Meet Jamie Lombardi | Founder and Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Lombardi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The Autonomy Project is my heart dream that has become a force all on it’s own. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and this org operates the space Wicked Eden. We are entirely volunteer operated.

The Autonomy Project is dedicated to fostering empowerment, creativity, and healing for marginalized communities. At its core, our mission is to build a vibrant, inclusive environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds—particularly the queer community, GSRM (Gender, Sexuality, and Romantic Minorities), sex workers, and creatives—can find both refuge and a platform for expression.

Our impact extends beyond individual experiences, aiming to effect systemic change through education, advocacy, and direct support. By hosting a wide range of programs, from educational workshops and support groups to arts initiatives and social gatherings, we provide tools and opportunities for personal growth and community engagement. Each event and workshop is crafted to empower attendees, providing them with the knowledge and space to explore their identities, develop new skills, and connect with a supportive community. We work hard to ensure folks feel an overwhelming level of inclusion from the moment they walk through our doors.

Moreover, we actively work to dismantle the stigmas attached to our community members by promoting understanding and acceptance through public engagement and visibility. This transformative approach not only uplifts individuals but also catalyzes broader societal acceptance and inclusion, making the world a more welcoming place for everyone, no matter their background or identity. If we make things safe for us, it becomes safe for everyone.

One of our major focuses is art and music as the conduit for this mission.

We believe that creativity is a powerful form of expression, healing, and connection—especially for those who have historically been marginalized or silenced. Through our events, workshops, and open spaces, we encourage individuals to explore their artistic passions, whether it’s through visual art, performance, music, or other creative mediums. For many, art becomes a way to reclaim their narrative, to speak boldly in ways that words alone can’t capture. In fostering this creativity, we not only provide an outlet for self-expression but also build a community where shared experiences and diverse voices are celebrated. Art and music connect us across boundaries, creating a sense of belonging and sparking conversations that lead to personal and collective growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am both a business owner and nonprofit founder, and both of these paths were forged through a brutal landscape. I am a trafficking survivor, and it was my experiences being isolated and victimized without education or resources that motivated me to create the Autonomy Project.

A decade ago, I was finally able to leave my abuser after 11 years and restart my life again, but I had very few resources to do it with. I didn’t come from money; I had no family and few friends as a result of my abuse. Through legal battles and sheer force of will, I painstakingly rebuilt my business, repaired my mental health and my credit score, and fought to have a seat at the table. When people find out you’re a victim, they only ever see you as such.

I had always felt like an outsider in Columbus. I was too weird, too creative, too passionate, too rebellious, too driven, and certainly too queer to “belong.” I was constantly traveling to other places to have a sense of community, much of which was influenced by the culture of Burning Man. It was in this equally weird event out in the desert that I found a sense of belonging and ease, and I vowed to bring some of that magic home with me. I knew there were other people like me here; I just had to find them.

Safety is a very ambiguous concept when you’ve experienced trauma, but I knew that it would start with having a safe place to build this community. So I began to save to buy my own building– and I refused to listen to anyone who told me it was impossible. Less than 2% of commercial real estate is owned by women? Fine, I’ll take those odds. I’d beaten worse ones already, what’s one more?

After 8 years, I was finally able to secure an SBA 504 loan for a 6000 square foot brick building on the southside, a former Columbus library. I closed on the building in 2022, and renovations took over 10 months to complete. During that time, I gathered my closest friends and fellow rebels, and founded a nonprofit to operate the space. Without any grants or government funding, I knew we’d have to do the entire thing as a volunteer-operated initiative.

What was a pipe dream became a reality in June of 2023 when we opened our doors as “Wicked Eden.”

In the first year, we hosted 40 unique events and classes, had over 600 folks become members, onboarded over 100 new volunteers, and had over 1500 marginalized folks through our doors. We’ve been able to fundraise for community mutual aid, local artists, and support groups. It’s still a challenge and while my team and I are still “learning on the job,” we’re mostly self-sustaining.

Overcoming these obstacles required a mixture of strategic thinking and community trust-building. I’ve learned that authenticity and transparency go a long way in rallying support and fostering a genuine connection with the community.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned that leadership is as much about listening and adapting as it is about guiding. It’s about being willing to take the unconventional path if it means staying true to your values and the needs of those you serve. My aim isn’t just to lead an organization; it’s to inspire a movement that champions inclusivity, creativity, and empowerment at every turn.

What I want the world to know about The Autonomy Project is that we are more than our mission statements or the events we host. We are a testament to the power of collective action and the profound impact of embracing and celebrating diversity in all its forms. We’re here to challenge the status quo and create a world where everyone, no matter how marginalized, can find a place and a voice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Certainly I’m going to plug Wicked Eden here, mostly because I spend more time here than anywhere else! We built the space to be simultaneously cozy and welcoming, colorful and fun, and also a creative incubator for so many activities.

When I’m not at Wicked Eden, I enjoy visits to Otherworld, Bossy Grrls Pinup Joint, and sampling new restaurants throughout the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shout-out to the dedicated volunteer team that co-creates this dream with me. They have dedicated collectively 4000+ volunteer hours to this mission and I am so very grateful to have such a fierce and impressive team. Found family is real family.

Website: https://www.autonomyproject.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wicked.eden/

Twitter: https://x.com/wickededen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickededen

Other: https://www.facebook.com/autonomyprojectorg
https://www.instagram.com/autonomy.project
https://x.com/AutonomyProjct

Image Credits
Des Mori, Atropos Media
Laura Dark
Jaime Drew, All the Genders Photo Project
Madeline Lenore