How has my week been? It's been all: Yes, I’ll get my November SNAP benefits. No, I won’t. Yes, maybe a bit. No, not at all. Yes, of course, because Minnesota is nice. No, wait a minute – will it get clawed back? Can they even? What the actual f*cK is happening? What kind of… Continue reading Oh SNAP Part 2: To have or have not?
It's hard to stay positive this week and you all know that I'm a positive person - give me a road block and I'll plow right through it. I'll advocate. I'll testify. I'll blog. I'll share my story. I'll do anything to make sure that folks understand some of the issues you get to deal… Continue reading Oh, SNAP
Normally, I probably would have gone to the big No Kings Rally in Minneapolis or they even had a huge one in my hometown of White Bear Lake! Go WBL! I was visiting my grandparents this past weekend in Pipestone, MN - a very conservative part of the state. So, of course, we went to… Continue reading No Kings!
Last Friday, I was contacted by Representative Betty McCollum's Office to be part of a panel that happened yesterday to talk about the impacts of HR1 on Medicaid and our healthcare system. I, of course, said "yes, I'd love the opportunity to share my story." Because, that's what I always do. The thing is, it's… Continue reading This happened…
I've been busy all weekend writing up my story because I was invited to speak at my MN Representative Betty McCollum's Health Care Listening Session on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 at 11:00am CST. The listening session will be livestreamed on Representative McCollum's YouTube. Here's more about the session from Representative McCollum: Tune in to my livestreamed… Continue reading Speaking up
I went to the Good Trouble Lives On Twin Cities rally in Minneapolis on July 17, 2025. I wasn't going to go at first, but then found out my friends, Judy and Raven Moe were going to be speaking, so changed my mind super quick! Honestly, it's been a rough month finding out that Medicaid… Continue reading Make Good Trouble
Do something! Write a letter to the editor, go to a rally (yes, I was at the No King's March in St. Paul on Saturday), call your elected officials at all levels (County Commissioners will be feeling these cuts!), talk to your friends, amplify and share our stories to make sure people know what's going on. Thanks!
It has been a very stressful time in my life as of late and it was important to me that I share my story with reporter, Bobbi Dempsey, for this article in ChangeWire. Check it out and please share with others! As I’ve said often of late, the fear is real! 100-Day Check-in: Stressful Times… Continue reading A Fair Amount of Stress and a Win
Making my voice heard at Hands Off rally at the MN State Capitol!
I have no idea how the cuts in the Department of Education will impact students with disabilities, but I expect current students will not have the educational opportunities and special education services I received. The Department of Education helps make sure that more than 7 million students with disabilities get the special education services they’re… Continue reading Terrible IDEA!
Justin Smith Writes 