Catalyst Award Nomination

For me, the Catalyst Awards are designed to highlight those individuals who are doing great things within and for the LGBTQ+ community. All efforts, big and small, can have a large impact. Maya Angelou once said, "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and how you do it." By this definition Darius is one of my successful people I know. Since I have know Darius, he has always spoken up and loudly about things he believes in. One of those things is queer representation and acceptance, particularly within the Black community. As a student, he worked with me as the Teaching Assistant for the Mizzou Black Men's Initiative (MBMI) program. As the Teaching Assistant, he was responsible for developing curriculum and activities for the students in the class. Where I saw him excel was in making sure our class discussions were inclusive via language used and examples provided. Programs like MBMI can be perceived as one-dimensional and very heteronormative. Through Darius's work and ability to connect with people, he helped shift the culture within the program.

Most recently, Darius created "The Closet Unlocked", a online platform that allows Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people to anonymously share their stories. Folks are able to build community, learn from one another, heal, laugh, cry, and thrive. His natural ability to empower others is unmatched. Darius is looking to even extend his brand and platform and is working on a visual podcast to extend the conversations The Closet Unlocked and include more queer representation around music, culture, and writing. While he is definitely deserving of this award, I think the Catalyst Award would mean a significant amount to him. His life and work has been about highlighting others and celebrating the lives and stories of those around him. This award would do just that for him.

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