Kristin Antin – February Featured Resource

New Tactics is happy to introduce Kristin Antin as our February Featured Resource! Kristin Antin has recently joined the New Tactics project as the Online Community Builder. She brings to this job a unique background that includes academic and real-world experience in both information technology and human rights. The following is an informal interview we recently had with Kristin.

New Tactics (NT): Good morning, Kristin. Welcome to New Tactics!

Kristin: Thank you so much. I am so happy to be here.

NT: Can you tell us a little about your background in computer science and information technology?

Kristin: Certainly. Since the day my family bought their first computer in about 1994, I have been fascinated with technology. I had a dream to go into the field of ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ and was accepted into the University of Colorado – Boulder, to study computer science. Through this study, I gained a strong academic background in logic, cognitive science, and computer programming. However, eventually, my love for the arts took over, and I graduated with a B.A. in Humanities focusing on Art History and Philosophy.

My real-world experience with information technology includes two internships at IBM, working on solving internal computer issues. I also had the chance recently to put this knowledge into use while in Uganda, developing a computer database to store data on the prevalence and trends of torture.

NT: Can you tell us about your background in human rights?

Kristin: My first introduction to human rights was in a Philosophy class I took during my B.A., and the funny part was that I took the class because of a boy! I ended up losing the boy, but loved the class. I liked the idea of a tangible list of rights that a citizen’s government must respect and protect. At the time, the Declaration of Human Rights seemed like something attainable, and something straightforward and able to be fought for. This perspective came from innocent and purely logical reasoning; list of citizen’s rights + advocacy = justice. I realize now that this fight is much more complicated than stating your case in front of a judge.

After finishing my B.A., I moved to Germany to pursue an M.A. in comparative literature. Working as a tour guide at Dachau Memorial Site, a strong desire in me grew to pursue a career that would have more of an impact. This is when I changed the course of my study to human rights, and applied for the M.A. in Human Rights at the University of Essex.

I really enjoyed my time at Essex. I learned as much from my classmates, a collection of human rights workers from around the world, as I did from my professors. I focused my studies on Human Rights Law, Humanitarian Law, and International Relations, with a geographical focus on Africa.

After graduating, I worked as an intern here at the Center for Victims of Torture and gained knowledge of non-profit administration. Soon after, I was off to Uganda for an internship in human rights advocacy at the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims. The picture above is of me and my colleague, Nicholas, at the June 26th UN Day in Support of Torture Victims in Kumi, Uganda. We helped to organize the event, and in my hand is a petition to urge the Parliament to criminalize torture.

NT: It sounds like you have had the chance to do a bit of traveling. Can you tell us some of the highlights?

Kristin: Yes, traveling has become an important part of my life. I have had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong, China, Western Europe, Mexico, and East Africa. I have studied Art History in Italy, German in Germany, and Human Rights in England. I have loved all of these experiences, but I truly fell in love with Uganda. I spent 8 months living in Uganda, and I think about my friends there everyday. I hope to go back someday soon, and explore more of Africa (quite an obvious statement as I sit here in Minnesota with a temperature of negative 7 degrees F!).

NT: And how do you see all of these experiences coming together in your new position as Online Community Builder?

Kristin: I can’t imagine a position better suited to compliment my knowledge and experience. I am very comfortable with computers and technology and will enjoy updating the website and introducing new technologies to the online community. And though I realize I have only worked with one human rights organization ‘in the field’, I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of the complicated and difficult environments that these human rights workers face. Having some understanding of the work environment of our online community members will certainly help me in this position.

Additionally, I have gained strong connections to the human rights community. This network will help to expand the New Tactics community and increase interactive participation on the website. I am so excited about this project and all of its possibilities. I am certain that we will be able to make this website an easy-to-use, helpful tool for human rights practitioners around the world.

NT: We are really excited to have you as part of the New Tactics team. Your skills and experiences are already enriching the resources, tools and usability of our interactive website. We look forward to the many great benefits you’ll bring to the New Tactics community!

Note: To provide your ideas and feedback on our website, please contact Kristin at newtactics [at] cvt [dot] org