Unny and Parvathy in Kerala India. We hadn’t seen each other since 1978!

What I’m doing now, as of January, 2023

Wellness and Social

  • I continue to go to talk therapy every week.
  • I enjoy regular running, biking (for transportation), ice skating and and cross country skiing. I plan on training for a triathlon this year with other BIPOC triathletes
  • I went to England and India in November and December. I connected with activists in England, as well as a couple of relatives, and family in India. My trip to India was delayed and that was challenging! (And a story for another post). Overall the trip was great.

Learning and Growing

  • I continue to be a farmed animal advocate mentor and will continue that
  • Attempting various online dating here and there, happy to meet women

Community and Activism

  • I continue to serve on the board of my townhome association.
  • I plan on attending the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit in July of 2023 in Los Angeles. Please join me!

Employment

  • I am fundraising for United Renters for Justice. This has been very fulfilling and meaningful. I appreciate how the organization faces adversity with empathy and transformation. It’s challenging to find the time in my life to get this work done.
  • I normally do bike delivery for Brake Bread. We are on hiatus from bicycle delivery for January – March, 2022, so I won’t be riding during this time
  • I have another nonprofit contract jobs.
  • I see a career counselor regularly and talk to a career development buddy regularly as well.

See the archives of what I’m currently doing.

Unny and Jonathan
Unny and Jonathan at Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland. We went for a trail run in this beautiful park in October!

What I’m doing now, as of November, 2022

Wellness and Social

  • I continue to go to talk therapy every week.
  • I enjoy regular running, biking (for transportation) and and swimming. I did a half marathon for the second time and the Hopkins Royal Triathlon for the fourth time. I was very excited about the latter and have since connected with vegan triathletes and BIPOC triathletes
  • I will be traveling to England and India in November and December. I’ll be connecting with activists in England, as well as a couple of relatives, and family in India.

Learning and Growing

Community and Activism

Employment

  • I am fundraising for United Renters for Justice. This has been very fulfilling and meaningful. I appreciate how the organization faces adversity with empathy and transformation. It’s challenging to find the time in my life to get this work done.
  • I do bike delivery for Brake Bread. I enjoy spending time outside and I feel like I have gotten better at this work.
  • I have another nonprofit contract jobs.
  • I went to Washington DC area for the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit and visit some family. The summit was fantastic! I was so glad to reconnect with the animal protection movement. I served as an advisor and had a small staff role at the conference.
  • I see a career counselor regularly and talk to a career development buddy regularly as well.

See the archives of what I’m currently doing.

What I’m doing now, as of June, 2022

Organizing

  • I served on the board of Encompass over the last couple of years. Encompass is now closing. For me, it’s been sad, stressful, and time-consuming. I will say more about this later.
  • I am working on a couple of accountability processes with men.

Wellness and Social

  • I continue to go to talk therapy every week.
  • I enjoy regular running, biking (for transportation) and and swimming. I ran the Get In Gear 5K at the end of April and that went very well. I am considering signing up for another triathlon.
  • I traveled to Denver, Colorado in January to visit friends, family and activists and to Southern California for the LEAD conference and visiting people. Both visits were great, though I got covid on the first visit and during the second visit

Learning and Growing

  • I finished my Internal Family Systems study group this winter
  • I continue studying with a group of movement healer folks
  • I will be joining the Coalition of Asian American Leaders Making Our Voices Effective for Equity cohort this summer
  • I will be a farmed animal advocate mentor for the second half of 2022.
  • Attempting various online dating here and there, happy to meet women

Community

  • I continue to serve on the board of my townhome association. This is a challenge to contribute something meaningful.

Employment

  • I am fundraising for United Renters for Justice. This has been very fulfilling and meaningful. I appreciate how the organization faces adversity with empathy and transformation. It’s challenging to find the time in my life to get this work done.
  • I do bike delivery for Brake Bread. I enjoy spending time outside and I feel like I have gotten better at this work.
  • I have two other nonprofit contract jobs. Both are fulfilling.
  • I see a career counselor regularly and talk to a career development buddy regularly as well.

See the archives of what I’m currently doing.

What I’m doing now, as of December, 2021

Organizing

  • I am enjoying serving on the Board of Directors of Encompass.

Wellness and Social

  • I have been going to talk therapy every other week. That has been going very well!
  • I enjoy regular walks and runs. I finished my third triathlon in September and my first half-marathon in July.
  • I traveled to Richmond, Virginia for my friend Christopher’s wedding in October. I also spent time in Chicago and the Washington, DC area and saw many friends, family, and animal advocacy folks. It was a wonderfully connecting experience.
  • Attempting various online dating here and there, happy to meet women

Learning and Growing

  • I am organizing and participating in an Internal Family Systems study group
  • I finished up with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people. We are wrapping up in August, 2021
  • I completed the Movement Chaplaincy Training this summer and I am organizing a local study group

Community

  • I serve on the board of my townhome association again

    • Employment

    What I’m doing now, as of July, 2021

    Organizing

    • I am enjoying serving on the Board of Directors of Encompass.
    • I completed Encompass’ Executive Development Cohort

    Wellness and Social

    • I have been going to talk therapy every other week. That has been going very well!
    • I enjoy regular walks and runs. I am preparing for a triathlon in September and signed up for a half-marathon. I’ve run a 10,000 meter race before, and a marathon, and this is my first time running anything inbetween!
    • I did a short bike tour in Wisconsin in May.
    • Attempting various online dating here and there, happy to meet women

    Learning and Growing

    • I am organizing and participating in an Internal Family Systems study group
    • I continue to do work with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people. We are wrapping up in August, 2021
    • I have started the Movement Chaplaincy Training this summer and I am organizing a local study group

    Employment

    • I finished temporary development (fundraising) contract with Phoenix Zones Initiative
    • I do bike delivery for Brake Bread
    • I finished working for Aaron Zellhoefer on his campaign for the Minneapolis Board of Estimation and Taxation
    • I now consider myself a consultant
    • I am about to start a new fundraising gig that I am excited about and will announce soon!
    • I see a career counselor regularly

    See the archives of what I’m currently doing.

    What I’m doing now, as of May, 2021

    Organizing

    • I am enjoying serving on the Board of Directors of Encompass.
    • I participate in Encompass’ Executive Development Cohort
    • I volunteer for Sisters Camelot, where I help distribute reclaimed organic food

    Wellness and Social

    • I have been going to talk therapy every other week. That has been going very well!
    • I enjoy regular walks and runs. I am preparing for a triathlon in September and considering running a half-marathon.
    • I am doing a short bike tour in Wisconsin in May.
    • I biked to a friend’s farm and enjoyed time planting rows, playing with kids, dogs, and adults
    • Attempting various online dating here and there, happy to meet women
    biking with friends

    Learning and Growing

    • I tried Re-Evaluation Counseling. This summer I am organizing an Internal Family Systems study group
    • I continue to do work with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people
    • I have enrolled the Movement Chaplaincy Training this summer and I am organizing a local study group

    Community

    • I have been writing for my neighborhood newsletter, Close to Home

    Employment

    • I continue temporary development (fundraising) contract with Phoenix Zones Initiative
    • I am starting bike delivery for Brake Bread
    • I am helping Aaron Zellhoefer on his campaign for the Minneapolis Board of Estimation and Taxation
    • I now consider myself a consultant and am open to various gigs
    • I see a career counselor regularly
    • I considered being a lifeguard with the Minneapolis parks this summer, but it ended up being too many hours

    What I’m doing now, as of February, 2021

    Organizing

    • I am planning one local and one national/international of virtual retreats with Our Wellness and Liberation, probably in February of 2021.
    • I attend a virtual/national/international meditation group for animal advocates and coordinate accountability buddies
    • I am enjoying serving on the Board of Directors of Encompass. I was actively fundraising in November and December of 2020.
    • I attend and participate in conversations and events around equity and wellness in animal advocacy
    • Attending the Animal Justice Academy

    Wellness

    • I continue to do work with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people.
    • I have been working on a few different minor medical issues, including sleep issues and minor ankle pain.
    • I have been going to talk therapy weekly. That has been going very well!
    • I have started practicing and learning Re-evaluation Counseling.
    • I enjoy regular walks, runs, cross country skiing and biking both solo and with a friend. I have also gone sledding and ice skating.
    • I got certified in First Aid/CPR

    Community

    Employment

    • I am currently unemployed
    • I am not looking for ongoing work, but I may take on side / contract / temporary work
    • I am determining my career direction. I have a career counselor and am starting to check in with a regular accountability buddy

    As of November of 2020, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I continue to run and that has been mostly going well, and I am appreciating slowing increasing fitness level.

    I am planning one local and one national/international of virtual retreats with Our Wellness and Liberation, probably in February of 2021.

    I continue to do work with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people.

    I am enjoying serving on the Board of Directors of Encompass.

    For work, I continue to coach and train small organizations on individual donor fundraising with GiveMN.

    As of September of 2020, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I finished the swim season (more or less) and continue to run for a triathlon next year.

    Through Our Wellness and Liberation, I will be hosting a virtual meditation at the Green Gifts Fair in November.  Our Wellness and Liberation will be co-sponsoring the World Farm Animals Day Vigil with Compassionate Action for Animals and others, and I will be fasting that day. I hope to host a couple of virtual retreats with Our Wellness and Liberation this winter.

    I continue to do work with my Mens Collaborative Accountability Group, where we learn about being healthier, just, and loving men and people.

    I co-hosted a Black-led organizing solidarity event with the Alliance of Progressive South Asians at the beginning of the summer and I’m organizing a pair-up solidarity/co-education event.

    I wrote an essay for Encompass/Sentient Media about racial equity and animal advocacy and have joined the Board of Directors of Encompass.

    For work, I continue to coach and train small organizations on individual donor fundraising with GiveMN.

    As of May of 2020, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I have been training for a triathlon, now canceled because of the COVID 19 pandemic, and that’s been great. I am going to continue to train since I appreciate how it feels to move my body and feel healthy. I am ahead of schedule with my running. I have been biking less (there aren’t many places to go because of the pandemic), but I have enjoyed riding my new road bike. I have spent more time during the pandemic away from screens, meditating, and walking. I am grateful for the privilege I have.

    I continue to host monthly Our Wellness and Liberation gatherings which are now online. I had been considering planning another retreat, and now I’m glad it wasn’t going forward since we would have canceled it because of the pandemic.

    I have been engaged in a variety of equity and animal advocacy projects, like leading the Equity Advisory Committee for the Animal Rights National Conference. The conference will be online this year, and the committee will not have a lot to do this year. I will also lead the committee for the 2021 conference. I attended and very much appreciated the Encompass Foundational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit in March and participate in their Global Majority Caucus.

    For work, I am coaching and training small organizations on individual donor fundraising with GiveMN. I left BiteSquad and Seed Cafe a few months ago.

    As of December 2019, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I bought two more bikes! I have a new fat tire bike with studded tires for winter riding and my first-ever road bike that I will using in the warmer months. The fat tire bike is slow and really great, and I hope to use the fat tire bike to do longer commutes, e.g. to visit relatives in the suburbs. I’ll have to figure out how to not carry so many things (food, clothing, spare tubes, and much more); I don’t want to weigh down the bike with a rack and panniers. I continue to unlearn toxic masculinity and have started a mens collaborative accountability group. I continue to host monthly Our Wellness and Liberation gatherings and I’m considering planning another retreat. And as usual biking around town, cooking food with and for friends, singing, meditating, and reading.

    For work, I am doing the following part time:

    • Doing bike delivery for BiteSquad
    • Taking orders, making drinks, and talking about animal advocacy and veganism for Seed Cafe
    • Coaching and training small organizations on individual donor fundraising with GiveMN

    As of November 2019, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I am likely to do another sprint-distance triathlon in 2020. I have been unlearning toxic masculinity and attending many events related to this including a weekend with Victories for Men, starting a men’s group, attending a live broadcasting of the What’s Good, Man podcast, and more. I continue to host monthly Our Wellness and Liberation gatherings and I’m considering planning another retreat. And as usual biking around town, cooking food with and for friends, singing, meditating, and reading.

    For work, I am doing the following part time:

    As of September 2019, here are some of the things I’m doing with my life 

    I am likely to do another sprint-distance triathlon in 2019. I am looking into unlearning toxic masculinity within myself and exploring different groups to do this. I am facilitating monthly meditations for animal advocates. I serve on the board of my townhome association where I live. I’ll be doing my third bike-camp trip later this fall. And as usual biking around town, cooking food with and for friends, singing, meditating, and reading.

    For work, I am doing the following part time:

    • Doing bike delivery for BiteSquad
    • Taking orders, making drinks, and talking about animal advocacy and veganism for Seed Cafe
    • Sometimes training nonprofit people on fundraising. I specialize in individual donor fundraising for small organizations
    • Training in my successor at the Center for Workers United in Struggle.