I’m a Master’s of Landscape Architecture student at the University of Oregon. I have a deep reverence for the Midwest, where I’m from, but the West Coast in all its lushness has my heart.
Since before I can remember, I’ve been motivated by a strong sense of justice. The systems that stratify our communities and reduce our quality of life somehow subsist in spite of their harms. This isn’t the fault of any individual; despite evidence to the contrary, I believe that people are inherently good.
We are beholden to each other—this is the biggest responsibility and greatest honor. Designers alone can’t halt oppressive momentum, but we can create the containers that facilitate our communal healing. And we can step up:
Every person deserves freedom; we can say no to prison commissions.
Each family deserves a living wage; we can pay our contractors one.
All communities deserve beauty; we can create parks.
Many dream of a new world, but I’d rather make the one we already have the best it can be. I’m so excited to be here.
