WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
Mission
To foster community and togetherness by providing a safe space for members of the queer community and its allies to connect virtually while we remain physically separated
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Vision
A virtual community of folks dedicated to supporting, uplifting, and empowering LGTBQIA+ individuals in Raleigh, NC and its surrounding areas
MEET OUR TEAM
A Community-Led Initiative
WALLACE DRIGGERS (SHE/HER)
Founder & Social Media Administrator
Wallace is a second-year graduate student pursuing her Master's of Social Work and Juris Doctorate degrees from NC State University and Campbell Law School. She is passionate about social justice, and spends her free time cooking with her partner, singing in the shower, and playing with her (feline) daughters, Luna and Sipsey.
MONICA WILLIS (SHE/HER)
Ambassador & Book Club Administrator
Monica just graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science in Math Education and currently works for an artificial intelligence company building chatbots. She has two cats named Laser Beam and Lollipop, and a fish named Fishtopher, and has been learning to play guitar during quarantine.
AILEY O'TOOLE (SHE/HER)
Ambassador & Blog Writer
Ailey O'Toole is a queer freelance writer and psychology student passionate about trauma-informed mental healthcare and racial justice. She works in clinical research and, in her free time, likes to hang out with her emotional support dog, Clementine. She hopes to one day work in trauma research to further our understanding of a somatic approach to healing. She loves you and thinks you're doing great!
ALEII HOBIN (SHE/HER)
Ambassador
Aleii is a fifth year student at NC State studying political science with minors in environmental science and theatre. As a bisexual native North Carolinian, Aleii is excited to help connect LGBTQ+ folks across the Triangle! In her free time, she loves scuba diving, traveling, art, hoarding plants, thrift stores, listening to ABBA on repeat, and spending time with her rescue cat Kaia!
CHRIS ACEVEDO (HE/HIM)
Ambassador
Chris Acevedo is a resident of Raleigh, NC...but of course spent the first part of his life in beautiful Brooklyn, NY. He studied and obtained his BA in Theatre at St. Augustine’s University and is currently working over at Bath and Body Works as a top seller (plus stage managing some theatre shows on the side). Chris has been involved in a few things with the local LGBTQ+ community by way of Legends Nightclub, OUT! Raleigh, and now as an ambassador for City of Folks. Chris has been openly gay since his junior year of high school and wants to ensure that everyone has a voice and that they shouldn’t be afraid of who they are. Embrace it and know that someone out there loves you and cares about you. This is his reason for joining the COF family and to become more involved with the community than ever before (even if it is virtual for now).
KEVIN REALEGENO (HE/HIM, THEY/THEM)
Ambassador
I’m a super friendly person, great listener, and love to have a good laugh. I have three fur babies and I love them to death. I consider myself non-binary but I’m okay with all pronouns. I’ve been living here in Raleigh for a year but I’m originally from California and lived in Virginia for the majority of my life. I’m a free spirit and I’m excited to do great things with City of Folks!
VANESSA BRYAN (SHE/HER)
Ambassador
Chef, stand up comedian, and writer, Vanessa (she/her) likes to stay busy by keeping people fed and laughing. Originally from Florida, you’ll probably hear about her growing up with hundreds of exotic parrots and a pet gator within the first fifteen minutes of meeting her. You can usually catch her with a notepad working on a story idea, a stand up bit or a recipe. At this very moment she’s wondering why her cat, Stupid, can’t have a cell phone.