About Point of Pride

Aydian has been speaking out and providing for the transgender community since 2009, with the start of his YouTube Channel, ALionsFears. His continued drive and love to provide for an underprivileged transgender community has lead him to creating Point 5cc and Point of Pride. As a motivational speaker and trans activist, Aydian is beyond ecstatic for the ever-growing programs at Point of Pride that will have a direct impact on our community.

Over the years, Jeff has utilized his skills as a designer, developer and marketing professional to help LGBT, health & wellness, and mental health non-profits of all sizes. Jeff is most passionate about expanding the free chest binder donations to reach even more trans folks in need.

Nash has years of experience working with nonprofits, high risk youth, children with disabilities and the LGBT community. He was the treasurer of the Alpha Phi Omega co ed fraternity and introduced LGBT related programs within. He spent 5 years working in the commercial real estate field, introducing new marketing and social media initiatives. He is a writer whose biggest dream is to connect and offer guidance to others through his words.

Laila Ireland is a 13 year Army Veteran and is one of 15,500 transgender service members to serve in the United States Military. She served as an interrogator and combat medic and has 3 deployment tours to the Middle East. In 2012, she assisted in the establishment of SPARTA (Service Members, Partners, and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All), a group of LGBT people who currently serve or have served in the military and their families as well as veteran and uniformed allies. An organization built by, for and with members from all parts of the LGBT military community. Which also aided in the policy change in July 2016 to allow transgender people to serve openly. She now serves on the SPARTA Board of Directors as the Membership/ Communications Chair. Laila is a strong advocate for the LGBT community, LGBT military community and LGBT Health Care. As an Advocate, Speaker, Transgender Activist, Laila is excited to be a part of the amazing team that helps positively change and shape the lives of other transgender individuals.

Emily Kaufman is currently a Junior at the University of Michigan and hopes to pursue a degree in law upon completion of her undergraduate education. Emily is heavily involved in advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues on campus and is a member of the LGBT advocacy board at Michigan. She is also the founder and president of the only campus-wide LGBTQ+ organization at the University of Michigan in order to foster inclusion, lasting friendships, and incurring social change. “From Death to Life” is Emily’s first published work, a collection of poems about her transition. Writing about both fiction as well as academic research are two things Emily hopes to pursue throughout her life. As a founding board member of Point of Pride, Emily is thrilled to have this opportunity to help transgender individuals receive necessary assistance in order to live authentic lives.

Gwendelen Cady is a student at Spokane Falls Community College currently working on her Associates of Arts degree in hopes to transfer and further her education to obtain degrees in Botany and Genetics. Gwendelen has worked as a production intern for a local LGBT+ radio show in her town as well as managed a local social and support group for the last two years. Gwendelen has also participated in transgender panels locally to help educate people in the trials and tribulations as well as the process of being one’s authentic self. In her spare time, she likes to work on building a modeling portfolio and read in coffee shops. As a founding board member she is excited to learn and help create a positive change in the lives of her trans brothers and trans sisters.

Kit has 15 years of practice in brand development and digital media for socially, culturally, and community-driven organizations. This work has included Echoing Green–a global accelerator for social entrepreneurs, Housing Works–a pioneer in LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS organizing, and founding Sheepless–by/for/about radical small businesses.

As a parent (and a queer kid once, too), Kit is committed to elevating messages of unconditional love and support for trans and queer youth.

Jenilee Dowling is an (MSW) Therapist and Energy Healer. She has dedicated her life to changing the way people feel about their own identities and empowering people to be their authentic selves. Jenilee worked in the social services field for about ten years, 5 of them as a therapist. She’s worked with the LGBT community doing individual and group therapy, advocacy work and creating positive change in schools with a focus on making them a safer place for LGBT students to learn. Today, Jenilee works with the LGBT community as an Energy Healer, via her business Readings By Jenilee, helping clients to release the discordant energies that contribute to them not living as their authentic selves.

Phunrab has been a fully ordained Buddhist monk for 10 years. He is an atheist, cisgender, celibate pansexual, HIV+ long term survivor, vegetarian, transgender ally. His most recent position was being the Treasurer of a Buddhist temple for seven years in Arlington, Texas. He also has been a Buddhist teacher, a public speaker, and a meditation instructor for many levels of meditation practitioners. He has a diverse background of Business Administration with a degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. His greatest hope is to be able to help all LGBTQ+ people, and especially the transgender community through the many virtuous activities of Point of Pride.

Meryl is a second-year PhD candidate studying the connections between political thought and aesthetics, with interest in feminism and decolonial thought. She has years of experience working with nonprofits, the LGBT community, and children with disabilities, and is excited about the opportunity to serve the trans community through this role. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, traveling, and drinking too much coffee.