Olivia Jacobs - Hamilton College

It feels like a lifetime has passed since my last update in December 2019! When Hamilton College closed last March, I returned to the island and was welcomed with warm, open arms into the home of family friend Kimberly Angell to finish out the semester and graduate online. My concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies culminated in a thesis to meet the moment, titled “Transformative Justice at Hamilton: A Guide for Student Organizing.” Although I missed out on a celebratory final semester, I felt overwhelmingly grateful and privileged to have a roof over my head, an island kiddo to care for, and Land Bank trails to explore as Covid-19 ravaged through communities across the nation. In September, I gathered up all of my courage and made the big move out to Seattle, Washington to begin my Masters of Social Work at the University of Washington. This was a daunting task during the pandemic, especially knowing classes would be online and how hard it would be to make connections in a new, unfamiliar city. I’m proud to say I just finished my first quarter of the program, and found a strong sense of community with four wonderful housemates. I also declared my concentration in Administration and Policy Practice, and am excited to begin my placement next quarter at Yes Farm, a Black-led food justice organization in downtown Seattle. Thank you so much to MYouth for funding my undergraduate education at Hamilton, as the knowledge and experience I received there will be foundational to my postgraduate studies and future career. Although my new home is now located on the other side of the country, I am sending the entire island community my love and wishing healing to all those touched by these difficult times.