Rising Stars: Meet Kimm Topping

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimm Topping.

Hi Kimm, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
My background starts as a first-generation college student with dreams of becoming a therapist, which swiftly changed and evolved as I became a youth worker in afterschool programs. Seeing the inequities that young people faced in school – both similar and different to my own growing-up experience – motivated me to get involved with school systems. My artistic and creative practice is a reflection of my commitment to accessibility, the celebration of joy within social movements, and my identity as a community historian. Over the past decade, I’ve worn various hats as an educator, youth worker, and community organizer, dedicated to advocating for queer and trans liberation within the K-12 school system. In this challenging and rewarding journey, I have encountered obstacles stemming from the lack of LGBTQIA+ history education among both educators and students. Frustrated by the slow pace of policy change and institutional support, I noticed a common thread: the absence of LGBTQIA+ history in the curriculum. Now, my art, education work, and writing is dedicated to making LGBTQIA+ community history more accessible to all. 

Kimm Topping, Ed.M. (they/them/theirs) is an educator, writer, historian, and community organizer. They are the founder of Lavender Education, a national education program focused on celebrating LGBTQIA+ history, education, and youth leadership. From founding the first GSA in their hometown as a young person to now mentoring youth leaders and supporting educators, Kimm has always been passionate about building the confidence of others to lead social change. 

For over ten years, Kimm has worked closely with schools and organizations on creating more inclusive, liberatory spaces for all LGBTQIA+ youth to thrive. Prior to founding Lavender Education, Kimm managed the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students in Massachusetts, a program of DESE. They currently lecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Education with specializations in gender, sexuality, and equity. In 2023, they received the inaugural In-Service Award from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, recognizing their decade of service to Boston’s trans community. 

Kimm’s first full-length book, GENERATION QUEER, is a non-fiction book that highlights the stories of LGBTQIA+ youth activists forthcoming from Tu Books / Lee & Low Books in 2024. Their historic work, including walking tours of Cambridge and New York City, centers queer and feminist activism of the 1970s-1990s. Kimm’s series of publications, Mapping Feminist Cambridge, is available from the Cambridge Women’s Commission. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nope! Being a first-generation college student, queer, trans, and neurodivergent has presented a lot of personal and professional obstacles for me. Yet, I still hold so much privilege and have had the opportunity to work at influential organizations where I’ve taken my responsibility to advocate for young people very seriously. 

Figuring out my passion and focus has been a key challenge. The nonprofit industry is one that requires folks to be on 24/7 and respond to crises constantly. When I left the full-time nonprofit field last June 2023, my burnout became more exposed than ever. The pressure of this work and the loss of my younger brother to an overdose led to a significant mental health crisis for me in early 2023 that I needed to address. I moved to NYC, founded a national organization, and began creating art again. I’m coming back to myself, finding my real passions, and recovering. I hope that mental health and well-being can be better prioritized within nonprofits and all industries. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Patience, compassion, and passion. Listening to the needs of others without placing judgment. Being authentic and unfiltered when creating. Embracing an unapologetic presence, paired with accountability for gaps and mistakes. 

Pricing:

• $25 – art prints
• $100 – queer history courses
• $2000 – professional development for educators

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lavendereducation.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmwrites
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm-topping