Lou (They/Them) has always found purpose in guiding others back to their passion. As a life coach, spiritual healer, and arts instructor, Lou has seen people of all ages and all walks of life transform from surviving to thriving for the last 10 years. Since their adolescence, they have been applying what they’ve learned about trauma-informed recovery, neuroscience, epigenetics, and therapeutic arts in every facet of life, including their work for non-profits like The Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and Studio ACE in Oceanside.

When Lou was in school, even the GSA on campus was not a bully-free zone, which contributed to their feelings of isolation growing up queer. What stayed with them was that it was easy to see that so many other kids grow up isolated, though they need not feel alone. In fact, they noticed that kids learn in school that their genuine self is not good enough and so they must sacrifice who they are in order to be worthy of connection and acceptance. During their very first job at Beaumont Elementary school, they could tell that being a mentor (and an encourager of the arts) was their true calling.

As a person who selects the “other” box to answer most demographic questions, you can bet Lou’s artistic expression comes in many forms, as does their spiritual practices and ways of relating with others. Grateful for the mentors and support groups that have amplified their resilience,

Lou is determined to continue their impact by doing what they do best at the North County LBGTQ Resource Center’s Unicorn Homes Program: provide compassionate, structured, community-backed support for those who are navigating a major life shift.