Resources That Inspired and Influenced Us
Shelbie Porteroff:
My article in Legacy has been inspired by the important and good changes happening in museums all over North America. I am lucky to work within an institution that prioritizes Indigenous voices, community care, and collaborative narratives. Lastly, this work has been inspired by all of the Black and Brown queer folks that have raised their voices loud against their oppressors despite the risks; it is the duty of white queer people to do the same.
Tony Pankuch:
Margaret Middleton's 2020 article "Queer Possibility," published in the Journal of Museum Education, opened my eyes to the fact that queerness is not a “yes or no” binary, reliant on firm statements of sexual and gender identity. Rather, queerness is an interpretive lens, allowing us to see the roots of modern LGBTQ+ liberation in diverse historical figures, events, and aesthetics. To quote Middleton, “gaydar is epistemology,” and if it seems queer, there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging it!
Kevyn Breedon:
I recommend the work of research professor of psychology, Peter Gray, who writes extensively about how children learn, the value of unstructured, free play, and how the decline of play in childhood has led to a mental health crisis in our young people. Gray is president and a founding member of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, the co-founder of Let Grow, author of the Freedom to Learn blog on Psychology Today, and the author of Free to Learn.
Rae Garringer:
eKY Mutual Aid @hillbillieshelpinghillbillies on Instagram!
Val Hahn:
I’m deeply grateful to those who have welcomed me to the table and given me opportunities to contribute. I’ve been inspired by leaders who not only lead by example, but pave the way for others. One leader in particular is Don Philpott, who has dedicated over 30,000 volunteer hours—most notably preserving the history of the Wekiva Basin State Parks through a series of books he’s authored. And I continue to draw inspiration from my mom—affectionately known as Swamp Granny—whose tireless work ethic and fearless curiosity are unmatched.
Joe Frumkin:
My dad sent the PBS documentary E.O. Wilson, Lord of the Ants to me when I was an undergrad in college still trying to decide on a major. This documentary was the turning point that made me shift towards Biology and focus on nature as a career.
