Croke has established themselves as not only a safe-space maker for the LGBTQ+ community, but as a leader for municipal change. In January, they spoke out in support of Worcester City Councilor Thu Nguyen after they accused fellow city councilors of transphobic discrimination.
Croke co-led organizational and advocacy efforts for Worcester to become a sanctuary city for transgender and gender diverse people, including co-organizing the Queer Ball at Worcester City Hall. The City Council passed the sanctuary city resolution in February with a 9-2 vote.
After founding their nonprofit Love Your Labels in 2019, an organization offering programs aimed at creating community for LGBTQ+ individuals, Croke has grown its annual budget to six figures, allowing them to hire two part-time staff members and open the nonprofit’s first physical location in 2025. The nonprofit’s Queer AF art and fashion show attracted more than 700 attendees in 2024.
Through their work with MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative, Croke helped the organization secure more than $2 million for community-rooted projects over the past two years, including a multi-use event space in Springfield.Â
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
