As a gay child who was trafficked to an abuser and swept up in the Indiana foster care system, Mat Bunch fought to survive because he knew he would be loved one day. He knew he would be wanted. Today, as a global citizen and changemaker in the green energy movement, Mat is at the forefront of social and environmental justice. This enthralling story will inspire anyone who has ever been unwanted or felt like love only beckoned from fairy tales. Read WANTED. Be WANTED.
Mat Bunch is a social and environmental advocate with a B.S. in Public Policy and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at UNC Chapel Hill. With over a decade of experience in policymaking and energy law, Mat is at the forefront of environmental and social justice. When he is not fighting global climate change during his day job, he enjoys traveling the world and pursuing his mission of inspiring and empowering others to live their true lives, despite their circumstances. He wrote Wanted to declare how critical love and belonging are for every soul to flourish.
Candi S. Cross is a WSJ and USA Today bestselling ghostwriter. She has collaborated on 150+ books with authors worldwide. Candi is committed to helping diverse individuals with contemporary stories of impact. She lives in New York City with her wife and 24/7 muse, Liza. For more info, visit www.youtalkiwrite.com.
"Far too often, LGBTQ young people in foster care experience bias and discrimination-from the homes in which they’re placed to the workers assigned to help them and their families. Through people like Mat bravely sharing their stories, and work like ours to drive equity for LGBTQ+ children in adoption and foster programs, this is changing. But more must be done-every child deserves to feel safe, welcome and affirmed in their own forever home."
--Jay Brown, Senior Vice President, HRC Foundation
"We all have struggles in life and stories to tell. For some, those struggles seem to compound and can break the strongest of spirits. So, when a story of resilience and determination emerges, we are all drawn to it. That is the story of Mat Bunch. But he goes beyond his personal story to draw us in and motivate us to action. You will walk away happy, sad, satisfied, and rededicated."
--Todd A. Weiler, Former Asst. Secretary of Defense, Author of Untamed Equality
"Wanted is both gritty and dreamy, showing us what is humanly possible in this life even as we encounter all kinds of monsters. And it just so happens to come with a playbook on how to change the world in the most deliberate ways. Thank you, Mat!"
--Christopher Gasti, Stage and Screen Actor, Advocate, Author of The Show Must Go On
"Every individual’s life has meaning; every individual has worth. Cast aside and abused, Mat Bunch early life was one of basic survival and a struggle to overcome unimaginable challenges. His life story now gives hope to humanity that life has meaning and worth as he helps to save the world for all of us and more importantly, those who will follow us."
--Greg Morley (he/him/his), Regional Director Human Resources Asia Oceania/Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Moët Hennessy
"Wanted is an open letter to the world on the power of hope. Mat Bunch allows us VIP access into his life, his thoughts, and his journey to find the love he knows exists and teaches us so much about ourselves and the world along the way. Wanted is real, bold, and necessary to the contemporary leadership narrative, and we are grateful to Mat for trusting us with his story!"
--Mary Michelle Hemphill, Ph.D., Adjunct Instructor, MPA Program, UNC School of Government
