Anchored in Joy
Anchored in Joy fosters allyship and support for LGBTQIA+ youth through connection and belonging leading to more positive mental health outcomes.
Pride Pins
Pride Pins are distributed to youth groups, schools, and supportive adults. Pins represent allyship and a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. They can be worn on shoes, clothes, bags, anywhere that is visible. Speciality pins can be purchased and sales support the purchased of pin supplies, books for the Kaleidoscope Book Program and donations to RI Youth Pride & The Trevor Project.
Community Engagement
Through social media and at local festivals and fairs, Anchored in Joy shares resources and support for LGBTQIA+ youth while sharing an awareness of the importance of allyship in young people's lives.
Kindness Workshops & Story Times
Molly has been invited to speak in dozens of classrooms across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts to share her message of kindness through her children's books. Workshops provide opportunities for role playing age specific challenges in a welcoming and suportive way so every student can benefit while sharing a message of kindness. In order to combat bullying, Molly hopes to the help the next generation of young people learn the tools to be upstanders within their own stories and create an environment of kindness allyship.
Kaleidoscope Book Program
An avid reader and author of two children's books, Molly understands the importance of having access to diverse literature. She is committed to helping all children find a book in which they can not only see themselves represented, but their families, friends, and community. To date she has collected and donated over 750 books to Rhode Island children through annual Halloween Booktacular events. She hopes that seeing themselves and families represented in stories helps build self-confidence, self- love, and joy and by reading about characters who may be different from ourselves, it can promote empathy and understanding leading to a kinder world.
Our Team
We are currently in the process of obtaining non-profit 501c3 status to help Anchored in Joy continue it's mission to spread the message of allyship, connection, and positive mental health.
Molly is assisted in running the day to day communication, media, and business by her mom and dad.
Additionally, we wouldn't be able to exist without the amazing support of our comunity members who so generously donated to her events throughout the past four years.
Molly McBride
Founder/President
"Intelligent women can change the world and I want to be one of them."
Photo Credit: Lee Simpson Photography
Why Anchored in Joy...
Molly is not only a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, but has seen first hand how the support of family and community can positively affect youth through her trans brother's journey and family members and friends who identify as LGBTQIA+. She has also witnessed the heartache and struggle of those who do not feel that same support from loved ones. Believing every person has the right to live as their authentic self, Molly hopes to raise awareness of the importance of allyship in young people's lives and make a community where LGBTQIA+ youth feel included, supported, and loved. She aims to help others discover the joy that comes from living authentically, a joy that can anchor individuals in healthier mental well‑being.
Outside of Anchored in Joy...
A competitive Irish Dancer, Molly fell in love with Irish dance at age 4 and began competing at age 6. In 2023 she reached the highest level of competition, Open Championship, and hopes to qualify for Worlds one day. She loves sharing her passion for dance and Irish culture across the globe, competing and
Photo Credit: Lee Simpson Photography
performing across the United States, Canada, and Ireland. She is a company dancer for a local Irish band, The Pourmen, and has been a guest dancer in shows including Christmas with the Celts, Gaelic Storm, and the Trinity Irish Dance Company performance of Jig. Every March you can find Molly performing across the state at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Molly is the author of two children’s books, both with a
message of kindness and acceptance that are available on Amazon. Struggling with anxiety, Molly's first book explores the importance of being kind to yourself, just like you are to others. Her second book build on the importance of understanding, compassion, and community through a tale of a determined group of kids and some magical monseters who work together to organize a beach clean up.
Throughout her time in school she has taken advantage of performing arts programming and enjoys playing hand chimes, the uekele, the piano. She has performed in several productions and recently had the role as Gabriella in High School Musical 2.
She enjoys participting in community service pageants and has won several titles including 2026 Miss Northeast Junior Teen, 2025 Miss New England Petite Preteen, 2024 American Miss National Preteen, 2024 Miss Northeast Supreme Queen, 2024 Miss U.S. of America Preteen, and 2023 American Women of Service Elementary Princess. She is a three time recipient of the Gold Presidential Service Award. She also has been recognized as most photogenic, runner up role model, best talent, and more.
Molly is represented by Donahue Models & Talent and has been a
runway model in Rhode Island and New York Fashion Weeks. She also was featured on the Play-Doh Cookie Surprise box in 2018 and has performed voice over work for students in the Rhode Island
School of Design film school.
In her free time Molly enjoys hanging out with her friends, listening to
music- especially K-Pop, traveling, acting, and everything Disney.
.jpg)
