Hey y’all, Kristen here and this is my monthly newsletter. I used to write longer ones, but if you’ve read any of the past few issues, you’ll know that this year has been a transitional year in my ability to write. However, I always have a story to tell and in December, I always make wishes. I made several global and personal ones this year. Make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a note from my Black queer feminist urbanist perspective, I have a big announcement about tomorrow’s originally scheduled book launch webinar, which is now postponed until January 4.

So, what are my global wishes this year? The ones I’m spreading out to the world?

1. End empires and transition into land stewardship and equitable, just commerce with reparations. And yes, prison abolition.
2. Fund housing, healthcare, public schools, libraries, and public transportation. 
3. Honor the best and hold space for the grief of everyone.
4. Quality ventilation and flexibility to continue to eradicate and reduce risks related to pandemics.

And when I turn inward, what do I really want for me?

1. Funding to make this newsletter a comprehensive publication focused on defying gentrification through Black Queer Feminist Accessible urbanism
2. Funding and successful execution for my downtown DC yarn festival in the fall of 2024.
3. Funding to strengthen the research and underpin the K. Jeffers Index and Center for Black Queer Accessible Feminist Urbanism 
4. Shaking off my tax, student loan, and consumer debt
5. Continued stable health and love from my partner, friends, and natal family.

And finally, my biggest wish of all is for patience as I continue to work on my upcoming workbook. I’ve decided to postpone tomorrow’s book launch webinar until January 4. As much as I would have loved to launch my book on my 38th birthday and get all of your pre-orders, instead, tomorrow I’ll be waking up, doing a little bit of client work, and finishing my birthday sweater while wearing the other sweater I finished, which will be the perfect wearable blanket on a chilly December day like tomorrow here in DC.

Plus, for my astrology heads out there, you might have heard that Mercury is in Retrograde, and if you’re really deep into it, my moon is in Capricorn (in both tropical and sidereal)  and of course, my sun is in Sagittarius (Scorpio)

Not that I’m superstitious, but I have felt myself slowing down and I’ve noticed a lot of glitching in my electronics and work lately, as well as my body glitching. Yes, I might be a little outside, but I’m achy already and trying to avoid one of these still circulating cases of COVID. Plus, my insurance changed and it did so before I could get a booster shot. And you see my Instagram stories. I’m doing my best to share folks on the ground in all of our war-torn areas and insist my own country step away from war as an industry and instead invest in peaceful pursuits and the wellbeing of its people.

Anyway, much like I had extended time during the Thanksgiving holiday to write, I will during the Christmas and Kwanzaa one as well, while I rest through the remainder of the Chanukah one.

Finally, If you still want to give me a birthday (or holiday) present, feel free to Venmo me at Kristen-Jeffers-3 or you can become a paid Substack subscriber! Annual subscriptions are only $60 now, and it’s a great way to keep me going.

Now, to gather my presents that have come in! 

Until next time, 

Kristen