Meet the Bloggers
Tara Conley, Los Angeles, CA
TaraLConley
Tara holds a BA in English from the University of Houston and is currently an MA candidate in Women's Studies at Texas Woman's University. She grew up playing street ball and collecting Cleveland Cavaliers basketball playing cards. She was a state long jump champion in high school, as well as an All-American high school athlete. Playing sports in school paid off quite handsomely because later she was awarded a track and field scholarship to the University of Houston. Fast-forward a few years later and she's now focused on tackling an array of social justice issues by speaking out, organizing within various communities, and utilizing the written word to inspire action. Besides writing, she also sings, sketches, and produces mini video documentaries about Hurricane Katrina and the Jena Six controversy. As a Houston volunteer during Hurricane Katrina, she witnessed first-hand the atrocities many American citizens encountered at the hands of a failed government institution. She's ecstatic about the 2008 Presidential campaign (especially being a former campaign organizer during this year's primary season); however, she's most interested in the people's influence to bring about change, not necessarily a politician's platform. Her quest in life is to change the world so poets, singers, painters, and dreamers are just as economically and politically valued in this society as athletes and shady politicians. A woman can dream.
Trina Chiasson, Chicago, IL
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Trina currently resides in a pirate-themed house in Chicago (aaarrrgh!) with her four wonderful roommates. She has explored the world of outdoor sports through snowboarding and skiing, white-water kayaking, skydiving, rock and ice climbing, backpacking, and biking. A few years ago, Trina plunged into the social and environmental aspects of the bicycle. She has hosted women's bike maintenance workshops, volunteered as a mechanic on sustainable bicycle tours in Hawai'i, and once pedaled across the United States to raise money for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. Trina also holds degrees in Economics and Women's Studies. She spends her non-blogging time cooking food with friends, juggling in the park, playing piano, and riding her bike around the city.
James Hodges, New York, NY
jameshodges
James Hodges was born and raised on the infamous Jersey Shore, where he learned to love swimming and beaches from a young age. Being from an area where the beaches are known for their less attractive qualities has made him keenly aware of how import environmental consciousness is in protecting our natural habitats. Now he lives in Brooklyn, spending as much time as he can connecting with the thriving local community of politically and physically active people making positive changes. You might see him skateboarding under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway or swimming at Brighton Beach. If you do, go say "hi" and make a new friend.
Gillian Dicker, New Orleans, LA
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Gillian is part Californian, part New Orleanian and part nomad, which means she hugs trees and people liberally, dresses in costume whenever possible and can't sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with full-contact sports and has a history of playing rugby and tackle football (with roller derby and water polo next on her to-do list). She strongly believes being active is good for individuals and communities, and she loves finding untraditional ways to be sporty. Gillian grew up in Sonoma, CA before trekking way down south to New Orleans for college. She earned her BA in Communications and French from Loyola University New Orleans and spent her undergrad years photographing protests and parades and getting a crash course in Southern politics, cuisine and accents. After graduation, Gillian spent six months teaching English to elementary school kids in Istres, France before keeping U-Haul in business by moving from New Orleans to San Francisco to San Diego and back to New Orleans. In her spare time, she likes swimming, dancing, cooking and planning her next adventure.
