Kristin Antin, New Tactics in Human Rights Online Community Builder

As the newest member of the New Tactics in Human Rights Project team, I will be working to expand our online community of human rights practitioners as well as keep members actively participating in activities through the website.

My academic background includes a B.A. in Humanities from the University of Colorado, where I focused my studies on Philosophy, Art History, and funny enough - Computer Science. Subsequently, I pursued my M.A. in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. There, my classmates and I developed a strong community of human rights advocates that continues today. Academically, I focused my studies on International Law and International Relations and geographically I focused on Africa.

After finishing my graduate degree in 2005, I worked as an intern for the International Capacity Building Project at the Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvt.org) in MInnesota. Through this internship I gained a wide range of knowledge of non-profit activites such as grant management, reporting, fundraising, etc. I was also able to volunteer my services to the New Tactics in Human Rights Project. I helped the project to prepare for and document a training workshop held in Minnesota on torture and the United States.

After finishing this internship, I pursued an internship in the field at the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV) in Uganda (www.actvuganda.org). I worked closely with the Advocacy and Communications Officer there, and broadened my knowledge of human rights advocacy in Africa. I was fortunate enough to meet many human rights activists throughout Uganda and East Africa.

I arrived back in Minnesota in September, 2007 to find that the New Tactics project was looking for someone to help build their online community of human rights practitioners. The job intrigued me as it combines my interests in technology and information management with human rights advocacy! I am very happy to be the newest member of this team, and excited to strive to strengthen and building our innovative and active community!

Please get in touch with me with any questions or comments regarding our community. My skype account is 'kjantin'.