DOING GOOD

IN COMMUNITY: VOLUNTEERING

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with volunteering, but I bet it began during one of the after school “field trips” my mom organized for our family. As a special education teacher, my mother introduced me to communities I might never have encountered otherwise. Through her, I was exposed to Deaf culture, migrant workers, our local Amish community, and more. Each experience deepened my understanding of my community and my privilege.

Volunteering became my means of transforming that awareness into action. I have helped Afghan immigrants navigate their new lives in the U.S., rolled up my sleeves to provide relief after unnatural disasters, had the opportunity to train others during my very first political campaign, and more.

Volunteering isn’t just something I do, it’s part of my identity.

COMMUNITY: IN CREATION

Lately, the word Community is everywhere. But for me, it has never been a buzzword. Still, I knew there was more to learn, more to give, more to build.

Climate Crew

I wanted more friends who weren’t just worried about Climate Change but actively doing something about it. As I travel, I host casual meetups in different cities, and every time, it feels like group therapy.

Career Transitioners

This niche found me. Women+ started reaching out after taking bold career leaps. I began as their Brand Marketing Consultant but quickly became their biggest cheerleader. Their courage was contagious. It fueled my own leap into Conservation. Knowing I needed the same kind of support, I created my own group. Now, I host a weekly call and moderate a Slack channel.

Child-Free & Climate

Parents have built-in social circles, but I never knew of one for the Child-Free folks. That was until I stumbled upon a Slack channel in Women & Climate. Now, I host quarterly calls where we find connection in our choice.

It turns out, sometimes the best way to find your people is to create the space where they can find you.