Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciaran Jones.
Ciaran, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I should start by formally introducing myself, My name is Ciaran but you can call me CJ! My pronouns are They/Them and I just turned 30 this past May. I am a live stage Audio Engineer and in the process of finishing my Associate in Music. So how does somebody in this field end up running a Non-Profit that has nothing to do with music or sound?
On September 18th, 2018, The Woodlands held its first-ever Pride festival. I was present as an Officer of Education for the LGBTQ College club Continuum. I spent the vast majority of my time fielding questions about specific needs for resources and outreach. From all walks of life, from all parts of Montgomery County, and all with specific needs that I saw were not being met. I also saw that there was no visible protest or pushback from the community, which to me, was a sign that The Woodlands and surrounding communities were really truly ready for change and acceptance. With that in mind, in January of 2019, I gathered my team of college buddies and began building the foundations of what Prism is now.
About a year and a half into finally getting Prism off the ground The Pandemic hit the U.S. in full force and essentially everything came to a halt and how we could help the community changed. But the need for resources did not…
On October 30th, 2022, Prism outreach made its debut at the exact same place where the idea took hold. Thanks to that lovely festival we are able to grow and focus and find our place.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To be quite honest, the pandemic changed me. It changed us all for sure. I put 4 people between the ages of 14 and 22 into in-patient programs to save their lives. Each and every one of them was a Transgender young adult that either did not have a solid support system at home or access to a group of their peers or did not have access to the mental health services they needed to transition safely. While I am not a medical professional, I am a person who can put you in contact with those people. I am someone who can provide safe, nonalcoholic, social spaces. I am a member of the Queer Community that can, along with my peers, Provide educational resources to create a greater understanding of and greater allyship for the community I am a part of. I can create a sense of unity and a network of resources for all of Montgomery county. So that no matter which part of MC and North Harris you are in, we can help you. I can help and I will.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Our official Mission Statement says: Prism will provide an accepting, safe environment for our LGBTQ+ found family community by encouraging comprehensive education programs and will sponsor events to promote LGBTQ+ rights and public representation. Unofficially we meet once a month to go bowling and create a bit of a community and are building classes and programs that people can come experience to learn more about our community. The resources we don’t find, we create and share. Currently, Prism is partnering with other LGBTQ+ groups in the area to build those resources and assist in building any missing frameworks for them.
If anyone in any part of Montgomery county is interested in helping us out Please feel free to get in contact any extra hands are appreciated.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I am a serial Volunteer! Always have been always will be! I have always loved helping and being involved with my community. I love music and speaking and I have always loved teaching others where I could. My friends have accused me of making an excellent therapist and I have always been an advocate for children and those who are younger than me. Young people are never given enough credit for their thought and feelings, and I really felt that growing up. So when came to understand that I was a member of the LGBTQ+ community or (Alphabet Mafia as I lovingly call us) I realized that there was an even bigger fight ahead of me and that I could use all these little quirks and talents to do my favorite thing! Help others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @prismoutreach
- Other: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9E8N4UGZGCPQ4
Image Credits
Logo Created by Maple Potts
Stage photo taken by Jenn Colmenares
Group photo taken by Ryan Jones
