Breaking News: I’m in the Pantsuit Nation Book…

Guess what, friends?? I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for the last few months to share this piece of exciting news: I’M IN THE PANTSUIT NATION BOOK!!!!!

(I’ll let you recover from the shock for a minute…)

It’s been an amazing experience to witness Pantsuit Nation grow in the wake of the November election. The Facebook group was founded by Libby Chamberlain in October 2016 to bring together Hillary Clinton supporters and encourage those going to the polls to wear pantsuits on Election Day. Before long, the group had swelled to more than 3 million members, becoming a safe space for people to share their stories and their dedications for change. I’m so inspired by its mission…

“At the center of Pantsuit Nation is the belief that change—even global, political, tectonic change—comes, first, from the heart. If our country and world are to heal, to bridge our gaps, and to progress forward together toward a more just and inclusive future, we must do something to move the hearts of those who are hardened to the issues facing people who have been historically underrepresented or excluded. And we believe the best way to move a heart is to share a story.”

And now, I’m thrilled that my story is part of the fabric of that change. When Libby contacted me at the end of the year and asked if I’d be interested in having one of my posts to the group considered for this book she was working on, I was honored — well, honestly, I was also a bit shocked as well. I’d read so many posts in the group and thought there were so many voices worthy of being included in the book. Stories about people’s experiences in Trump’s America. Stories about people’s families. Stories from people sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to narrow the selections down, but the finished book turned out beautifully! It includes contributions by more than 250 people from around the world, in moving prose and vibrant, striking photography.

In my story, I talk about feeling overlooked as a woman with a disability and finally realizing that I’m a worthy person. Spoiler alert: I’m not going anywhere. I’m so glad that my mom was the one who snapped the photo that accompanies my story; she’s ALWAYS been my advocate, so it’s only fitting that we’re sharing this journey and milestone with each other too.

The book officially hits stores on May 9th, but you can preorder now! I’m proud to be just a small part of a much larger, on-going movement. Because this is only the beginning. The cornerstone of Pantsuit Nation is simple: “to harnesses the power of collective storytelling to drive social and political change.” People can change the world. These stories are living proof of that… xoxo