@joshuacroke
Founder of 🏳️🌈 queerforcities.com / 🌈loveyourlabels.org // 🌆 Queer Urbanist, ✊Multi-disciplinary Redesigner for Justice, ✨ Equitable Community Development / 👗 Dabbling in Fashion / 🎙️ Singer & Podcaster / 📍#WorcesterMA
Got to start today with my first book talk for Uncovering Possible and shared a poster of this beautiful rendering of our model by @joshuacroke.bsky.social. Notably the bottom part of the collage features a photo of the AIDS quilt. It felt important to bring that work into our conversation.
Join me in donating to @npr.org today to give them a boost as they face fed threats. An attack on public media is an attack on democracy. The dial is turning toward authoritarianism & we must fight back. Being informed is critical to how we mobilize.. they know that. www.npr.org/donations/su...
Texas storms aren’t playin. Thought I was a goner today but made it from #HTX to #ATX okay. Excited to check out queer+ Austin while I’m here.
The neighborhood you grow up in is a huge indicator of later life outcomes. Economic mobility needs to be a priority in equity centered neighborhood development. Data shows significant economic mobility is possible within one generation.
Carol Naughton from #PurposeBuiltCommunities kicking off the #ProsperityStartsWithPlace Conference in #HoustonTX! We’re a room of “neighborhoodists,” people who believe neighborhoods are engines of change for creating prosperity and opportunity for all. #StrongNeighborhoods
At #ProsperityStartsWithPlace repping Mason Square TDI w/ MassDev!
Let’s connect on transformative dev & building joyful communities!
Excited to explore the Neighborhoods Network & more! 🏘️✨ Let’s grab coffee? ☕️
It was great to be on @wgbh.org The Culture Show w Jared Bowen to talk about Love Your Labels upcoming show at JMAC & the importance of cultivating spaces for queer & trans 🏳️⚧️ youth and community as we navigate the darkness we are facing as a nation. If you missed it, take a listen here! #lgbtq
🖤 Vigil for Sam Nordquist 🖤
📅 Sun, March 16 | 1-4 PM
📍 The Village Worcester
Honoring Sam, a beloved Black trans man, with space for grief, healing & action.
#BlackTransLivesMatter #Solidarity
partiful.com/e/yW8dhPw9ki...
Manifesting a business partner who loves the biz & ops side of things who is similarly passionate about place-based, transformative development in communities rooted in equity & joy & the power of art and design. #manifestmonday
#DYK In 2023, Worcester had 112,000 registered voters, but only 24,585 actually voted. That means over 87,000 people left the decisions about Worcester’s leadership to a small minority. We need to change that. Get involved at www.voteworcester.com
GM #WorcesterMA! Local politics is more important now than ever. Are you looking to get involved? Over the last 3 local elections, an avg of 18% of voters decided our elections. That needs to change. I’m recruiting folks for #VoteWorcester, a campaign to increase voter turnout. www.voteworcester.com
There is just so much magic here. To me, it taps into the spiritual power of music. Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande really manifest a power with their voices. #Oscars
youtu.be/In-GXkhzFNM
Call to queer & trans folks/orgs around #WorcesterMA. With our historic passing of the Trans+ Sanctuary City Res., people are reaching out to move to the Woo! I want to partner with folks to create pathways for these folks — job opps at inclusive cos, housing resources, & more. Reach out!! 🩷🩵🤍
A poster for the economic blackout on February 28. It is a big red Jack rabbit on an aqua blue back ground. It says economic blackout in hand done black type. There are two black speech bubbles. One says “don’t buy stuff Friday February 28th. The other says we have power. Below it says No Amazon, Walmart, target, gas food, gas. Below that it says OK small business, use cash. Designed by Martha Rich.
I made this the other night while procrastinating, mainly because I thought all the posts about the blackout were boring. It feels like there is momentum bringing people together!
Listening to @totcshow.bsky.social & caller says we’ve lost the ability to argue politics at the fam bbq. My hot take: If you’re the trans person at the family bbq & the argument is about whether or not I should be able to use the bathroom, that's wildly different than disagreeing on foreign policy.
Seems like he’s taking a page out of the national politics book, trying to activate people’s anger and lean in to separation. He’s aligning more with the conservatives and it’s giving real regression. We’ve got a lot of work to do. #WorcesterMA
Thank you again to @suemailman.bsky.social & Vanessa Alvarez for being the only two members who took a stand earlier this month. 🌈✊
Tonight at #WorcesterMA School Committee, @suemailman.bsky.social asks for reconsideration of the LGBTQ+ Safe Schools Resolution.
The vote takes place before public comment, so everyone should contact members asking them to reconsider & then pass the #LGBTQ+ Safe Schools Resolution.
It really is 😓 Thriving small business ecosystems, in our current economy—especially retail and food businesses—need thoughtful partnership with the municipality, small biz support orgs, & resources to build and sustain. Some opps include lease subsidy programs, equipment grants, and coinvestment.
Small biz are struggling across the country. Here in #WorcesterMA the loss of Redemption Rock hit really hard for many of us. A true exemplar of a third space, I felt at home there—built relationships with the team & the regulars & hosted Drag Story Time since the start. Thank you for 6 great years.
The Charter conversation should be a priority for many reasons(and has been for many for years)—I think there are issues using this current situation as a catalyst. But, I’ve been going through the charter with a series on #PublicHearingMA for people who want to dive in: publichearing.buzzsprout.com
Slow everything down in order to feel it more.
Living in walking distance to your friends massively transforms your quality of life. Ultimate life hack.
Let’s do it! “Aislinn & Josh on the street”
That’s great to know, thank you! 😂
Let's be clear that most chose to clearly state that two members' deep concerns were not worthy of their time, concern, or empathy.
Working on a new website and being reminded how I’ll never forgive @bostonglobe.com for this pic in their article “A post-pandemic LGBTQ+ ‘renaissance’ in Worcester, driven by young people” and how it’s the main photo when you google my name now 😂😂😂
We should have clear and transparent ways to handle accusations of discrimination and mistreatment right here at home. An MCAD investigation may take years and, in my opinion, is a clear effort by our elected officials to bury and delay something we should care about as a community.
Joshua Croke, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and the founder of the nonprofit org Love Your Labels, told @masslive.bsky.social, “I am embarrassed that they voted against holding our elected officials accountable through a transparent accountability process,” Croke said.
This is your friendly reminder to take some space for yourself. Joy, rest, & laughter are critical elements of sustained advocacy. To our trans and migrant folks especially right now, you’ve got people fighting for you. 🩷🩵🤍
📸 @alph4d0g.bsky.social
