fell in love with sewing when I was around 6 because I’d watch my mom make me things. I also was very much into clothing and fashion even though I was living in Iowa before the internet and the clothes I saw in magazines were not easy to find there.

If I had an idea for a garment I wanted to own and wear, I had to make it. I began fumbling my way through sewing patterns around age 11 or 12 and learned I had to customize them to make them look the way that I envisioned. I kept sewing my own clothes or customizing my thrift store finds into adulthood. If I had an idea for something I wanted to wear, I would make it. To me this was a life skill that came naturally and was a fun way to make my own personalized and unique wardrobe.

What is the most difficult type of garment to make?
I’ve sewn for over 20 years, so by now I take my knowledge a little bit for granted because I make everything, and am not scared to try something hard because even if I fail, I know I gain more mastery. Since I sew primarily for myself or to learn methods of construction to teach to my students, I don’t have the added pressure of someone else’s expectation of the garments final outcome — that’s what’s hard.

Sewing is a series of steps that if you do in the right order, you will get a great result. It is challenging to master the precision as to how you hold the cloth, how you mold a 2-dimensional piece of fabric into a 3D garment — and those are skills that with dedication, patience and regular practice, you will acquire over time.

What is your favorite aspect of your work?
To me the fun part is thinking through a garment’s purpose, by carefully considering why am I making it and how to make it more personalized. I love to think about an item of clothing’s story, and the character who would wear it, so when I am designing an item for either my wardrobe or my clothing line, I’m selecting the materials, sewing methods and design of the pattern to reflect that character and make sure that the garment serves me.

You can do this by thinking through the garment’s color, what red means instead of pink, or by thinking about the garment’s physiologies. A certain kind of collar is professional, while another one is more playful. The pattern of the cloth is important too- plaids and stripes mean different things than say birds and cat fabric. This is the playful part, mashing up all of these meanings into one item of clothing. It’s like you turn the life skill of sewing into a superpower when you learn your own customization methods and intentions.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I really love caring for my amazing and supportive husband and our two cats (I adore my cats, they help me unwind and force me to sit still.) I like to cook and read a lot. And I love my neighborhood pilates and yoga studio (I’m in Mid City). I try to go there 4-5 days a week because its my favorite way to decompress and let go of any stress or worry that I’m carrying from a day.

What’s the mission of the creative business group you founded?
I volunteer my time once a month in a private business group that I co-founded with another local business owner. It’s small — there are six businesses in the group and they are all in Baton Rouge and in the creative fields. They either make their own products or sell creative services.

My cofounder and I felt that they didn’t teach us enough business practices in art school and that we needed a place to run ideas past other risk takers. We share our collective knowledge and experience, and focus our meetings in business education and growth. Each month we try to choose topics we can all learn and apply in our businesses. I personally love every business in our group and want them all to succeed here in Baton Rouge.

To learn more about Andrea or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

LSU Professor and Researcher Juan Martinez Battles Disease-Causing Bacteria With Science

2/13/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Juan Martinez standing in a lab behind two microscopes
​LSU professor, researcher and TEDxLSU 2019 speaker Juan Martinez cares about bacteria. More specifically, he is laying the scientific groundwork to tackle the persistent problem of bacteria that cause diseases that are unable to be treated with traditional medications.

As part of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Juan’s lab is focused on finding alternatives to antibiotics to combat certain classes of disease-causing bacteria.

Born and raised in Chicago’s predominantly Mexican immigrant neighborhood La Villita, Juan’s fascination with the inner workings of things drew him to the field of science. Juan earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent four years as a post-doctoral research scholar at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France.

Juan’s work has covered a wide range of biomedical research, including an investigation of tick-borne diseases funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His lab’s work is expanding the arsenal to combat some of the most difficult infections plaguing humans and other animals.

We recently chatted with Juan ahead of his TEDxLSU talk on March 23 to discuss his work, his life and what it’s like being a transplant hockey fan in southern Louisiana. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you end up at LSU?
I was a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago from 2005-2012. During this time, my good friend and now colleague, Dr. Kevin Macaluso, (who is also a professor in Pathobiological Sciences) invited me to give a talk at LSU. Honestly, aside from knowing that LSU had great football and baseball teams, I didn’t really know much about the school let alone other schools in the SEC.

I went back to Chicago very much impressed with the department and with the support from the School of Veterinary Medicine. I very much felt that I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and I saw a lot of potential in how the department and the school could grow in terms of research. I was at a point where I needed to make a career move and when a faculty position became open in PBS I was encouraged by Dr. Macaluso and also Dr. Gus Kousoulas (Professor in PBS and also Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development at LSU) to apply. I came back and interviewed for the position — and the rest, as they say, is history. I am very happy that I chose to move down south. As I tell my Yankee friends, I don’t think that I ever want to move north of I-12.

What attracted you to your field?
I’ve always been attracted to how things work and behave. Ever since I was in elementary school, I’ve been fascinated by understanding the mechanisms of things — the how and why, if you will.

I had the opportunity to participate in an NIH Summer Apprenticeship program the summer prior to my first semester freshman year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This research experience had a lasting impression on me and got me hooked on biomedical research. I knew that this was my calling.

That curiosity on how things work evolved into a question of how microbes that are invisible to the eye can cause such devastating outcomes in humans and animals. That basic research in a lab — results obtained from a culture dish — can often translate, after a lot of work, to therapies that are used in mammals to combat disease. This makes the work of my research team very fulfilling.

I understand you’re a huge hockey fan. How do you manage your fandom in a place that doesn’t give much attention to the sport?
You would be surprised about how many hockey fans are roaming around Baton Rouge. I’ve met several Chicago transplants that are also diehard Blackhawks fans here and depending on my mood, I’ll catch a game at Pluckers on Bluebonnet or Walk-On’s near campus. I’ll admit, I did get some strange looks when I asked that a TV be changed to hockey, but as long as I’m not changing a Saints or LSU Tigers game, I’m usually OK.

How long did you live in France? What do you miss most about that experience?
I lived in Paris as a post-doctoral research fellow from 2001-2005. These years were formative not only for me as a scientist, but also as a person. I made some friendships that are lifelong and I know that my knowing them made me a better person.

I miss them dearly and interestingly enough, the majority of my really close friends in Paris also came from other parts of the world including, Spain, Uruguay, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Portugal.

Of course I miss the food. There is an outdoor market across the street from the Corvisart Metro line in Paris, down the hill from where I used to live in the 13th arrondissement (La Butte aux Cailles neighborhood) that I used to frequent especially on weekends. I miss the artisan bread, pastries, cheese and charcuterie (oh, la, la c’est trop bon le jambon de bayonne!).

The quality of ingredients is simply second to none — they’ve been doing this for centuries in some cases and they are good at what they do. I miss stopping off at a cafe, sitting outside, having a coffee and watching the world go by.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I love to play golf, as frustrating as it can be. There is nothing better than taking out some frustration on a little white ball and watching it go where you aimed — at least sometimes. I’ve gotten better over the years, which of course translates to a better enjoyment on the course. The fact that one can do this essentially all year long is also a bonus to living in Louisiana.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I absolutely love to entertain and cook for people. I lived by myself in Paris and decided that I really wanted to learn how to cook classic French food and desserts. I learned a lot regarding proper techniques and, importantly, how to make the sauces that make French food so delicious.

What is your superpower?
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a superpower, but I tend to pick up languages fairly quickly. I grew up speaking Spanish before I spoke English, but I picked up French as a total immersion experience in about 6-7 months. I understand Italian and Portuguese pretty well and can hold my own a little with Swedish. I think if you dropped me into some random country, I’d be able to survive and, given a little time, pick up the basics of a language.

To learn more about Juan or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience his talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Nalo Zidan Is Shining A Light On The Lived Experiences of Masculine-Identified Women and Non-Binary People

2/7/2019

 
​Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Nalo Zidan sitting in a leather chair in front of a wall of windows
​Nalo Zidan is a Queer Black artist, activist and writer highlighting the nuanced lived experiences of masculine-identified women and nonbinary people. The independent Black Masculinities Womanist scholar is the Founder and Creative Director of Blackgirlmasculine, a nonprofit organization and media space documenting the ideas, issues and artistic contributions of Queer, Black masculine-identified women and non-binary people.

Founded in 2016, the organization serves a global audience with a mission to expand and archive non-normative masculine identities. Born in Maryland and raised between New York and Washington D.C., Nalo moved to Baton Rouge in 2014 to experience life in the Deep South. She is completing a degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality studies at LSU, with plans to pursue a PhD.

Nalo is the acting president of Qroma at LSU, an organization for Queer students of color at the university. Nalo has dedicated her life to starting conversations that shift how we see the world and everyone in it, while helping Queer Black women feel seen, heard and healed along the way.

We recently chatted with Nalo, who is one of the speakers at TEDxLSU 2019 on March 23, to discuss her work and life. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

How did you end up at LSU?
I ended up in Baton Rouge as a wandering, nomadic spirit curious about life and love in the South.

What do you like most about the work you do?
My favorite aspect of my work/art is archiving and creating space for my existence and the experiences of other Queer Black women. This is important to me in a world that doesn’t already have a spotlight on the nuances that exist in my community’s lived experiences.

You’ve participated in a lot of academic conferences in the past few years. What are your most memorable experiences from those?
My most memorable experience was connecting with Alice Walker, Angela Davis and Cathy Cohen, three of my favorite Black Feminist authors. They embraced me, encouraging me to continue starting conversations that shift how we see the world, and everyone in it.

How is the field of women and gender studies changing or evolving?
In my opinion, the field of Women & Gender Studies is evolving to acknowledge more nuance. I don’t believe that anyone can study women without also acknowledging masculine, trans and non-binary women’s experiences. It’s a lot of work to introduce yourself time and time again, but I also thoroughly enjoy being one of the forces making them uncomfortable. We’ve been here, and we will no longer be silent.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I love meditation, reading, journaling, poetry and music. I try to catch an open mic to release some things whenever I get the time, my favorite form of artistic therapy. I also really love connecting with the QTPOC (Queer & Trans People of Color) community in art, love and joy.

Do you have any other hobbies?
Not many folks know that I can sing. But I love it. I love playing the piano and hooping at the gym every once in a while too. My favorite sport.

What is your superpower?
Great question. If I had to say so, I’d say my superpower is connecting with community and gathering people together. I have a unique, innate ability to connect with all kinds of people — emotionally, spiritually and personally. I am deeply empathic, and love connecting with tenderness in other humans. I used these gifts to create BGM as a Family first, rather than just a not-for-profit entity.

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and no one can tell me that I am not apart of Gryffindor forever.

Of all the 2019 TEDxLSU speakers, which are you most excited about seeing?
Ideas are powerful like poetry — a way for us to communicate our understandings of the world in our own language. I look forward to being inspired by each speaker in a different way. I’m so thankful to be among them.


To learn more about Nalo or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience their talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.
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