Jacob’s Bio
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- Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Jack of many trades, Jacob Anderson-Minshall is a writer, ecoprenuer, LGBT activist, environmentalist and radio show host.
Writer: Jacob has written indepth articles, product reviews, travel pieces, profiles, op-eds and a column. He specializes in material about the LGBT community and the environment. Jacob is a frequent contributor to publications like Bitch magazine, SheWired.com, Windy City Times and Just Out and publishes the blog The Greening of America. For four years, he penned the self-syndicated weekly column, TransNation, which ran in publications from San Francisco to New York.
Jacob’s essay, “The Enemy Within: On Becoming A Straight White Guy,” is in Shira Tarrant’s anthology Men Speak Out: Views on Gender, Sex, and Power. April 23, 2009 , Jacob discussed his views on masculinty as a guest on New York’s WBAI Women Body & Soul.
With his wife, Diane, Jacob co-authors the Blind Eye mystery series. Blind Faith, is a Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Lesbian Mystery. The co-conspirators are currently writing their relationship memoir, Queerly Beloved.
Jacob’s short story, “Chinook,” appears in the Ariel Gore anthology Portland Queer. It revolves around a pregnant transman and compares gender transition with the smoltification salmon undergo to transition from salt to fresh water. He’s exporing this subject in greater detail in an upcoming novel.
Ecoprenuer: Jacob is the founder of re|new|velope a new venture aimed at keeping padded envelopes out of landfills, where they often end up after one use because they are considered unrecyclable.
Radio Host: Jacob founded and co-hosts the Gender Blender radio show on KBOO90.7 fm, in Portland, Oregon. He also assists with other KBOO shows like Outloud and The Other Team (a queer youth show he helps facilitate).
ETC: Jacob’s been everything from carny to circulation director to columnist; from painter to park ranger to proctor parent; from field technician to office manager to college instructor to graphic designer to small business owner.
Some of Jacob’s favorite accomplishments:
Providing a home and therapeutic support for adjudicated youth under 24/7 supervision. Successfully engaged and inspired youth who’d previously struggled in other homes.
Managing the 2,800 acre El Corte de Madera preserve for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District where he evaluated the elements degrading the Corte De Madera watershed, made recommendations for improvements—including decommissioning and narrowing trails. He also created unprecedented coalitions with the local mountain bike community to reduce off trail activity.
Trekking into remote areas and collecting benthic samples, Idaho State University’s Stream Ecology Center studies including one on the impact of the Yellowstone National Park fire on aquatic communities; and others on the impact of industrial discharge on stream health.
Co-founding a national magazine, where he garnered thousands of pre-orders without even a mock-up to offer in example. Also launched incredibly successful direct mail campaign.
Supervising an 8-member maintenance crew and overseeing construction and capital improvement projects for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District .
Working with numerous nonprofit organizations–from Sierra Club to Sane/FREEZE to Sawtooth Society and Special Olympics–to meet their fundraising and administrative needs.
Sitting on the advisory board of TransActive, an organization supporting transgender children.
Remaining committed to continuing education through college courses and self-initiated study programs.
Whether he’s freelance writing, supporting disadvantaged youth, trying to save the world or publicizing the work of people and causes he believes in; Jacob brings to the table a varied and eclectic background, that has endowed him with an unusual collection of skills.