As the New Year approaches, the Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) staff shares their goals for 2025, reflecting a mix of personal growth, community support and resilience. From strengthening journalism to prioritizing self-care and mindfulness, we’re committed to navigating the year ahead with purpose.
Martin Alfaro: In what’s set to be an interesting year, to say the least, my goal is to reinforce and strengthen the work we do to inform our community through independent, trustworthy journalism. Furthermore, to build stronger coalitions. This will be a time we stick together and fight like no other time should challenges and threats arise targeting our communities.
Personally, my goal is to grow in all capacities and to be the best person I can be for all the important people in my life, especially my partner Kyle.
Victoria A. Brownworth: My personal goal for the new year is to survive the aggressive cancer I am fighting and continue my work as a journalist, writer and activist. My goal is to fight back against the incoming Trump administration and continue to illumine the threats posed to our LGBTQ community and other vulnerable Americans. My goal is survival — for myself and for our very democracy.
Kelly Burkhardt: My goal is to continue to practice self care in a manner that is both affirming and rewarding to my body and soul.
Tim Cwiek: My goal for the New Year is to work on inner peace and to pursue a dream of One Peaceful World. Taking steps in that direction would be healing, even if we don’t reach the end goal in our lifetime.
Sean Dorn: Be better at listening to the people closest to me. Be better at keeping a level head when confronting adversity. Be kinder to the closest people who deserve it.
Sonia Leounes: My goal for next year is to find balance. I would like to stop overextending myself so frequently, get better quality and more sleep (without guilt), cook at home more often and limit screen time for my own sanity.
Don Pignolet: My only hope for this coming year is to just survive. It’s going to be a TRYING year.
Jeremy Rodriguez: In the beginning of 2024, I moved to an apartment in Philly. At the end of 2024, I have an amazing boyfriend, supportive friends, and as of this writing, I just got approved to adopt a cat! My goal for 2025 is to continue building upon this life that has made me so happy.
Lauren Rowello: Once upon a time, I didn’t even have a phone because I practiced a more mindful approach to giving people access to my time and attention. While I can’t exactly get away with being unreachable anymore, I want to practice more mindful approaches to getting rest in that same way — so I plan to turn off and unplug a lot more in 2025.
Prab Sandhu: I do what I want, and reallllly can’t be bothered with such silly things!
Mark Segal: To spend more downtime with my family.