Lauren Girardin
@girardinl.bsky.social
Communications consultant, storyteller, and plain language writer for nonprofits, foundations, and others who inspire. @lwvsf.bsky.social member. Em dash fan. For hire. she/her juhr-RAR-din
📍 San Francisco
📍 San Francisco
If you work in communications, watch this video
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
If you work in communications, watch this video
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
*sighs in consulting for 25 years*
it never was
it never was
Providing good information to decision-makers and expecting them to make correspondingly good decisions is no longer an effective theory of change in a world where leaders are captured by their own counter-knowledge and produce their own disinformation, even at the threat to all of our lives.
December 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
*sighs in consulting for 25 years*
it never was
it never was
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits nonprofitquarterly.org/trump-admini... @girardinl.bsky.social #nonprofitsky
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
The Education Department is transferring responsibility for many of its programs to other government agencies. The move has dire implications for the organizations that administer those programs, and ...
nonprofitquarterly.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits nonprofitquarterly.org/trump-admini... @girardinl.bsky.social #nonprofitsky
My pumpkin pakora was a failure, but my rosemary garlic dinner rolls were perfection!
November 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
My pumpkin pakora was a failure, but my rosemary garlic dinner rolls were perfection!
Another wonderful #LyticsPrompt comes to an end.
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Day 30: Everything #LyricsPrompt #LyricsPrompt2025
Reply to this post (not the top one!) with the artist, title, hashtag & YouTube link to the 1st song today's prompt word reminds you of (derivatives OK!). Scroll through the replies first—if your song's already there, like it instead of reposting.
Reply to this post (not the top one!) with the artist, title, hashtag & YouTube link to the 1st song today's prompt word reminds you of (derivatives OK!). Scroll through the replies first—if your song's already there, like it instead of reposting.
November 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Another wonderful #LyticsPrompt comes to an end.
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Me: *staring dejectedly at a batch of failed pumpkin spice pumpkin pakora made for a Friendsgiving today*
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
November 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Me: *staring dejectedly at a batch of failed pumpkin spice pumpkin pakora made for a Friendsgiving today*
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
"quadrupling down on being a pain in the ass, politically"
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Here's a note I sent to our members about what we did with their money, and why we expect the Onion to outgrow the Washington Post.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"quadrupling down on being a pain in the ass, politically"
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
The Fallout From Our AI Freelancer Investigation | The Local
A conversation about the future of journalism in a world of “Victoria Goldiees.”
thelocal.to
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
Been the wrong week to deep clean rugs. Drying day #6.
Fog and low cloud cover still stubbornly clinging to the interior valleys of the North Bay and East Bay, so temperatures there will only top out in the 50s. Highs in the 60s elsewhere -- all in all, a nice Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Been the wrong week to deep clean rugs. Drying day #6.
Reason #284 your organization needs human writers and editors
Even the the damn twitter card for this Nature Scientific Reports is clearly AI Slop.
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reason #284 your organization needs human writers and editors
Sigh
I'm screaming there's literally a plume of literal fucking weapons-grade toxic waste poisoning the groundwater in the most racist parts of Long Island, including the home of the Baileys
Well, since you asked...
November 26, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Sigh
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
When I got breast cancer 8 years ago (No evidence of disease now. Thanks science!), I shared xkcd's comics about cancer and love with my friends and family so they'd better understand my reality.
I'm trying to not have emotional attachment to this new comic, but failing — happily.
xkcd.com/3172/
I'm trying to not have emotional attachment to this new comic, but failing — happily.
xkcd.com/3172/
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
When I got breast cancer 8 years ago (No evidence of disease now. Thanks science!), I shared xkcd's comics about cancer and love with my friends and family so they'd better understand my reality.
I'm trying to not have emotional attachment to this new comic, but failing — happily.
xkcd.com/3172/
I'm trying to not have emotional attachment to this new comic, but failing — happily.
xkcd.com/3172/
I was warning a friend about this the other day, and they said they'd just use cookbooks.
Then I got to tell them how AI is ruining cookbooks, too.
Then I got to tell them how AI is ruining cookbooks, too.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I was warning a friend about this the other day, and they said they'd just use cookbooks.
Then I got to tell them how AI is ruining cookbooks, too.
Then I got to tell them how AI is ruining cookbooks, too.
Recently, I asked my Dad what I could look forward to when I turn 50 in a couple of months besides AARP membership, which I knew about.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
It's been good knowing y'all. The grim reaper of moderate hotel discounts has found me...
November 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Recently, I asked my Dad what I could look forward to when I turn 50 in a couple of months besides AARP membership, which I knew about.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
"Funeral home spam," he said, laughing more at me than with me.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Friendsgiving potluck. The person who volunteered—enthusiastically, mind you—to make mashed potatoes for everyone:
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Friendsgiving potluck. The person who volunteered—enthusiastically, mind you—to make mashed potatoes for everyone:
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
- arrived so late that everyone was done eating
- with a bag of raw potatoes
- asked the hosts "Where are your pots?"
- made mashed potatoes
- complained no one ate their potatoes
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
"It's hard to see [accessibility issues on new .gov sites] as anything but a deliberate choice. That also sends a clear message of who this administration feels has a place in American life, who is worthy enough to access information and services and who is not worth their time."
Last week I hade the opportunity to speak at @dotgovdesign.bsky.social about accessibility in the civic tech space, why we should all start using assistive tech, and why improving our skills as practitioners is so critically important in this moment. jaredcunha.com/blog/dotgov-...
My talk for DotGov Design 2025
I had the opportunity to speak at the 2025 DotGov Design conference. My talk was titled “Design for Accessibility and Inclusiveness in Civic Space” which covered topics such as why it's so important t...
jaredcunha.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"It's hard to see [accessibility issues on new .gov sites] as anything but a deliberate choice. That also sends a clear message of who this administration feels has a place in American life, who is worthy enough to access information and services and who is not worth their time."
Some schadenfreude joy for your timeline
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Some schadenfreude joy for your timeline
The butt is too hilarious!
November 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The butt is too hilarious!
Cheers for the leakers!
Behind this important reversal is a member of the Coast Guard who saw what was happening and had the courage to leak it to the press. That person deserves serious praise.
November 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Cheers for the leakers!
In San Francisco and got financial skills? YOU WANT TO DO THIS! Volunteering for LWVSF is one of my favorite things. It gives me a way to make a real difference when everything is conspiring to make me feel powerless. I've also made some amazing friends among my fellow volunteer members 💜🤍💛
Got a head for numbers and a heart for democracy? Become our volunteer treasurer to keep our books balanced and our finances strong. Skills needed: QuickBooks, PayPal, Google Sheets, mobile banking. You’ll train with our current board treasurer for a smooth transition.
Learn more ideali.st/W7vp2r
Learn more ideali.st/W7vp2r
November 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
In San Francisco and got financial skills? YOU WANT TO DO THIS! Volunteering for LWVSF is one of my favorite things. It gives me a way to make a real difference when everything is conspiring to make me feel powerless. I've also made some amazing friends among my fellow volunteer members 💜🤍💛
Some light reading for the upcoming holiday week. /s
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
My report on Nonviolent Action against Democratic Erosion is finally out today @harvardash.bsky.social!
I try to put the US democracy movement into global comparative perspective.
For the tl;dr crowd, see below for some key takeaways:
ash.harvard.edu/resources/no...
I try to put the US democracy movement into global comparative perspective.
For the tl;dr crowd, see below for some key takeaways:
ash.harvard.edu/resources/no...
Nonviolent Action Against Democratic Erosion: The United States in Comparative Perspective – Ash Center
ash.harvard.edu
November 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Some light reading for the upcoming holiday week. /s
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Seriously, this is important stuff! Comes with a handy tl;dr thread.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Been working on my project proposal on income reduction for tertiary mental health patients for a year now, and what ppl get wrong is the cause-&-effect relationship between poor folks & financial literacy.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Been working on my project proposal on income reduction for tertiary mental health patients for a year now, and what ppl get wrong is the cause-&-effect relationship between poor folks & financial literacy.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Poor people don't have financial literacy skills because they NEED MONEY TO PRACTISE THEM.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days