On the evening of Sunday 5/31 into the morning of 6/1 at around midnight, a fire was set behind my apartment building in Oakland, CA, which quickly enveloped the cars in the carport right underneath my apartment, and eventually grew to destroy my home and everything that I own. My dog, Spock, and my two cats, Peep and Zo, also made it out of the building safely with me, which I’m very grateful for. If you know me, you know that my animal friends are my everything and take just as good care of me as I try to of them - a true exercise in “who rescued who?”

I have never experienced anything like this and have been overwhelmed emotionally, grieving at the loss of the “home” that I made for myself over the past 4+ years in that space. Though I have been giving myself time to grieve this loss, I also am a firm believer that “home” is not a physical space, but rather a place or places where you can feel safe, fully rest, share love with community, and let your hair down so to speak.

With that said, the outpouring of support that I have received since Monday morning has been overwhelming and admittedly difficult to receive - I usually enjoy showing up for and helping others and asking for/accepting help myself is difficult for me. My partner Heather and her roommate Tiff have been kind enough to welcome me and my animals into their home for the time being while I work things out for a new apartment. There has been an outpouring of support from friends and community near and far - donations of money, clothing, food, toothbrushes, etc. - it has brought tears to my eyes to feel this supported and loved over the past few days. Thank you.

Folks keep asking me what I need right now and I haven’t been able to give specific answers yet, as everything feels in-limbo at the moment. Many of you have asked if I had a GoFundMe page so I thought I’d finally make one, knowing that it is a difficult exercise in asking for help and receiving it.

I’ll set the goal here to $8,000 which is what a modest new (to me) bass and bow will cost. The most devastating thing about this fire is that I did lose my upright bass - my best musical friend and form of expression for many years now and by far the most expensive thing I owned.

Please donate if that feels good to you, and don’t feel one bit pressured to do so if it doesn’t. Black Lives Matter much more to me right now than any lost property. If you have the capacity to donate to support that cause, I ask that you please do so before you donate here to me.

I know that there’s a lot going on in the world right now and I hope that you all stay safe and are held by your community/ies in the ways I have been since this fire.

We all have to love and take care of each other, keep fighting for justice, and don’t stop doing either of those things. Ever.

I love you, I love you, I love you.
K