How are you involved with the Jandon Center?

I am a student researcher at the Jandon Center. Through my work at the Jandon Center, I have been able to give back to the greater Springfield area through creative research projects. I have also been able to find my place in this community, and this has really helped me feel encouraged to continue doing advocacy work and connecting with others via organizations such as Pioneer Valley Workers Center.

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

I have noticed that there is a lot of willingness and desire to engage with the community; however, there are not always opportunities for this to happen. Everyone seems to be very caring and plugged in to national goings-on; they just need some guidance/support on how to channel this energy into the local level.

Who/what inspires you? Or who/what do you think we should know more about?

Immigrant people of color inspire me. Queer people inspire me. I think it would be super cool if the Jandon Center was more plugged in to the former community especially. There is a lot of work around refugees and asylum seekers, but I would love to see undocumented advocacy, too.

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

One thing I wish people knew about me is that I am really interested and open to their experiences, especially if they’re different from mine. One fun fact about myself is that I have lived in eight countries!

“Through my work at the Jandon Center, I have been able to give back to the greater Springfield area through creative research projects.”