Hi friends!

As you all know, back in 2014, I joined forces with Oregon’s largest provider of mental and behavioral healthcare for children and families, Trillium Family Services. Since that time, our team has worked tirelessly to build and launch the organization’s advocacy platform: Keep Oregon Well!

Since its inception, the #KeepOregonWell campaign and social movement has been fighting stigma and ending the discrimination facing people with persistent mental health conditions, in partnership with thousands of individuals, bands, artists, celebrities, authors, athletes, media outlets, companies and organizations, all committed to creating safer, more supportive, trauma-informed communities across the state. Reaching so many people every week through the Keep Oregon Well partner network, this movement has grown organically, received grants, won awards, opened doors to healing, transformed schools and workplaces, expanded into new corners of Oregon, and continues to authentically meet community where they are to this day.

After 4 years and countless hearts and minds changed, I am leaving my role as Chief Impact Officer at Trillium Group to focus on a mountain of upcoming music and TV projects. Building this movement with each and every one of you—and watching it take off—has truly been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Thank you so much for the opportunity, for your belief in me, and for all of these years of support. I carry each of you with me as I go, and I can’t wait to watch Keep Oregon Well grow from afar!

My buddies Portugal. The Man are just some of the many partners who have committed to sharing the message of Keep Oregon Well over these years. I will be with the band at their shows in Oregon later this month, sharing the message of mental health wellness (though in an unofficial capacity, by that time). I hope to see you all there!

Join the Keep Oregon Well movement today by taking the #MentalHealthMatters Pledge to Fight Stigma at www.KeepOregonWell.com and follow my next adventure right here!

All of you who follow me know that I am passionate about mental health — particularly around destigmatizing issues of trauma and addiction.

For the past 4.5 years I have been doing LGBTQ advocacy and communications work with Q Center in Portland, and I am pleased to announce that I have accepted a position as Communications Director for Trillium Family Services, Oregon’s largest provider of mental & behavioral healthcare for children and families.  Click HERE for the full scoop.

My mental health advocacy journey continues, and I hope you will join me in supporting both of these amazing organizations as I embark on this new adventure with you all! Thanks to everyone who has been posting sweet things and flooding my inbox with messages since the announcement.

I love you, too!

The Accidental Bear Queer Music Summer Tour Benefit for LGBTQ Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention is happening in one month! To get everybody pumped up for the July shows, AccidentalBear.com has released a FREE 13 song compilation record called “AB // XO – Volume 1” featuring songs by all 5 bands on the tour – Logan Lynn, Big Dipper, Conquistador, Darling Gunsel, and Rica Shay!

Download your copy by clicking on the record cover below or visit THIS LINK.

Tickets and info on the charity tour are available HERE. We will be in San Francisco on July 5th, Los Angeles on July 7th, Portland on July 11th, Seattle on July 14th, and New York City on July 19th. Get yours now!

To listen to “AB // XO – Volume 1”, press play below.

Check out this tracklist:

Oh haaaaay world! Tickets for the Accidental Bear Queer Music Summer Tour Benefit For LGBTQ Mental Health Services & Suicide Prevention with Logan Lynn, Big Dipper, Conquistador, Darling Gunsel, and Rica Shay go on sale May 1st.

The Kickstarter raised a portion of money to make this tour happen, but we are still looking for sponsors to help us cover expenses so we can play these shows and donate the proceeds to Ali Forney Center (NYC), Pride Foundation (Seattle), Q Center (PDX), LA Gay & Lesbian Center, and Stonewall Project (SF). Putting together a 5-band tour takes a bit of cash…but nowhere near as much cash as the tour stands to raise for these vital community resources this summer!

If you are an individual, business, corporation, or organization and you are interested in showing your support of the LGBTQ community, a great way to do that is to become a sponsor of this tour! Click HERE to download the official sponsorship packet. We are especially needing travel and accommodations sponsors, but welcome anyone who would like to get involved in this part of the charity. Additionally, we realize not everyone can donate money or services, but everyone can help us spread the word. Share this post if you feel moved to contribute, friends!

Click to enlarge the tour posters below and RSVP to the event page in your city.
We are coming for you…

Friday, July 5th – Beatbox, San Francisco, CA

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Sunday, July 7th – Los Globos, Los Angeles, CA

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Thursday, July 11th – Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Sunday, July 14th – Chop Suey, Seattle, WA

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Friday, July 19th – Webster Hall, New York City, NY

CLICK HERE TO RSVP