Welcome to My Substack!

I'm glad to have you on this journey with me...

Hello, Friends!

I’m sending you this because you are a friend or family member, writing buddy or colleague, or you live within the one or two degrees of separation that we New Orleans folks know so well. You may also be receiving this because you are one of the many people who wrote, called, or texted their support when I outed my former high school teacher, who sexually abused me, on the front page of The Times-Picayune / New Orleans Advocate in 2021. 

Times-Picayune articles, May 2021

“Claudia Barker Writes:  Reflections from a Relentless Optimist” will offer my occasional musings on the ever-changing social and political landscape that surrounds us. I hope to raise awareness about issues affecting people who are particularly vulnerable—children, youth, LGBTQ+ folks, and anyone who is not white and male. As you have no doubt seen within the first weeks of the new administration, we are entering stormy waters and we will need to stick together to help one another navigate them and (hopefully) stay afloat. 

Why relentless optimism? Because being hopeful gives us the motivation we need to do the work, to resist tyranny, to build community, and to effect change. The many messages I received when I went public with my story of abuse, as well as the purple irises in a pickle jar deposited that day on my front porch along with several orchids, convinced me that our voices matter and that most of us care deeply about protecting vulnerable people from harm. Writing about it, as in this OpEd and the memoir I’m working on, have been important parts of my healing journey. 

Flowers left on my front porch — notice the note

If for whatever reason you don’t wish to receive these occasional messages, just hit unsubscribe at the bottom of this email. No hard feelings, I promise.

I look forward to being in touch, hearing from you, deepening relationships, and widening the safety net of our beloved community.

– Claudia