We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Riordan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

My professional defining moment actually started as a personal defining moment.

When I was 37 years old, I was in a very dark place. From my earliest memories, I always knew that there was something different about me. It took a very, very long time to come to terms with the fact that I am transgender. We talk about “coming out” a lot in the LGBTQ+ community. Everyone has a story about coming out (some of us have many), but no one ever really talks about the need to “come out” to yourself first. I had struggled with my identity for almost four decades; unfortunately, that struggle was not going well.

By the time I was 37, I had decided that I didn’t want to be alive anymore. I won’t go into the details here, but I had a moment where I realized if I didn’t finally face what I was feeling inside, I was going to lose everything, everyone and any hope for any kind of joy in my life.

So I resolved to find help. After a quick internet search, I found Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center and I learned they had support groups for transgender people.

The moment I walked through the doors of the Center, I knew that it was something I wanted, and needed, to be a part of. The support group I found here saved my life.

Despite the fact that there were no job openings, I prepared a cover letter and a resume and gave it to an employee who had been helping me in the meetings. I’ll never forget writing in that letter that I didn’t care what they needed me to do, I would do it. Months later, I got an interview for a job that fit my experience and education perfectly. I’ve been at Compass for 7 years now and I’m grateful to work here; it’s the most important work I’ve ever done.

But to find it, I first had to be honest with myself. That was my defining moment in all aspects of my life. Now, looking back, I wonder why it took me so long to figure out.

Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a 45 year old transgender woman who started their transition in mid-life. Prior to coming out, I lived a very closeted existence. Honestly, I never imagined I’d be doing the work that I do now. When I cam out, I didn’t know what to do and I needed help. I found Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center and it ended up saving my life.

Compass’ official mission is to “Engage, empower and enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ people and those impacted by HIV/AIDS.” It’s a mission that we take very seriously and it doesn’t quite cover what it is that we do at the center. We provide mental health services, medical and nonmedical case management, free rapid HIV Testing, a youth program, and we also host major LGBTQ+ events in Palm Beach County like Palm Beach Pride and the Stonewall Ball.

We are the only LGBTQ+ community center in Palm Beach County, FL and we are the last center if you are traveling north until you get to Orlando.

I am most proud of the fact that, despite the anti-LGBTQ+ attacks at the state level, we have grown over the last few years to offer more services to the community than ever. The work that we do here is absolutely crucial. As someone whose life had been saved by Compass, I am honored to work here every day and see the impact we have on people’s lives.

After nearly a decade here, I can see the long term effects that the center has had for individuals and the community. It’s been very fulfilling.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

To do any kind of nonprofit/advocacy/social work, you need to really have a passion for it. Training and knowledge are important of course, but you can have all the training and knowledge in the world, and it won’t help you do the job well one bit if you don’t care for what you are doing and take pride in it.

This isn’t a lesson that holds only for this field; it really applies to all parts of life, professional and personal. I have found that any time I didn’t listen to my gut or my heart, I always found that I was miserable. I believe that the key to being successful in anything is that it has to be something you believe in. Everyone has the ability to follow their dreams. Yes, we have to pay the bills, but it gets a lot easier when you are doing something you love.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Fortunately, Compass already had a sterling reputation when I was hired. It’s easy to have a good reputation when others have been building it for over 3 decades.

But building a reputation comes down to a few key points:

1. Treat people with respect and dignity
2. Do what you say you’re going to do
3. Accept responsibility for your actions and apologize when you are wrong.

It’s a cliche, but it’s true: All you have in this life is your word and your actions. If you are true to both, a good reputation will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.compasslgbtq.com
• Instagram: @compasscenter
• Facebook: @compasscenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-tOL_36ao6QOuG338liwzg