As a young autistic person, I faced many challenges and had apparently limited opportunities. But life had surprises in store.

My son, who is also autistic, and I shared special moments on the metro 5 bus route in Seattle as we traveled the city for our many therapy and medical appointments in the early 2000's. Passing the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co, my son would light up at the sight of the giant copper rocketship gleaming in the window. We'd dream together about space travel, and this opened a door for me to connect with his enthusiasm, imagination, and budding verbal abilities.

After graduating from the University of Washington, I spent years as the Executive Director of a nonprofit for adults with developmental disabilities. Though rewarding, the work was draining and isolating, especially during the pandemic. When I stepped down, I felt a strong need to reflect on my life's story. What did I want it to say? I decided that my next job had to be something I was truly passionate about, something that allowed me to work from a place of creative abundance instead of necessity, connecting with the community and supporting people I care for in my own way.

This reflection led me to the Bureau of Fearless Ideas. I didn't even connect it with the rocketship storefront until I walked up to the building on my first day. It was like coming full circle. Now, I'm excited to give back to a community that once brought joy and hope to my son and me. The Bureau is more than a job; it's a chance to support young people to envision life on their own terms, to become the authors of their own futures.