Our Mission Statement:Camp Lilac is a summer camp in Ohio for transgender and gender diverse youth. Trans youth often face stressful, unwelcoming, and even hostile environments in their day to day lives, and depression, anxiety, and suicide are much higher among them. Since 2017, we’ve been creating a safe, welcoming, and confidential space in which gender diversity is the norm. Our program is designed so that campers emerge with an increased sense of confidence in their identities and a strong community of peers and supporters. We believe our camp fills a crucial gap in the lives of trans and gender diverse youth, setting them on a path to success. |
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Meet Our Team!
Ann Williams, RN, CDE is the Health Director for Camp Lilac. She has been a licensed RN since 1980, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing and a PhD in Psychology. Much of Ann’s professional work has been in diabetes self-management and health promotion, particularly with underserved minority populations. Her interest in the health concerns of transgender youth was sparked when one of her grandchildren came out as transgender in 2014. Ann bases her practice of nursing on a philosophy of empowerment, that is, helping people to have the knowledge and skills they need to care for themselves. She is a member of the American Camp Nurses’ Association and is active in several support networks for transgender people and their families. |
JodiLyn Solomon is the Executive Director for Camp Lilac. She has extensive experience in both formal and informal educational adventures. She has a Master of Education and licensure PK-12. JodiLyn currently teaches middle school in East Cleveland, Ohio, when she is not planning for Camp Lilac! JodiLyn has been a member of TransFamily for several years, and is a proud parent of two trans children. She is passionate about equality and supporting people in their missions to be their best selves. She is honored and humbled to have worked with such a wonderful team, and such amazing campers for the first year, and is excited to be a part of Camp Lilac this second summer as well! |
Andrew Liu (he/him) is the Webmaster for Camp Lilac. He is currently a second-year studying computer science at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. In high school he was on the leadership board for his school's LGBTQ+ club and Student-Wide Activist Group, Spectrum and SWAG respectively. In his nonexistent free time, he enjoys music, art, acting, poetry, photography, robotics, volunteering, being politically active, and the occasional Netflix binge. A fun fact about Andrew is that he is a Taurus, and if he were to be an inanimate object, he would be a camera because he would be able to go on cool adventures and document beautiful places and moments. |
AJ Solomon is the Communications Director and Administrative Assistant for Camp Lilac. He is currently in his second year of college, studying Graphic Design and Media Arts at SUNY Potsdam. He has not even been alive as long as Ann has been a licensed RN, but he does have a lot of experience with non-profits, communication, and trans issues. At his previous school, AJ re-established and then ran a social group for trans students, as well as serving on the board of the campus student LGBTQ+ organization. When not doing work for school or Camp Lilac, AJ spends his free time volunteering with the Harry Potter Alliance, and nerding out about Harry Potter in general. |
Possum Edge (Ey/Em/Eirs) is the Discord Manager and a counselor for Camp Lilac. Ey help moderate and plan events for our year-round community on Discord. During camp ey're either helping with camp or cabin activities, or assisting in the nurse's cabin. Outside of camp ey love doing just about anything with eir hands, including crochet, embroidery, sewing, and drawing! Ey have had an interest in the trans community since ey came out in middle school, and ey are sometimes known by the pen name Skyler when ey wrote House Not Home, a short film themed around a trans teen's first experience with personal gender presentation. Although ey have been in customer service for a couple years now, ey watch a lot of baking and cooking shows and have dreams of opening a queer bakery someday with eir fiancee, Tetra! |
Kevyn Breedon (he/they) is the Programming Manager for Camp Lilac. Kevyn spent his childhood making art, singing, dancing, and playing outside, especially in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. After earning a BFA in design and illustration from Kent State University and taking time to travel around the country, he returned to a passion for getting more of our young people outside. Some of his most recent teaching work includes AmeriCorps, Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center, Arthur Morgan School, Wilderness Awareness School, and Hale Farm & Village. He is proud to be the out and open queer and trans role model that he wished he could have had when he was growing up. |