For those of us who know and love Eli, there’s some amazing news to share: they got into midwifery school this fall. The bad news is: OSAP won’t fund them and they need to raise minimum $10000* for tuition and books by September so they can go to school. This schooling would not only fulfill one of Eli’s lifelong dreams but would also put them in a position to have long-term financial stability.
If you know Eli , you know that they are a badass, non-binary queer femme who is always there in times of need, showing up with emotional support, a homemade cheesecake or offering groceries or rent money when the pay cheque isn’t enough, even when they don’t have much extra themself. They are someone who has helped so many , offering so much of themself to the world by starting peer grief groups for the local LGBTQ2SAI community, advocating for poverty and disability justice, helping run festivals and protests, among many other passions.
Now, they are needing our help. Working a minimum wage job means that it’s hard to save, and often Eli has worked several jobs to get by. Not only that but Eli has been supporting their mother since March, when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Eli’s mom is a Walmart employee and has been fighting for disability benefits, but relies on Eli’s support until this comes through. Right now they are working and saving as best as possible, but with their wage and financially supporting their mom, $10k is a long way away.
They were relying on OSAP to make this work. Now we, as Eli’s awesome community of friends and allies, can make a real difference in this amazing human’s life!
Every little bit helps and no amount is too small. There’s also no amount too large, so feel free to take a page from Eli’s book and be as immensely generous as this loving human has been to so many, even when they have had so little, financially, to offer.
If you don’t know Eli, know that you’re making a difference by supporting a working-class queer femme break the cycle of poverty that capitalism inflicts on so many. And by supporting a nonbinary queer person to become a midwife, you are helping to build more inclusion and accessibility for future parents within the healthcare system.
*Tuition alone is almost $9000/year!!!!
