Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧

@joelkaskinen

Accidental activist with a big mouth and bigger heart. 2026 Everytown Survivor Fellow. Gun violence & suicide loss survivor. Higher ed pro. Yooper. substack.com/@joelkaskinen

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Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· 21d

Not me doing some deep breathing in a corner of my coworker’s office this afternoon because I’m *tired* and dying a little 🫠

Me, in an office corner, standing straight up against the wall with my head leaned back and my eyes closed, deep breathing. In front of me is a small gray upholstered chair with a white throw pillow on it. Next to me is a window with a small plant on the windowsill.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 13

Watching @siouxfallscityfc.bsky.social and @usmnt.ussoccer.com while rocking my Grant Wahl Pride shirt from @oliveandyork.com because what else would I be doing tonight? 🏳️‍🌈⚽️🏳️‍⚧️

Me, in my Grant Wahl Pride shirt from Olive & York.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 2

Another book club pick done ✅ I’ve been locked in on reading so far this Summer and the vibes are immaculate. #Booksky

A paperback copy of Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez sits on top of a stack of other books on a coffee table.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· May 30

Friday evening calls for a book and a beer followed by a book in bed. #Booksky

A pint of beer next to the book, The Lemon Twist by Elan Les Vies, on a patio bench at Blackrocks Brewery.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Mar 24

My high ass definitely thought these were honey bbq and I’m pleasantly surprised they’re honey mustard 😂

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Mar 7

Not only is it @ccha.bsky.social Mason Cup Playoffs, but it’s also #HWAA and #HockeyJerseyDay!

Joel, on a couch, in an Augustana University hockey jersey, taking a selfie.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Feb 21

Watching all the @ccha.bsky.social action tonight! I’ve got on BGSU vs @minnstmhockey.bsky.social and LSSU vs NMU. I’ll be tuning in to @augiemhockey.bsky.social vs UST when that starts too.

View of my living room with two TVs on display to Central Collegiate Hockey Association games between Bowling Green State University and Minnesota State University, on the left screen, and Northern Michigan University vs Lake Superior State University, on the right screen.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Feb 11

Devastated my camera isn’t working for tonight’s @everytown.org Survivor Fellowship monthly meeting, but ecstatic to be here nonetheless. #EndGunViolence

Laptop screen with a group of Everytown Survivor Fellows learning about story-sharing engagements.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jan 2

Today, I did a 12 month tarot spread with two friends. It’s become a New Year’s tradition for me to do a spread previewing the year ahead. Cheers to 2026! Spread inspo and credit: @yoshiyoshitani.bsky.social.

Tarot of the Divine 12 Month Spread layout and description.

A 12 month tarot spread, following the Tarot of the Divine’s format and instructions. The deck used is The Wild Unknown.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Dec 4

Got my @everytown.bsky.social Survivor Fellowship Training completion certificate in the mail today! I’m so looking forward to the next year of advocacy and storytelling with fellow #GunViolence survivors. I just know this fellowship is going to be life changing. 🧡🕯️

Certificate of completion for Joel Kaskinen for the Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor Fellowship Program foundational training sitting on a marble countertop.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Nov 30

So great to catch the @ccha.bsky.social matchup between Northern Michigan and Minnesota State in person tonight! #NCAAIceHockey #CawlidgeHawkey

Northern Michigan and Minnesota State hockey teams in the faceoff circle ahead of puck drop inside the Berry Events Center in Marquette, MI. View is from behind the visitor (Minnesota State) goal.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Nov 19

Picked up my copy of this year’s Diversity Common Reader selection! I can’t wait to read this one. #BookSky

A hardcover copy of Marsha by Tourmaline sitting on a light blu ottoman. The photo is taken from above.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Nov 16

I’m devouring this great read by @teaganoliviawrites.bsky.social. #BookSky

Joel, holding a book, Spit Back the Bones, by Teagan Olivia King, in his left hand while resting on a cream colored blanket.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Oct 23

Completed my @everytown.bsky.social Survivor Fellowship foundational training tonight. I’m looking forward to advocating for change, building community, and connecting with my fellow survivors in 2026. We keep showing up because there’s work to be done to #EndGunViolence in our communities. ✊🕯️🧡

A laptop computer screen showing a 2026 Everytown Survivor Fellowship Zoom call gallery.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Oct 21

Jumping into my first @everytown.bsky.social Survivor Fellowship training call tonight! I can’t wait to begin my year as as a Fellow alongside so many other powerful and incredible survivors and volunteers in the #GunViolence prevention movement. 🧡🕯️

Laptop screen with a Zoom call showing community norms and best practices for Everytown Survivor Fellowship training.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Sep 21

The whole fam went on a little adventure today. 🥰 It’s not often we all get together—especially outside of my hometown—other than for weddings or funerals, so this felt like a special outing.

My whole family posing for a photo in front of a photo wall at Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Sep 11

Today, on #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, I’m celebrating the lives of Brittany, Jared, Alex, Kent, Javi, Joe, Ben, and more, who left this earth far too soon, but whose memories will live on through us all. 🕯️ Keep showing up. 💜💙

Lake Superior near dusk in a cloudy evening

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Sep 7

Beer fest looks good on me, I fear. ☀️🍻 #906Day was a dream!

Joel, at Blackrocks Brewery, on the patio, drinking a beer. He’s wearing yellow linen pants, a reddish crewneck sweatshirt and black vest. A light green and pink Hinterland Music Festival cap is on Joel’s head and a pair of blue glasses.

Maija, Joel, and Ty at the UP Fall Beer Festival.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Sep 3

New headshot, same face card, babes.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Aug 24

When it’s #GainbridgeSuperLeague premiere night and @newmexicoutd.bsky.social and @detcityfc.com are playing, you do what ya gotta do to watch soccer. I’ve currently got five games on five screens, like an absolute sicko. 🫣

Four screens, with four different soccer games playing.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Aug 19

My office shares a vestibule with my apartment and I often hear my student staff when they’re working in there. Just now I heard someone say, “it’s Amish in here.” in regards to the covered wagon lights hanging. 🤣 #HigherEd is never boring, that’s for sure. #ResLife always brings it!

Joel’s office space with covered wagon string lights brightening the space. There’s a window in the center of the image, above a desk and some storage shelves. There’s are posters and pictures on the walls and a black curtain covers the window.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Aug 17

Hosted a ten year anniversary/reunion for the 2015 Northern Michigan University orientation staff this weekend! One summer brought me some of the most important relationships in my life. There’s so much love in this group. It’s always a great day to be a Wildcat! 😻

Ten people cuddled on a couch for a timed photo! Everyone is smiling and laughing.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jul 28

Reunited with three of my closest friends from college, back in our college town, after ten years, so of course we recreated our favorite photo. 😻

Irene, Joel, Emily, and Javonte taking a selfie.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jul 21

Sent Pappa off to the grand ol’ Chevy dealership in the sky. ✨

Three antique cars in a line behind a hearse. All four vehicles are parked outside a funeral home.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jul 13

Settled in, cheering on @mnaurorafc.bsky.social as they take on Utah United in the #USLWLeague National Semifinals. Let’s light things up, ladies!

Joel, a white man with blond hair and clear glasses, wearing a navy blue Minnesota Aurora FC replica jersey with orange, white, and teal neckband. He’s smiling softly with his mouth closed and lips pursed.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 29

It's the final match day of the season for @siouxfallscityfc.bsky.social! They host River Light FC at home. A win will push SFCFC into second place in the #USLWLeague Heartland Division bumping their opponents to third place. Currently, they have the same record, 7-3-1. 📸: SFCFC

Game day graphic for Sioux Falls City FC vs River Light FC on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM CT at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The graphic features a collage of players wearing the blue, magenta, and black Pathways Kit in the center with blue, magenta, and black geometric shapes surrounding them in the background.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 15

Can’t tell me I’m not a soccer fan 😅 Watching: #USLSuperLeague @newmexicoutd.bsky.social @kansascitycurrent.bsky.social @siouxfallscityfc.bsky.social

Four screens showing four different soccer games on them.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 14

Watching the inaugural #USLSuperLeague Championship, @newmexicoutd.bsky.social game, and @siouxfallscityfc.bsky.social match tonight! Sadly, ION isn’t in my broadcast network so I can’t watch @kansascitycurrent.bsky.social tonight too. Being a soccer fan is so hard sometimes.

Joel, smiling with a wide open-mouthed smile and his tongue sticking out. He’s wearing clear-rimmed glasses and a New Mexico United black and yellow baseball jersey with a rainbow patterned Sioux Falls City FC scarf.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 6

I #WearOrange to honor the legacy of my student, Alex, who took his life by firearm in 2020. As a witness to and survivor of #GunViolence and suicide loss, I proudly stand in solidarity with the loved ones of the hundreds of lives lost daily to this preventable tragedy. @momsdemand.bsky.social

Joel wearing an orange shirt that says “end gun violence” in white letters across the chest.

Joel Kaskinen 🫘🟧@joelkaskinen· Jun 5

‘Twas the afternoon before National Gun Violence Awareness Day and throughout the United States passionate advocates #WearOrange to shine a light on the epidemic of hatred and violence plaguing our country. Together, we can #DisarmHate and #EndGunViolence! ✊🕯️🧡