renée c.y.m. gaillard

she/her/hers

Yes, I have three middle names. That’s one of my favorite fun facts to share along with the fact that all the parts of my name are come from women in my family. Yes, even my last name comes from my paternal grandmother.

To know me is to know those who’ve come before me and those who have made and supported me along the way: Black women from Belizean-Garifuna and Haitian descent. I carry their beauty, resilience, and nurturing nature with me in every space I’m in. I come from a village of caretakers, educators, builders, businesswomen, fashionistas, innovators, and healers and I am honored to pass this on to the generations after me.

To know me is to know where I've been, literally. I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY and will rep my borough for the rest of my life. I moved to Boston, MA for college and stayed for seven transformational years that molded me. I followed intuition and moved to Washington, D.C. in 2018 with a small savings, no job secured, and faith the size of a mustard seed. I’ve most recently been a proud resident of the small, but mighty quadrant, Southwest DC, and now live in London temporarily for graduate school. I’ve shaped a home in each place and have been shaped in return.

To know me is to know that I’ve worn many hats. My first job was at the age of 13 working in my church’s rectory for $5/hour. Since then, I’ve worked in the library, business, student activities, schools, technology, events, travel, film festivals, social media, nonprofits, pet sitting, and various odd jobs I still hold today. Through it all, I found a strong sense of purpose and direction when I started working with teenage youth through a mentoring program I managed during my service years. That experience shifted everything for me and set me on the path of being a youth worker so I can support youth and their communities in whichever way I’m called to do so. I believe that this purpose will continue to manifest itself in different ways and roles.

How has my purpose been manifesting lately? Well, as of January 2023, I moved back to Boston, MA and I still wear many concurrent hats such as a youth worker, death doula, information professional/librarian, film festival website manager, pet sitter, and more. Also, I occasionally write In The Silence, a collection of book-based musings — feel free to follow and check it out!

No matter which direction life takes me in, I’m grateful and blessed to know I am guided by intuition, clothed in joy. and rooted in purpose. ✨

(updated september 2023)