About the Founder
Hi, I’m Lindsey, a Minnesota-based raver, health and wellbeing subject matter expert, passionate advocate, and the creator behind Kandi Flipping Beads & Things.
Like many of us navigating marginalized identities and deep trauma, I spent the better half of my life believing I was fundamentally flawed. I constantly asked myself, 'What's wrong with me?' For over 20 years, I completely erased my own boundaries and experiences just to feel safe. I invested all of my energy into making others comfortable, people-pleasing, and chasing conventional success just to receive external validation that I deserved to exist. It was a lifelong mask that took a deep, significant toll and ultimately resulted in a late-in-life AuDHD diagnosis.
While prioritizing my own health and healing, facing my trauma, and accepting this new discovery of my capabilities, I have come to a beautiful realization: Nothing is wrong with me, with you, or with anyone in our communities.
This is the true inspiration for Kandi Flipping Beads & Things. We all deserve the space to exist, heal, and thrive. This is a space that we can achieve together by connecting with one another and openly talking about the stigmatized elements of the human experience.
Mission: Flipping the Script
The mission of Kandi Flipping Beads & Things is to flip the script on difficult conversations regarding trauma, substance use, mental health, intersectional identities, marginalization, oppression, grief, and more.
By actively bringing these stigmatized elements of the human experience into the light, we can effectively use our existence as an act of resistance, uncover revolutionary joy, and finally connect to our authentic truth.
We strive to achieve this mission by turning everyday items like bracelets, keychains, and trinkets into toolkits that open these conversations, effectively turning ravers, music lovers, and anyone who likes cool things into communication catalysts for change.
Vision:
Modernized PLUR Movement
We view our work as a mini-movement built to revitalize community engagement within the traditional rave framework of PLUR: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect.
We are creating a modernized, active safe space that recognizes intersectional identities and holds room for the raw realities of the human experience. By pairing handmade, textured art with direct-donation mutual aid, we are building real spaces for connection and healing.
True healing cannot exist if we gloss over our differences or hide our scars. We choose to heal loudly so that our communities are never lost in silence. Together, we can build an intentional world where everyone has the room to exist, survive, and thrive.