How are you involved with the Jandon Center?

I started working as a student fellow at the Jandon Center during my sophomore year at Smith. While there, I have been involved in a wide variety of projects, such as doing outreach and social media for events, creating an art installation made out of embroidered banners, and archiving old photos of student volunteers from the ’90s.

What have you noticed about your community? What is working/not working?  

I am a part of many different communities, both here in western Massachusetts and back home in central Vermont. One thing I’ve noticed is that communities know what they want and need, but there are so many barriers to them being able to access those resources. I think many people at the city level of government are trying to listen to the community, but ultimately I believe that true transformative change needs to happen outside of these institutions. We need better and affordable housing for all, police and prison abolition, a just transition to deal with climate change, etc.

Who/what inspires you?

I am inspired by working together with people who are passionate and truly care about addressing the issues in our communities. This happens in organizations I am a part of, in classes at Smith, at the Jandon Center and in other areas of my life. I hope to always find this sense of purpose and community that I have now.

What’s one thing you wish people knew about you? Or what’s a fun fact about yourself?

I am a member of Divest Smith College, a nonhierarchical student led group that successfully pushed Smith to commit to divest our endowment from fossil fuels in 2019. We are currently working on different environmental justice campaigns and mutual aid efforts. This has been a major part of my Smith experience and I hope to continue this kind of work after graduation.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that communities know what they want and need, but there are so many barriers to them being able to access those resources.”