I used to live my life being motivated by one all-consuming desire: I had to make sure, by any means necessary, that before they put me in the ground, my brother had developed enough skills, and I had left him enough money to not have to worry about him surviving this cold world without me.

I know, too much to place on a young man, but I take that being my brother’s keeper stuff seriously. In the years since, I’ve developed a healthier relationship and understanding with my deepest passions and desires. I am not God, nor Superman, nor any sort of omnipotent being, and as a result of those limitations, I am not perfect. I make mistakes. I misunderstand things. I cannot be all things to everyone.

To ensure my brother can live his best life, on his own terms, in a position that truly enables him to maximize his potential has always been important to me, and I still strive for it to this day. About a decade ago, I had an idea – build an organization that was primarily suited for people like him. Create opportunities for him to socialize, get to know other people, and enjoy events and activities that society often excludes him from.

From there, build a school, recreational and social activities, and a job and functional life training program, launch the businesses and initiatives that said job training program prepares him for, build engaging communal living spaces, and ensure he and a related trust have cooperative ownership of it all, so that his loved ones don’t have to worry about his protection or provision when they’ve gone on.

I started Alex Palace in my head 12 years ago. In 13 days, we’re finally having our first event in Baltimore.

The Alex Palace Valentine’s Day Dance was born out of an interaction I had with my little brother years ago. As I was preparing for Valentine’s Day with a person I was dating, my brother made me stop and realize he never had anything to look forward to on Valentine’s Day. That story, unfortunately, is something many people with disabilities can relate to. We hope to stand in that gap with this event, and much more.

At the dance, we’ll have finger foods, a silent DJ, games and activities, and a sensory room for those who need it. It’s the beginning of what I hope will be a new model for how communities around the world live alongside those with disabilities. We’re just getting started.

Our 2026 plans for Alex Palace include:

This is my brother, and I love him very much. Your support will help Alex and people like him live more inclusive, fulfilling lives.