Hello Friends and Future Friends,
My name is Briauna Skye McKizzie, and I am a creative (writer, actor, community building, event host) who is currently based in Portland, OR.
I have been a single parent since 2011, and I have managed to live without receiving child support ever since my daughter was born.
Since her birth father lives in Texas, and it was not a supportive or healthy relationship, it has been challenging to get child support or assistance with filing. I am currently trying very hard to get it, but I have also been experiencing other severe hardships that are making it quite dire for me to reach out for tangible, financial help from others. Doing so is not easy for me as we live in a culture that takes a lot of care to shame Black single mothers like myself.
Throughout most of Lia's life I was was fully employed and often even worked multiple jobs. However, in April 2025, my contract with Genentech expired, and I was out of work. I received unemployment until November of 2025 and now I don't receive anything. I receive $25 in EBT a month. I also had a part time job with Historic Alberta House for a while, but in November of 2025 my hours were abruptly cut without notice.
The other jobs I have been working have been short-term gig jobs that do not pay enough for me to live in the city of Portland. Additionally, while I own my condo, my condo is not financeable so I can not easily sell it due to living in a community where the HOA seems to have made some CHOICES ;).
That said, I am now at risk of losing housing. While I will be receiving a grant on March 30th, that leaves the months of January - March where I am desperately scrambling to make ends meet, and I can't do this alone.
In addition to these things, I am also disabled.
I've been diagnosed with CPTSD, Complex AudDHD, and have symptoms consistent with Chrohns. Last year, I was in the ER 3 times, and on one instance I nearly died and experienced what bile tastes like (it's not good!).
On top of that I was also assaulted in August and witnessed the death of a neighbor and also made steps to press charges against someone who assaulted me in 2018 (there is ample documentation of this occurring including the perp voluntarily telling several peers and acquaintances about it). The investigation is ongoing.
I am under extreme distress.
To be honest, I would not even be here if it weren't for receiving the email in December that I would be receiving a grant at the end of March.
It is extremely hard to want to be alive when you are suffering and no one seems to be paying attention. I share these things not to garner sympathy or trauma dump, but to express the reality of my situation and ask for help, grace, and empathy. While my video about my assault has over 3k views, less than 10 people actually reached out. I need for people to care more about me than they care about the "tea" of my experiences.
If you're able, please donate or share my story.
Additionally, please know that I'm someone who has tirelessly worked to support others since 2018 through my art collective StayLitt PDX. I founded that with my late and dear friend Shrimoye who passed in December of 2022 (She is who i am dedicating my film to).
You can find my large, splayed toed, digital footprint on my IG @staylittpdx or my personal IG @briaunaskye.
I don't believe in listing all I've done to support others because I don't do it for clout or to receive praise or even thanks...but I am someone who will generously and tirelessly pay your kindness forward when I am in a better spot.
Thank you in advance for your tangible acts of care,
Briauna Skye McKizzie aka The Cable Brat aka Black Amelia Bedelia aka the World's okayest mum
