About Us

Founder of Safe2BU, G was born neuro-divergent, which he now sees as more of a blessing than a curse. In 2nd grade, he learned the word "philanthropist," and said to himself, "I want to be that when I grow up." Severe ADHD made it hard finding his niche in life, working as everything from dishwasher to commercial actor/model and so many jobs in between. His Gypsy spirit, and other circumstances have had him living in many plces, including Dallas, Rome, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Perpignan, Mobile, Kaneohe, and have taken him through many parts of the US, Mexico, Europe, Central America, Canada, Thailand, and Cambodia. G considers himself very fortunate that he is fluent in English and Spanish and can find his way around in French and Italian. In his late 30's, after a long bout with anxiety and depression, G attempted suicide. This dark night of his soul has been an incredible opportunity for learning as well as a catalyst for transformation that has led him to discover Saniel Bonder and his Waking Down in Mututality Movement, Reiki, The Science of Mind, The Universal Brotherhood Movement, earning an MA in Spiritual Psychology and later an MSW. As founder of ArteSano, in Los Angels, G developed and implemented an innovative curriculum using art as a means of teaching life-skills to children, adolescents and adults at KidTribe events, Planet Janet Summer Camp, The Los Angeles Department of Education, and on a retreat cruise to Alaska. G is a former member of the Coalition Against Violence, the Coalition Against Bullying (headed by the Mobile D.A.’s office, the Mobile County Children’s Policy Council, and the steering committee for the South Alabama Mental Wellness Coalition. He currently volunteers at Belong as an ESL teacher. He also co-authored an LGBTQ2IA+ sensitivity training for Free2BU. "I have always loved helping people and the healing arts, so Safe2BU is really just a natural consequence and a culmination of my life, until now, but I feel like my real life's work is just beginning." 

"I have been a pastor for 23 years along the Gulf Coast. First in Gautier, Mississippi and now here at Central. Before that, I was briefly a lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. I have enjoyed my entire professional life. The challenge and energy I have experienced in working with people at Central since 2009 to create a vibrant, creative, diverse, and community-centric building for all people in Midtown Mobile has been the most amazing time in my life.

Daily, I seek to encourage deeper experiences of collaboration among non-profits, artists, community groups and others interested in seeking to build a more compassionate, creative, and just community together."

"I'm LeaAyn Shurley, owner of

Moon Struck Pottery. I teach, create and love art, and sharing it with others. My main medium is pottery, but I acknowledge and embrace the powerful healing of all art forms. After teaching for several years and realizing the majority of my classes would very organically turn into a healing session, I decided to delve a little deeper into my art practice and became a certified Art Therapy Practitioner in 2022. Soon after, I partnered with Safe2BU, and we began offering our "Healing Through Art" support group series. 

I love, support and proudly stand with everything Safe2BU offers to our community, and so, 

I also became a board member in April of 2023."

Ariel was born and raised in

 La Paz, Bolivia. In 2002, he moved to Mobile to attend the University of South Alabama and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 

Civil Engineering in 2005. 

Ariel worked at an engineering consulting firm for several years. He obtained his P.E. (Professional Engineering) license and his Master Degree in Civil Engineering in 2010. 

He enjoys traveling, learning from different cultures and is an advocate of diversity. He has been to all 50 states in the US and has visited over 40 countries around the world. In 2014, his love for travel convinced him to take a break from engineering and start his

 own travel business.

Ariel and his husband Cai have been foster care parents since 2020. Ariel is an active volunteer and Board Member of various non-profit and service organizations.

Teddee Jordan lives in Midtown with her wife, mother and dog. She has experience working in mental health services, providing case management and therapy services. She is a member of the Queer and Indigenous communities. Teddee is involved in Indigenous language and cultural preservation. She also works on organizing and activism in Mobile's LGBTQ2IA+ community. She has a passion for trying to improve the lives of the disenfranchised and came to Safe2BU to help advocate for marginalized people. Teddee hopes one day Mobile will be a place where everyone feels included and secure.

Denise learned at the ripe age of nine that her purpose in life is to love! She has been pursuing that goal ever since. After college she moved to Mobile where she lived from the early 1980’s until 2013. While her children were young she volunteered full time at her church (Central Presbyterian), school, and in the community. Once her boys were older, she went to work for Housing First as a case manager and then as the Executive Director of the Quest For Social Justice where she worked against systemic injustices. She fought for racial reconciliation, interfaith respect, eradication of homelessness, just immigration policies, ending the death penalty, and more. After leaving Mobile she pursued justice issues in various communities by hosting a support group for LGBTQAI+ youth and their families and by strategizing for affordable housing and daycare.  Having recently moved back to the Mobile area, Denise is ready to once again commit to making Mobile a place where all feel welcome and supported. With a broad area of education including a BA Business Administration/Statistics, Life Coach Training, and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation along with work experience in accounting, nonprofits, and public speaking she brings many gifts to the Board of Safe2BU. She lives with her husband Michael Moore, a retired PC(USA) minister and their rescue kitty Stella.

 Dee Jordan, a bipolar elderly woman, and a published author of two book and fifteen stories in literary magazines and anthologies. Two foreign literary magazines translated her tales. She wrote about her mental illness for New York City Voices and Lipizzans in The Lipizzan Federation Journal. Her passion for horses, writing, art, and observing people is evident in her work. Her latest passion is distributing the Love is Inclusion, One Mobile signs that are flowering throughout Mobile with their message of acceptance in bright primary colors. As a retired schoolteacher, she is giving back to the community by being a member of many civic organizations. She is interested in being part of Safe2BU because of its mission to make all people in the community feel safe. If you are interested in a sign or joining one of the groups she is a member of, please email her at mobiledeelight@gmail.com or go to Facebook Mobile Inclusion to message her. 

Jack Slate is the newest member of our Safe2BU board. He is a community organizer living in Montgomery and working in communities throughout SW Alabama. Jack has an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Auburn University and an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago. His focus was in Humanities. 

Jack enjoys problem-solving and collaborating to push social progress in Alabama, and you’ll likely see him at social justice events in the state.

Angelia Giavanni lives in midtown with her family, including her wife, mother-in-law and their dog, Lil Bad. She is a queer, trans woman who wants to ensure others in the LGBTQ2IA+ community in Mobile feel safe being their authentic selves, and she joined Safe2BU in order to be a part of this essential and much needed change. Everyone deserves to live with dignity and access to necessary resources, and Angelia wants to give her time to a cause that is working towards that future.

Kevin has volunteered at most Safe2BU community outreach opportunities since its founding.  Much like many Queer youth today, Kevin has experienced his share of bullying and knows the profound impact on one’s early development. During his early twenties, Kevin believed his calling to be a minister of the Gospel. Licensed to preach by his local Mississippi hometown Baptist Church, Kevin also began academic studies at a private fundamentalist Baptist college in Laurel, MS, studying Theology. He later transferred to finish his Bachelors in Developmental Psychology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. 
From 1985 to 2001, Kevin played piano and sang with several hometown Southern Gospel artists. Aside from singing and playing on five recording projects, he also produced two additional albums for various artists before finishing his undergraduate studies. Kevin is currently finishing a Master of Arts degree in American History to complement twenty-eight years of genealogical research. His early history of LGBTQ2IA+ activism began while living in Atlanta with his former partner (deceased) and later in New York City. Within their first three months in NYC, he and his then partner were among the earliest wave of couples to obtain their Civil Union (01/2001) in Bennington, VT. The couple interviewed with local NYC publications and marched annually for ten years alongside other Middle Collegiate Church members for Pride marches. These days,
Kevin (he/him) can be found playing keyboards/organ on Sundays for Central Presbyterian Church in Mobile. He is employed full time and enjoys spending time with his husband, Gerardo, and with family, friends and all their fur babies.