Our Aspiration

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I launched Aspire Institute after being personally inspired while traveling with a group of American students in the Netherlands and internalized the immensely positive impact of having young people immerse themselves in a culture that takes a progressive approach to urban design and climate change mitigation. 

My professional background is in business and  international program development in the areas of  volunteering and service learning, as well as cultural and language immersion.  Previously, I've held  leadership positions at several internationally focussed nonprofits and have developed and launched programs in Asia, Latin America and Europe. 

Philosophically, I feel it's crucial that all Aspire Institute programs include a focus on equity and  environmental advocacy, as well as showcase inspiring solutions to challenges we are facing due to climate change. Through Aspire, I hope to inspire people to become more knowledgeable environmental advocates and activists.

SUSTAINABILITY & EUROPEAN PROGRAMS ADVISOR

I am the founder of Sustainable Amsterdam and Delegations Lead for Amsterdam Smart City. I have worked on climate change, waste management, and urbanism projects in Vancouver and Amsterdam, and my work with Sustainable Amsterdam focuses on knowledge exchange and capacity building for international delegations interested in best practices for sustainable and smart urban development.  My role at Aspire is to assist with making connections to local experts, provide  general expertise on program development, and at times lead tours in Amsterdam.

ADVISOR

I am an independent transformative educator, researcher and artist interested in the ethics of cultural production and change.  Through Aspire Institute, I work with groups to bring about systemic change via a constellation of approaches including; rigorous study of systems of marginalization and injustice, somatic approaches to understanding and transformation, and cultivating the joys of collateral growth. I strongly believe information isn't enough -- that we learn best through forming social bonds and agreements and that people grow and thrive through "Whole Self" learning experiences.

I am the founder and director of Hey White Lady, a racial justice project started in Minneapolis in 2018, and a co-founder of Brass Solidarity, a street activist brass band started in response to the murder of George Floyd playing every Monday in George Floyd Square as part of the justice seeking occupation.  I am also a theater director and playwright, musician, photographer and poet, and the director of Creative Solidarity Consulting.

ADVISOR

PPLE student

Chair of Students for Sustainability Amsterdam (SFSA)

I am a PPLE student at the UvA and within Aspire I hope to be able to show other students how fun while sustainable life can be in Amsterdam!

SFSA was born in 2012 from a merger of sustainable associations from the UvA and the HvA. It is an independent association, open to students anywhere in Amsterdam, and it focuses on raising awareness and educating about sustainability to combat climate change. We also collaborate with other associations to have a greater reach (Taste Before you Waste, Green Offices, SVM, CREA). Before I was part of one of our three different committees; the event committee which works on community building and education through workshops, get together, swaps. The content committee shares blog posts, news, tips, recipes and promotes on our socials. The GreenDocs committee works on creating our biggest events which take the form of a documentary showing followed by a panel discussion on a sustainability related topic. For example the impact of armed conflict on climate change, or sustainable urbanization in Amsterdam.