Printer-friendly version
Send to friendThis summer at New Tactics I'm doing a project to get to know human rights advocates, particularly in the twin cities area, a little bit better. It's not always an easy job, and the diversity of individuals that devote their time to struggling for human rights is incredible; the diversity of how they do that is no less impressive. We want to know, what makes them tick? How did they get here? How do they do their work, and what makes them keep at it? I have been conducting interviews with activists in the twin cities area, and now we want to share their insights with you. So listen in, and get to know your human rights community, they've got a lot to offer.
This first interview post is with Joy Nelson. I met Joy at a street protest in Minneapolis for immigrant rights, circling the entrance to a political luncheon holding a picket sign. She was out protesting with Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (mIRAC), a group she's been collaborating with recently. Joy is a retired social worker and now works for the Resource Center of the America. She has a long history of interest and work in Latin American issues, but I'll let her tell you about that.
Question: How did you get into human rights work/where did your motivation come from? It can be a tough field... what continues to sustain you?
Q: How do you see yourself, as an individual, or as an organization if you'd like, fitting into the wider community of Human Rights Activism? What purpose do you serve, or who do you connect with?
Q: What are some specific goals that you're looking to achieve for your cause? Short term or broader?
Q: I wanted to ask you about Tactics you employ in your work. You already spoke a little bit about how the Resource Center focuses on some education and some advocacy things...Maybe you want to tie this into the next question: what tactics have you found to be the most successful/useful? Why? Do you have a story or accomplishment to illustrate that?
Q: What challenges do you face as an organization in Human Rights Advocacy? As an individual?
Q: As a Human Rights Advocate, what do you need to enable your work further? Or what do you have that's really invaluable to your work? As an individual or an organization.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share? Anything I didn't ask about?
Thank you Joy!
Next Interview to be posted soon: Mary Ellingen from the Women's Center at The Advocates for Human Rights.
