We were lucky to catch up with Kori Hennessey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kori, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Over 6 years ago now, I took a risk by first stepping in the doors of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. I was still internally exploring my identity and really struggling to fit in and find purpose. I was a different person back then, but I wanted to put myself into an uncomfortable situation to get out of the feeling of being stuck. This risk wasn’t just about discomfort though, it was also about safety. I knew that finding my community would bring me joy, but it would also bring more risks that even I was oblivious to at that time. Growing into the different roles that I’ve held at the LGBT Center, the rewards have outshined the risks, but the risks are still there every single day. I am a much more confident person today, dedicated to taking those risks to better myself and my community, especially as we fight to be seen and treated as equals.

Kori, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am the first nonbinary, transgender director of the LGBT Center of Raleigh and one of the very few gender expansive leaders in the Triangle. Growing and experiencing many changes in this organization has given me the unique perspective that many do not get. With all that I’ve learned and built, I’ve been able to use in creating a vision for the LGBT Center that fills gaps. Now, in this role, I have the ability to make that vision a reality.

The LGBT Center of Raleigh is known for providing affirming and community-centered spaces for all LGBTQ+ people, helping individuals navigate systems not built for queer and transgender communities, and putting on one of the highest attended Pride festivals in the state.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Listen and lead with compassion. Everyone comes into their jobs with different life experiences. Work is not a choice for most people on this planet, and when you don’t treat your employees as fellow human beings with dignity and respect, you cannot expect them to put their best efforts forward. Many ideals in the working world, even in nonprofit, are rooted in white supremacy and the way that people approach life has drastically changed. We have watched progress being completely stripped away over the last few years and see the demand for more respect, especially within the younger generations. This isn’t something that is going away. To keep morale high, we need to keep educating ourselves and listen to our employees.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Throughout my tenure as an employee of the LGBT Center of Raleigh, I have dealt with many situations that required some sort of resiliency to survive. As a young, LGBTQ+ nonprofit leader, I don’t receive much respect, especially respect for my identities. In most situations, I cannot show up as my full self. I have to pick and chose which parts of me I find important to show and which parts of me I need to hide. These things alone require a level of resiliency on a daily basis that most people do not have to experience. This has aided in my growth, increased my confidence and created a stronger person within. If I could choose to live a more stress free life, would I do it? Absolutely! However, the work I’ve put in to myself and the work that I put out to better my community helps me understand the importance of being resilient.  

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgbtcenterofraleigh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lgbtcenterofraleigh