Meet our new Development Intern Sam! Sam just started working at the DC Center, but has had a huge impact already. In the first week alone, Sam has already done a great amount of work with our sponsors and has brought in a bunch of donations for the DC Center. Sam brings a positive attitude and great work ethic to the Center! Come say hello during the week!
Birthdate, Astro Sign.
I’m a Taurus and Sagittarius rising as well as a diligent follower of Chani Nicholas, who’s a queer astrologist who focuses on how social justice and astrology intersect and inform one another.
Where are you originally from?
I’m from the DC area. I grew up in the Palisades in NW before moving to Bethesda, Maryland. I went to high school at the Edmund Burke School and now I’m in college at Haverford College right near Philadelphia. I’m home from college for the summer, so I started interning with the DC Center as a way to reconnect with the LGBTQ+ community in DC.
When and why did you start volunteering at the DC Center?
I started at the end of June because I was looking to give my time to working to support the Queer and Trans community in DC. I also started interning because I wanted to be around people in the LGBTQ+ community. There’s something invigorating about seeing many LGBTQ+ folk come in and out of the center
What has been your favorite part about volunteering with the DC Center so far?
My favorite part has been meeting all the wonderful people who work in the office. It’s only been a week, but I’m already enjoying just working in the space and getting to know the people who are committed to making the DC Center a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ people living in the DC area.
What is your favorite event that the DC Center offers?
The only event I’ve been to so far is one of the support groups. It was a really supportive and affirming space, and it’s so great that we have so many support groups that focus on unique experiences in our community. I’m looking forward to going to more events and meeting more people who engage with the DC Center’s work.
What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community?
My favorite part of the LGBTQ+ community is its capacity for growth and change. That change may move at a sluggish pace, but I’m inspired by those in our community speaking out against the power imbalances within and between our communities whether its inaccessibility, racism, transphobia, biphobia, etc. Those who challenge us to be better are the heart of our community.
Who do you look up to in the queer community?
I’m really inspired by Travis Alabanza, a trans and nonbinary performance artist and poet based in London. I had the privilege of seeing them perform at my college, and their poetry chapbook Before I Step Outside [You Love Me] is incredible and has helped me start to come to terms with aspects of my identity.
What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?
I really love the Phillips Collection. I’m a little bit of an Art History nerd and I love going there on the weekends when it’s free and just spending some time looking at some amazing art pieces.