Introducing Ezra:
Alii, a ngklek a Ezra! (Hello, my name is Ezra!)(he/they)
I'm a Palauan — Community Advocate and Recovering Artist.
Some people find their calling.
Mine found me in the Kingdom of Tonga.
Long before I had a title or a career plan, I was barely 20 years old, standing in a room full of Pasifika leaders, representing the Republic of Palau at the 1st Pacific Human Rights Conference — advocating for PIDSOGIESC+ rights across a region where those conversations were just beginning. I was young, hopeful, I was Pasifika, and I already knew that showing up for community wasn't something I did — it was something I was.
That foundation has carried me through a lot. Active duty military service. Discrimination in uniform. My own recovery journey. Over a decade embedded in LGBTQIA+ communities, from the shores of Belias to the streets of Hampton Roads, building trust in spaces where trust is hard-won.
Now I channel all of it into the work.
As a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist, I walk alongside people in the LGBTQIA+, justice-involved, and Veteran communities — helping them access resources, find their footing, and tell their own stories on their own terms.
I'm a committed harm reduction advocate, which means I show up to every space with naloxone knowledge and no judgment attached.
What drives me hasn't changed since Tonga: the belief that lived experience is the most powerful advocacy tool there is. Institutions send clipboards, I send myself.
If you're building something real in the LGBTQIA+ space, the Recovery world, or the Pasifika community — let's talk story!
Creative Portfolio
Ezra of All Trades
A Palauan in diaspora with a passion for art, writing, and cups of tea on rainy days. This is my collection of heartbreaks and love letters and the inception of my love for writing.
Misadventures of a Grieving Sailor
Collective of my lived experience, lessons, heartbreaks and stream of consciousness as I traverse this universe with grief as my island floats across the world away.
Through the Lens
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Through my Pens
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Newsletters + Projects
Disclaimer:
Over the years, as new publishing websites came out and I learned more about life, my writing has evolved into so many different things and spaces.
I've loved writing since I was young and it has always spoken to me. I am unable to access some of my past work, but here is a collection of things I've written and continue to write.
As of April of 2026, I am unable to access Medium and Substack so do Subscribe and Follow me on LinkedIn or other Social Media platforms for posts on my latest work!
Misadventures of a Grieving Sailor
Collective of my lived experience, lessons, heartbreaks and stream of consciousness as I traverse this universe with grief as my island floats across the world away.
Ezra of All Trades
A Palauan in diaspora with a passion for art, writing, and cups of tea on rainy days. This is my collection of heartbreaks and love letters and the inception of my love for writing.
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![I still question, sometimes, whether I’m enough.
Throughout my childhood, I was told I was too “Western,” too “foreign.” My accent sounded strange when I spoke my own language. Growing up in Palau, I didn’t yet understand that I would spend so much of my life measuring my belonging in every room I entered.
I found comfort in cultures adjacent to my own because they welcomed the parts of me that others questioned. Neighbors who spoke languages far from mine carried entire worlds I longed to explore and belong to, because the one I called home often felt marked by violence, judgment, and exclusion.
I grew up in a multicultural, multifaith household. From an early age, I was introduced to beliefs, traditions, and ways of seeing the world that much of Palau was still learning to accept as it modernized. In that tension, stigma and isolation became part of my upbringing. I learned early that being different could make you both curious to others and alien to your own community.]()
I still question, sometimes, whether I’m enough. Throughout my childhood, I was told I was too “Western,” too “foreign.” My accent sounded strange when I spoke my own language. Growing up in Palau, I didn’t yet understand that I would spend so much of my life measuring my belonging in every room I entered. I found comfort in cultures adjacent to my own because they welcomed the parts of me that others questioned. Neighbors who spoke languages far from mine carried entire worlds I longed to explore and belong to, because the one I called home often felt marked by violence, judgment, and exclusion. I grew up in a multicultural, multifaith household. From an early age, I was introduced to beliefs, traditions, and ways of seeing the world that much of Palau was still learning to accept as it modernized. In that tension, stigma and isolation became part of my upbringing. I learned early that being different could make you both curious to others and alien to your own community.Button -
![This page has grown over time, and I wanted to be intentional about the kind of space I’m trying to rebuild.
Recovery, mental health, trauma, culture, and resource navigation aren’t topics that fit neatly into black-and-white conversations. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but I do hope we can meet each other with curiosity, respect, and good faith.
I don’t claim to have all the answers. I share from lived experience, continuous learning, and a commitment to harm reduction and compassion.
Thanks for being here. I’m no media professional or content creator like that, but I love storytelling and so here goes to starting this journey✨
EDIT: I will ✨block✨ if I need to though ??]()
This page has grown over time, and I wanted to be intentional about the kind of space I’m trying to rebuild. Recovery, mental health, trauma, culture, and resource navigation aren’t topics that fit neatly into black-and-white conversations. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but I do hope we can meet each other with curiosity, respect, and good faith. I don’t claim to have all the answers. I share from lived experience, continuous learning, and a commitment to harm reduction and compassion. Thanks for being here. I’m no media professional or content creator like that, but I love storytelling and so here goes to starting this journey✨ EDIT: I will ✨block✨ if I need to though 💅🏾Button -
![For a long time, I saw myself through the things I survived. Now I see myself through the life I built. Breaking the mold isn’t easy, but neither is carrying generations of expectations, pain, and limitations. One path keeps the cycle going while the other changes it.
✨If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?✨]()
For a long time, I saw myself through the things I survived. Now I see myself through the life I built. Breaking the mold isn’t easy, but neither is carrying generations of expectations, pain, and limitations. One path keeps the cycle going while the other changes it. ✨If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?✨Button -
![? Storyboard is taking it to the community this month! ?✨
Our monthly gatherings at South Norfolk Memorial Library have become such a meaningful space for conversation, connection, and collective growth. This month, we’re stepping outside our usual meeting space and into the community to build relationships, support our neighbors, and show up where people are!
You’ll find us supporting harm reduction, community care, and cultural connection throughout the month! We’ll be carrying harm reduction kits, sharing resources, and engaging with folks wherever we can.
While there won’t be a regular Storyboard meeting this month, we’ll be back at our usual spot next month (in July). Until then, keep an eye out for us in the community — and please don’t be afraid to come say hello! ❤️ We’ll be posting new updates soon!]()
📣 Storyboard is taking it to the community this month! 🌈✨ Our monthly gatherings at South Norfolk Memorial Library have become such a meaningful space for conversation, connection, and collective growth. This month, we’re stepping outside our usual meeting space and into the community to build relationships, support our neighbors, and show up where people are! You’ll find us supporting harm reduction, community care, and cultural connection throughout the month! We’ll be carrying harm reduction kits, sharing resources, and engaging with folks wherever we can. While there won’t be a regular Storyboard meeting this month, we’ll be back at our usual spot next month (in July). Until then, keep an eye out for us in the community — and please don’t be afraid to come say hello! ❤️ We’ll be posting new updates soon!Button -
![For educational purposes, of course. I’m but a scholar! ?]()
For educational purposes, of course. I’m but a scholar! 🧐Button -
![Be everything that’s you.
Being trans means not a lot of folks understand you.
I just want to live, love and be happy. I’m human too.]()
Be everything that’s you. Being trans means not a lot of folks understand you. I just want to live, love and be happy. I’m human too.Button -
![I had to make this into a post because some of you still seem not to understand.
Since moving here, I’ve been in community. I have shown up. I’ve volunteered, organized, advocated, built relationships, and contributed across different spaces and platforms. Not for recognition, credit or status, but because I believe in collective care, shared purpose, and investing in the communities I am part of.
So when I speak about racism, discrimination, isolation, erasure, or the unique challenges of being Palauan, Micronesian, Queer, Pacific Islander, and non-military affiliated in Hampton Roads, I’m not speaking from ignorance or lack of involvement.
I’m speaking from lived experience.
Being told I “haven’t been here long enough,” that there are “Asian stores everywhere,” or that I should somehow be grateful for scraps of representation isn’t engagement, but dismissal.
The existence of cultural products isn’t the same thing as belonging.
The presence of Asian communities isn’t the same thing as the presence of Micronesian and Palauan communities.
And being part of the broader AAPI umbrella doesn’t erase the realities of anti-Blackness, colorism, lateral violence, colonization, transphobia, and marginalization that many Pacific Islanders continue to navigate.
You don’t have to agree with my experiences.
But you don’t get to invalidate them.
Read the post.
Listen.
And stop explaining my life back to me.
EDIT:
And don’t get me started on queer spaces here.]()
I had to make this into a post because some of you still seem not to understand. Since moving here, I’ve been in community. I have shown up. I’ve volunteered, organized, advocated, built relationships, and contributed across different spaces and platforms. Not for recognition, credit or status, but because I believe in collective care, shared purpose, and investing in the communities I am part of. So when I speak about racism, discrimination, isolation, erasure, or the unique challenges of being Palauan, Micronesian, Queer, Pacific Islander, and non-military affiliated in Hampton Roads, I’m not speaking from ignorance or lack of involvement. I’m speaking from lived experience. Being told I “haven’t been here long enough,” that there are “Asian stores everywhere,” or that I should somehow be grateful for scraps of representation isn’t engagement, but dismissal. The existence of cultural products isn’t the same thing as belonging. The presence of Asian communities isn’t the same thing as the presence of Micronesian and Palauan communities. And being part of the broader AAPI umbrella doesn’t erase the realities of anti-Blackness, colorism, lateral violence, colonization, transphobia, and marginalization that many Pacific Islanders continue to navigate. You don’t have to agree with my experiences. But you don’t get to invalidate them. Read the post. Listen. And stop explaining my life back to me. EDIT: And don’t get me started on queer spaces here.Button -
![I spent years grieving versions of myself.
This is for the children taught that survival meant silence.
For the ones who learned culture through fear before they learned it through love. For the people who chose themselves anyway.
This isn’t a rejection of where I come from,
I just refuse to disappear inside it.
Trans Joy is resistance.
#storyboard]()
I spent years grieving versions of myself. This is for the children taught that survival meant silence. For the ones who learned culture through fear before they learned it through love. For the people who chose themselves anyway. This isn’t a rejection of where I come from, I just refuse to disappear inside it. Trans Joy is resistance. #storyboardButton -
![Colonization isn’t an event we inherited and moved on from. It lives in our policies, our borders, our churches, our beauty standards, economies, silence, and even in ways we are taught to see ourselves and each other.
Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask reminds us that colonization is ongoing, not just historical. Through displacement, militarization, cultural erasure, environmental exploitation, and the policing of identity, gender, and belonging.
Remembering this isn’t about being stuck in pain. It’s about telling the truth so healing, liberation and self-determination become possible.
**PSA: I have the utmost deep respect and acknowledgement of Dr. Hauani-Kay Trask and I send her family and loved ones recognition, support and love. This image was created to honor her contributions, memory and how she is an inspiration to me and many Pasifika across the region.**
If you’d like to know more about Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask’s life work and contributions, you can also visit:
https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/haunani-kay-trask
https://library.menlo.edu/c.php?g=1396865&p=10332582]()
Colonization isn’t an event we inherited and moved on from. It lives in our policies, our borders, our churches, our beauty standards, economies, silence, and even in ways we are taught to see ourselves and each other. Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask reminds us that colonization is ongoing, not just historical. Through displacement, militarization, cultural erasure, environmental exploitation, and the policing of identity, gender, and belonging. Remembering this isn’t about being stuck in pain. It’s about telling the truth so healing, liberation and self-determination become possible. **PSA: I have the utmost deep respect and acknowledgement of Dr. Hauani-Kay Trask and I send her family and loved ones recognition, support and love. This image was created to honor her contributions, memory and how she is an inspiration to me and many Pasifika across the region.** If you’d like to know more about Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask’s life work and contributions, you can also visit: https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/haunani-kay-trask https://library.menlo.edu/c.php?g=1396865&p=10332582Button -
![A reminder from home that abundance means nothing if it isn’t shared. ?
“Ongael of Ngerchemel” is a Palauan story based on my ancestral land about community care, reciprocity, and what happens when someone is left waiting at the top branch while everyone else eats. The birds eventually realize survival was never meant to be individual.
“Klaukerreu ma omeliukes e kede medinges e chedeaoch.”
Caring and sharing among ourselves leaves no one to starve or struggle alone.
In a time where so many systems reward scarcity, isolation, and competition, our ancestral stories still call us back to collective care. Recovery, healing, disability justice, harm reduction, mutual aid, chosen family, Indigenous care practices — none of these survive without sharing the branch.
Some of us have spent seasons watching fruit never ripen for us.
That doesn’t mean we deserve to starve. ?]()
A reminder from home that abundance means nothing if it isn’t shared. 🌿 “Ongael of Ngerchemel” is a Palauan story based on my ancestral land about community care, reciprocity, and what happens when someone is left waiting at the top branch while everyone else eats. The birds eventually realize survival was never meant to be individual. “Klaukerreu ma omeliukes e kede medinges e chedeaoch.” Caring and sharing among ourselves leaves no one to starve or struggle alone. In a time where so many systems reward scarcity, isolation, and competition, our ancestral stories still call us back to collective care. Recovery, healing, disability justice, harm reduction, mutual aid, chosen family, Indigenous care practices — none of these survive without sharing the branch. Some of us have spent seasons watching fruit never ripen for us. That doesn’t mean we deserve to starve. 🌺Button -
![Love Letter to Micronesia.]()
Love Letter to Micronesia.Button -
![cookin’]()
cookin’Button
