July 2025
Why I Chose This Work—and Why I’m Still Here
As the Executive Director at Agate, I often get asked why I work to end homelessness, and what keeps me going. The truth is, this work is personal. It connects to my own story, my values, and the people I meet every day.
I’ve Been There
In college, I came out as gay in a place and time where that wasn’t easy. My roommates asked me to leave, even though I was part of a legal lease, and management was of no help. I wasn’t sleeping outside, but I didn’t have a stable home. I had to rely on the kindness of coworkers and friends to get by for a few months until I was able to stabilize. At the time, I didn’t have the words for it, but now I know. I experienced housing instability. That early experience helped me understand how fast someone’s life can change.
Later, I worked in luxury housing in San Francisco. I worked for a company that renovated apartment buildings and in turn long term residents were pushed out as rent increased. I will never forget meeting with a mother who had no where else to go, and couldn’t afford to stay, it broke my heart. I was part of the problem and that didn’t feel right. I remember thinking, “I don’t want to do this anymore, I want to help.” That was the moment I decided to switch paths and focus on housing justice.
This Work Is About People
Over the years, I’ve worked in small towns and big cities. I’ve seen seniors trying to stay housed on fixed incomes. I’ve met immigrants with incredible skills and education who can’t find work here. I’ve helped people who have been through more than most of us can imagine. And all of them had one thing in common: they simply wanted a safe place to call home.
One moment I’ll never forget happened just recently, right outside the Wedge Co-op. A woman sitting on the sidewalk gave me a compliment as I rushed past. I turned back, started a conversation, and found out she was working with one of our case managers at Agate. She had a housing plan in progress. We remembered each other the next time we crossed paths. That small moment reminded me that the people we serve aren’t just “clients.” They’re neighbors. They’re part of my community and not just part of my work. They’re full of humor, hope, and humanity.
Everything Led Me Here
My career path hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve worked for for-profit housing companies, small government programs, and now Agate. Along the way, I’ve also studied theology and social justice. I am a co-pastor at a Lutheran Church in a Minneapolis suburb. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt shaped how I see this work. They helped me put words to the values I already held: that every person deserves dignity, safety, and respect.
Agate feels like a full-circle moment for me. It’s a place where my personal story, my education, my work experience, and my faith all come together. Our team includes many people who have experienced homelessness themselves. That lived experience gives our work heart. It reminds us why we do what we do.
Why I Keep Showing Up
Do I miss the hands-on work? Absolutely. I’d love to spend more time in Agate’s Welcome Center, talking with guests. But I know my job now is to support the whole organization. I get to help lead a team of 130 talented staff that treats people like people, not problems.
I do this work because it matters. Because I’ve lived parts of it. Because I believe in kindness, fairness, and home. And because I know that when we walk alongside people, instead of judging or giving up on them, we can change lives. Including our own.
If you’re reading this, then you’re part of that work, too. And I’m grateful to be doing it with you.
