Activism

While I’m dedicated to utilizing my design work for the betterment of the world, I believe that grassroots organizing is at the heart of transformational social movements. Therefore, I’ve sought to be involved in activism throughout my time at UW.

One of the main organizations I’ve worked with during my time at UW is Institutional Climate Action (ICA). I have worked with ICA at varying extents over the past five years at UW – beginning in 2020, online from my house.

*The author standing with a sign urging UW to divest from fossil fuels as part of an ICA campaign (taken in Fall 2020)*

UW students attending a May 2022 Board of Regents to urge the Board to divest from fossil fuels. The author can be found in the back of the room, wearing a black t-shirt. Photo from Institutional Climate Action Instagram, by Scott Jarrott

Most of the work I’ve done with ICA has been behind the scenes – although some artifacts of my participation exist, such as the photos above. I’ve gone to many meetings, made signs, attended club parties, researched for our campaigns, attended protests, and also attended social club gatherings.

Although activism can be disheartening and frustrating at times, it has also brought fulfillment and purpose and connected me to others. Ultimately, my engagement with activism has led me to understand the necessity of community in any movement for change, however fraught it can be.