Luncheon and Keynote with Kiersten Mohr
Esprit is honored to welcome Kiersten Mohr as our Keynote Speaker.
“Illuminating a Beacon of Hope to Navigate Challenging Times"
Like so many others who have travelled to Port Angeles for Esprit, it was this place that solidified my certainty in who I was. Esprit, Port Angeles, and so many incredible humans that I met that first year and in the following years without question changed my life. This event and place gave me the certainty, courage, and community I needed. Reflecting on that first year, I now see that hope was the most significant gift I took with me as I travelled back to Canada. It was hope that I could be happy. It was hope that I could exist. It was this hope that provided the solid foundation for me to then navigate gender transition in all aspects of my life.
After navigating my transition and landing on the other side of all the fears I had, I began to exist authentically and cast my gaze outward into a world that at times feels daunting and uncertain, bearing witness to the distressing reality that in numerous places, hard-won trans rights are continually under challenge and facing rapid regression. I think it is essential for all of us to acknowledge that the burden of anti-trans negativity, stereotypes, and misinformed assertions presented as science has the potential to deteriorate the comfort, certainty, and happiness of so many in our community. This constant burden can erode our hope, and I believe our biggest fight is to collectively work together to protect and advocate for that hope for each of us and for all those who follow behind us.
Considering this, in this discussion, I want to focus on the science of hope and how we can nurture and advocate for it both within ourselves and for others. While influential celebrity voices play a crucial role, I believe strongly that it is the collective strength of each of us and our shared representation that will maintain the momentum needed to combat and overcome the oppression facing our community. Despite the challenges, my journey has also shown me the abundance of happiness, beauty, and joy present along the way, making it a cause worth fighting for and something that must be protected for everyone. I firmly believe that we are currently at a tipping point in the fight for transgender rights, and like past human rights movements, we will eventually succeed. However, while we get there, while we are fighting the fight, we need to prioritize self-care. We need to look after those around us at different stages of their journeys. It is imperative that we unite to advocate for hope, as it holds the key to our collective endurance as we move toward a bright future where we can all thrive authentically and beautifully.
About Kiersten
In 2017, after fifteen years as a geologist and senior leadership professional in the Energy Industry, Kiersten (she/her) embarked on the most significant challenge of her life: gender transition. Gender transition was life-changing in many ways. Kiersten's publicly authentic and vulnerable approach to her transition allowed her to see how authenticity in the workplace could build connection and synergy with her colleagues. Additionally, as Kiersten moved from a dominant to a non-dominant group while maintaining a corporate leadership role, she discovered many insights about improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in professional spaces. As she continued her corporate career, Kiersten found new motivation to engage in a more meaningful life through volunteering in the community and educating herself with a Bachelor of Psychology.
Eventually, these experiences ignited a personal passion, which led Kiersten to step out of her energy industry role, continue with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, and launch Terra Firma Transition Consulting. Kiersten is now passionate about using the unique intersection of her education, twenty years of corporate and leadership experience, and lived experience as a transgender professional to help empower organizations to create authentic, equitable, accessible, and inclusive workplaces where everyone can succeed. Kiersten's approach begins by immersing herself in the organizations she works with, understanding their unique challenges and barriers, and then working collaboratively to build the education, inclusive policies and change management strategies required to create extinction-proof change. In addition to her professional consulting work, Kiersten is passionate about paying forward the support she received and dedicates time working as a Registered Provisional Psychologist focusing on trans-health and supporting any individual, couple, or family navigating planned and unplanned life transitions. In her community, Kiersten is proudly an executive board member for the Airdrie Pride Society and a vice-board chair with Distress Centre Calgary.
Kiersten was honored to be recognized by her community as Airdrie's 2020 Amazing Women in Advocacy and nominated by the Mayor of Airdrie for a 2020 Star of Alberta Award.
TERRA FIRMA TRANSITION CONSULTING
www.terrafirmatransition.ca