Lauren Girardin
@girardinl.bsky.social
Communications consultant, storyteller, and plain language writer for nonprofits, foundations, and others who inspire. @lwvsf.bsky.social member. Em dash fan. For hire. she/her juhr-RAR-din
📍 San Francisco
📍 San Francisco
Recently, I asked my Dad what I could look forward to when I turn 50 in a couple of months besides AARP membership, which I knew about.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
It's been good knowing y'all. The grim reaper of moderate hotel discounts has found me...
November 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Recently, I asked my Dad what I could look forward to when I turn 50 in a couple of months besides AARP membership, which I knew about.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Friendsgiving potluck. The person who volunteered—enthusiastically, mind you—to make mashed potatoes for everyone:
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Friendsgiving potluck. The person who volunteered—enthusiastically, mind you—to make mashed potatoes for everyone:
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
"It's hard to see [accessibility issues on new .gov sites] as anything but a deliberate choice. That also sends a clear message of who this administration feels has a place in American life, who is worthy enough to access information and services and who is not worth their time."
Last week I hade the opportunity to speak at @dotgovdesign.bsky.social about accessibility in the civic tech space, why we should all start using assistive tech, and why improving our skills as practitioners is so critically important in this moment. jaredcunha.com/blog/dotgov-...
My talk for DotGov Design 2025
I had the opportunity to speak at the 2025 DotGov Design conference. My talk was titled “Design for Accessibility and Inclusiveness in Civic Space” which covered topics such as why it's so important t...
jaredcunha.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"It's hard to see [accessibility issues on new .gov sites] as anything but a deliberate choice. That also sends a clear message of who this administration feels has a place in American life, who is worthy enough to access information and services and who is not worth their time."
Some schadenfreude joy for your timeline
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Some schadenfreude joy for your timeline
The butt is too hilarious!
November 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The butt is too hilarious!
Cheers for the leakers!
Behind this important reversal is a member of the Coast Guard who saw what was happening and had the courage to leak it to the press. That person deserves serious praise.
November 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Cheers for the leakers!
In San Francisco and got financial skills? YOU WANT TO DO THIS! Volunteering for LWVSF is one of my favorite things. It gives me a way to make a real difference when everything is conspiring to make me feel powerless. I've also made some amazing friends among my fellow volunteer members 💜🤍💛
Got a head for numbers and a heart for democracy? Become our volunteer treasurer to keep our books balanced and our finances strong. Skills needed: QuickBooks, PayPal, Google Sheets, mobile banking. You’ll train with our current board treasurer for a smooth transition.
Learn more ideali.st/W7vp2r
Learn more ideali.st/W7vp2r
November 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
In San Francisco and got financial skills? YOU WANT TO DO THIS! Volunteering for LWVSF is one of my favorite things. It gives me a way to make a real difference when everything is conspiring to make me feel powerless. I've also made some amazing friends among my fellow volunteer members 💜🤍💛
Some light reading for the upcoming holiday week. /s
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
My report on Nonviolent Action against Democratic Erosion is finally out today @harvardash.bsky.social!
I try to put the US democracy movement into global comparative perspective.
For the tl;dr crowd, see below for some key takeaways:
ash.harvard.edu/resources/no...
I try to put the US democracy movement into global comparative perspective.
For the tl;dr crowd, see below for some key takeaways:
ash.harvard.edu/resources/no...
Nonviolent Action Against Democratic Erosion: The United States in Comparative Perspective – Ash Center
ash.harvard.edu
November 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Some light reading for the upcoming holiday week. /s
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Been working on my project proposal on income reduction for tertiary mental health patients for a year now, and what ppl get wrong is the cause-&-effect relationship between poor folks & financial literacy.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Been working on my project proposal on income reduction for tertiary mental health patients for a year now, and what ppl get wrong is the cause-&-effect relationship between poor folks & financial literacy.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
“They know what to do with weakness—they don’t know what to do with strength.” nonprofitquarterly.org/meeting-floo... @girardinl.bsky.social
Meeting “Flood the Zone” with “Rule-of-Law Shock and Awe” | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
Nonprofit organizations taking on the Trump White House are fighting fire with fire.
nonprofitquarterly.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
“They know what to do with weakness—they don’t know what to do with strength.” nonprofitquarterly.org/meeting-floo... @girardinl.bsky.social
I have been informed that I am banned from Brooklyn
Brought some everything bagels back from Brooklyn, but had a near-empty fridge back in SF. Behold the Bklyn-Frisco hybrid! Pickled beets, shoots from a red onion that sprouted while we were out of town, capers, hot chili oil, cream cheese.
November 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I have been informed that I am banned from Brooklyn
Brought some everything bagels back from Brooklyn, but had a near-empty fridge back in SF. Behold the Bklyn-Frisco hybrid! Pickled beets, shoots from a red onion that sprouted while we were out of town, capers, hot chili oil, cream cheese.
November 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Brought some everything bagels back from Brooklyn, but had a near-empty fridge back in SF. Behold the Bklyn-Frisco hybrid! Pickled beets, shoots from a red onion that sprouted while we were out of town, capers, hot chili oil, cream cheese.
The Trump administration has governed with a “flood-the-zone” approach, using chaos as a tool to overwhelm opponents.
But there are organizations that have responded with a strategy to aggressively sue the administration at every turn.
More in my my newest @npquarterly.bsky.social article 👇
But there are organizations that have responded with a strategy to aggressively sue the administration at every turn.
More in my my newest @npquarterly.bsky.social article 👇
Meeting “Flood the Zone” with “Rule-of-Law Shock and Awe” | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
Nonprofit organizations taking on the Trump White House are fighting fire with fire.
nonprofitquarterly.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The Trump administration has governed with a “flood-the-zone” approach, using chaos as a tool to overwhelm opponents.
But there are organizations that have responded with a strategy to aggressively sue the administration at every turn.
More in my my newest @npquarterly.bsky.social article 👇
But there are organizations that have responded with a strategy to aggressively sue the administration at every turn.
More in my my newest @npquarterly.bsky.social article 👇
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Watching disabled people around the world mourn Alice is a reminder of the good aspect of the internet. 30 years ago, few people outside of SF would ever have known Alice existed. I never would have met her. The internet connected us all. Let’s honor Alice’s memory by using that power and community.
My social media is wall-to-wall love for the incomparable Alice Wong, and I need more words. What captures sadness and/also affection for a community that knows what's been lost?
Alice could not eat food for years.
And yet at Christmas she would bake cookies and mail them to me—such was her desire to provide care for the people she loved.
And yet at Christmas she would bake cookies and mail them to me—such was her desire to provide care for the people she loved.
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Watching disabled people around the world mourn Alice is a reminder of the good aspect of the internet. 30 years ago, few people outside of SF would ever have known Alice existed. I never would have met her. The internet connected us all. Let’s honor Alice’s memory by using that power and community.
The kids are already on it!
According to reports from my sources in middle schools, the kids will dismiss things they think are AI slop or just low quality or made up garbage with an "ok AI," "dirty clanker," or the classic "sus."
According to reports from my sources in middle schools, the kids will dismiss things they think are AI slop or just low quality or made up garbage with an "ok AI," "dirty clanker," or the classic "sus."
New hip insult you'll be hearing everywhere soon:
"Was this made by Al?"
Especially effective when mentioned while watching a film (especially a big budget one) or listening to the new release of a song (preferably by a big pop star).
"Was this made by Al?"
Especially effective when mentioned while watching a film (especially a big budget one) or listening to the new release of a song (preferably by a big pop star).
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The kids are already on it!
According to reports from my sources in middle schools, the kids will dismiss things they think are AI slop or just low quality or made up garbage with an "ok AI," "dirty clanker," or the classic "sus."
According to reports from my sources in middle schools, the kids will dismiss things they think are AI slop or just low quality or made up garbage with an "ok AI," "dirty clanker," or the classic "sus."
Not for nothing, this is one reason why we say "pregnant patient" instead of "woman." It's not just for non-binary inclusion.
In addition to the fact that it's very much the power imbalance and legal responsibility to protect them that makes them children, it's also disturbing that so many people are willingly like "listen, 15 year olds are hot, and that's a fact." They are children. They look like children.
November 14, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Hahahahahahahahaha *inhale* hahahahahahahahaha www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...
Has anyone in City Hall heard of vetting?
Has anyone in City Hall heard of vetting?
www.kron4.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Hahahahahahahahaha *inhale* hahahahahahahahaha www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...
Has anyone in City Hall heard of vetting?
Has anyone in City Hall heard of vetting?
It's critically important that communities make distinctions between e-bikes and e-motos when implementing regulations, and that starts with a solid definition of an e-moto. Lumping both into the same regulatory bucket will hinder the expansion of e-bikes as a powerful mobility tool.
November 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
super interesting for me to hear how much people responded to Alissa and tried to push back about the percentage of nondrivers. I get the sense that a lot of people in the transportation space won't engage with me because they think that high a percentage of nondrivers can't possibly be real.
Reflections on last week's #WeekWithoutDriving in a city that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of its nondrivers — which a comprehensive new report claims make up one-third of LA's population
One-third of Angelenos do not drive
Walking back the "car-free" games promise is unconscionable in a city where the people who don't drive are also the most vulnerable users of our streets
www.torched.la
November 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
super interesting for me to hear how much people responded to Alissa and tried to push back about the percentage of nondrivers. I get the sense that a lot of people in the transportation space won't engage with me because they think that high a percentage of nondrivers can't possibly be real.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
There was an NYT piece last week about the Sierra Club, and (by extension) the current state of the climate movement.
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
Every generation gets to recreate the environmental movement to suit its own purposes
Some big-picture reactions to a recent NYT piece
davekarpf.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
There was an NYT piece last week about the Sierra Club, and (by extension) the current state of the climate movement.
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Getting annoyed listening to charter school activists lie again and again that charter schools are public schools.
They are not.
They are publicly funded private schools that siphon money away from public schools and produce no better results.
They are not.
They are publicly funded private schools that siphon money away from public schools and produce no better results.
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Getting annoyed listening to charter school activists lie again and again that charter schools are public schools.
They are not.
They are publicly funded private schools that siphon money away from public schools and produce no better results.
They are not.
They are publicly funded private schools that siphon money away from public schools and produce no better results.
PG&E would never
Our statement on Cleveland Public Power's smart decision to freeze shutoffs for 30 days as the federal government fails to make SNAP payments. Via the grassroots group Our CPP
www.ourcpp.org/shutoff-mora...
www.ourcpp.org/shutoff-mora...
November 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
PG&E would never
I don't have the wherewithal to make retirement jokes.
I can’t see my way to making ophthalmology jokes.
I don't have the words to make linguistic jokes.
November 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I don't have the wherewithal to make retirement jokes.