Hi! My name is Emilie Gitter – Millie – (she/they) and I’m a recent graduate from Luther College in Decorah, IA. I graduated with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies with a curiosity about the natural world and conservation biology. While I was a student, I enjoyed spending my time as a peer tutor and teaching assistant, which allowed me to develop leadership skills in teaching, problem solving, and group collaboration. One social justice cause that I am passionate about is combatting inequalities against the LGBTQIA+ community and pushing back against our heteronormative culture. I am Safe Zone training certified, so I can serve as a resource for creating safe, inclusive environments for people with diverse gender identities and sexualities. During my undergrad years, I also had the privilege of living in two intentional communities—one in Holden Village, Washington, and the most recent in San Mateo, Costa Rica. I believe that these experiences have been the most meaningful and transformative in my life thus far, which is one of the many reasons I’m excited to be a part of the LVC program! This year, I will be working with B’More Clubhouse as their Program Coordinator supporting adults living with mental illness. I am looking forward to new learning opportunities and forming new friendships!

I’m Hallie Millsaps (she/her/hers). As one who has a great passion for writing, I often use my writing to speak back to social injustices. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to take courses in Peace & Social Justice and recently earned my B.A. in Political Science and Africana Studies. These learning opportunities have given me great insight as to what the true issues are, and how I can possibly be a part of a solution. One of my more prominent skills that, I feel, will serve me while social justice volunteering is my ability to effectively to communicate, verbally and nonverbally. Communication is truly key and I hope to emphasize this notion throughout my LVC experience.

I’m Onysha Boak (she/her/hers). As a recent graduate of St. John’s College (NM), I’m hoping to put all the thinking I’ve done about philosophy, ethics, and theology into action and further reflection during my service year. I’ll be serving at the Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington as an intern caseworker. In the past, I’ve worked with Amnesty International USA as a chapter leader and interned at an advocacy organization working on ending police violence in my home country of Malaysia. I hope to live a life in accordance with the way Christ asks us to treat our neighbors wherever I happen to be.

Ian Herel (he/they) is a graduate from UMass Amherst with a degree in Social Thought & Political Economy, and minors in comparative literature and creative writing. In addition to fiction, he is interested in pursuing investigative journalism, and will be interning at the Government Accountability Project this year to work with whistleblowers and policy advocacy. Ian has also lived in Ecuador, speaks Spanish, and has experience in medical interpretation, ESL teaching, and teaching creative writing. He is so excited to live in community this year and continue learning about the intersections of spirituality, justice and writing.

Zachary Light (he/they) was born to two queer women in Cambridge and raised in Sharon, Massachusetts. From an early age, Zack developed a keen eye for observing people and bridging their experiences with social dilemmas they read about at length in their free time. Their drive to always extend a hand in healing is rooted in their deep-set value of helping others before themselves. Their journey through Sharon High School and St. Olaf College were stepping stones to exploring the world of social justice and learning ways of service and reconciliation. As a history major and lover of literature, Zack excels at integrating vastly different perspectives and historical evidence into everyday problem-solving analysis. During this time, they supported numerous social causes from participation in GSA- and AAPI-rooted student organizations, courses in the Environmental Studies department that advocated for environmental justice and building community relationships, and the St. Olaf Chapel Choir which regularly highlighted a new social justice issue with each concert, from journeys of racial reconciliation to finding strength and hope in the midst of school shootings and mass loss of life. Zack has always sought to devote their life to enacting positive change in the world, and their first step is working with Community of Hope.

I’m Lisa Thompson (she/her/hers), and I am looking forward to my current placement with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. I have a heart for social justice. People need basic needs met in order to live and work. I believe barriers need to be broken for people to make their dreams come true. Every person is valuable and can contribute to society. They can thrive with encouragement and support. I like serving at faith-based organizations since it gives me the opportunity to share my faith with others while encouraging them to find peace, purpose, joy, and hope in society.

I’m Edith Ramirez-Salazar (she/they). I am a recent college graduate that majored in both Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Criminal Justice and certificates in Addiction Science and Multicultural Studies. In college, I was on the executive board of a student-led service organization called Mizzou Alternative Breaks, in which I was able to assist other students throughout their service trip planning process. Before joining the executive board, I led several service trips that were immigration and poverty focused. These social justice experiences have led me to work with the Network for Victim Recovery DC as an advocate screening and intake specialist, where I will learn more about the area of social work and continue on the social justice path.