Anoki Gibbs

Peer Mentor (They/Them/She/Her) 🏳️‍🌈

SPECIAL INTERESTS: LGBTQ+ SUPPORT FOR YOUTH & ADULTS | ADHD & MENTAL HEALTH | RELATIONSHIPS | GRIEF & LOSS | SELF-ESTEEM | BOUNDARY SETTING | ABUSE RECOVERY | PARENTING SUPPORT | ADOPTION | BODY POSITIVITY

Anoki is a non-binary artist, writer, singer, and long-time member of the gothic subculture. Late in 2022, they relocated from Tennessee to the Chippewa Valley. So far they are delighted with the move and loving all the cold and snow. They are a gamer and have been playing various TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons since 1994, When they aren’t drawing, singing, finding a cat to befriend, or spending time with their family they are often found pouring over their dice collection like a dragon. 

As a young child Anoki was in the foster care system and was placed with their paternal grandparents who adopted them at their request at age thirteen. While they were lucky to have two loving parents and a safe place to live, their adoptive parents struggled with mental health and anger management. As an adult Anoki became a trained foster parent and was blessed with the ability to adopt a child in similar circumstances to those in which they were born. This gives Anoki the unique perspective of being both an adopted child and an adoptive parent. They strive to be a better parent than the examples they had growing up. 

Anoki was lucky to have LGBTQ+ family members that supported and accepted them as they navigated what it meant to be a part of the LGBTQ+ society. They are deeply committed to making sure that other young people and adults who are navigating their own identities have support in their own journeys. 

Anoki has lived experience with anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, C-PTSD, mental and physical abuse, loss of a parent, mental health struggles, surviving sexual assault, insomnia, imposter syndrome, agoraphobia, body/gender dysphoria, miscarriage, homelessness, and food insecurity. When asked to describe themselves Anoki would say that they are a living breathing example of resilience, love, encouragement, humor, and kindness. They try to focus on being grateful for how far they’ve come instead of dwelling on where they’ve been. 

Anoki embraces their past. They use it to empathize with others who feel that no one could understand what they're going through. Ultimately, people want to feel like they are seen, heard, and understood. Anoki genuinely cares about others and is always willing to listen without judgment. Often described as a wealth of optimism and hope, they seek to help others see the very best in themselves.