About
PATHWAY
Empowering Individuals Through Human-Centered, Collaborative, and Positive Practices in Non-profit and Policy Settings to Enact Social Change
My OS pathway is founded in my fascination with the way systems work together: how small changes on a macro level of policy impact the lives of many, how groups of organizers enact large-scale societal change, how different social identities encounter the same systems, how social movements affect the way we engage with the world over time. In “Theories and Practices for Community Action and Social Change,” I learned about sociological frameworks and different levels of practice— micro, mezzo, and macro— and how addressing all levels of impact is crucial to make long-term change. Paired with my minor in Community Action and Social Change, I intend to use my Organizational Studies degree to work for and with marginalized individuals and communities to strive towards a more equitable future. I am personally interested in pursuing careers in the nonprofit, public service, and possibly the social work field and believe that cross-sector analysis will enhance my perspective.
Whether this is education reform, neighborhood development, or dismantling oppressive structures through public policy, keeping the human experience and connection at the center of our work is important. More specifically, I hope to empower youth, women, and families through not only direct non-profit education and social services but also macro policy changes that incorporate experiences of many identities to create a new cycle of an inclusive society. However, even with programs running that intend to solve social issues, they do no good if they are not effectively utilized. There is too often a disconnect between the services available and the people who need them, so while carrying out social change, doing so while enacting positive and effective educational awareness. As I earn my organizational studies degree, I am interested in learning more about the root causes of inequalities and what tangible solutions can be conjured up to make the world a better place and people more empowered.