The Global Goals for Sustainable Development

In 2016, the United Nations launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals as successors to the Millenium Development Goals aimed at steering the 2030 international agenda. Here is how I am affecting substantive change in the pursuit of each global goals. Click "Learn More" to learn about what the UN is doing on each of the goals!

1: No Poverty

As someone living in an affordable housing unit, I have had but a sheltered taste of what it means to be poor. I support local efforts to eliminate poverty and I often volunteer on homelessness causes, but I care most about fighting the institutional causes of cycles of poverty, in the US and abroad through development aid.

2: Zero Hunger

As a member of the stewardship committee at my church, I help ensure that we have the time, talent, and treasury to support our programs that house and feed the poor. I am currently working to make these social justice programs more robust in their impact.

3: Good Health and Well-being

I champion multiple global health causes ranging from malaria prevention and clean cookstoves to tobacco-free zones and gender data. As a Student Association Senator at GWU, I helped implement a campus-free smoking ban, which included most of Foggy Bottom in D.C. I worked with pro- and anti-tobacco groups alike to recommend equitable policy to the administration.

4: Quality Education

I lead my high school’s alumni association and am on the Foundation Board of my county's vocational school district. I am currently setting up an alumni scholarship fund.

5: Gender Equality

Since joining the Gay-Straight Alliance in high school, I am a longstanding and passionate ally of my LGBTQI friends and family. In the past I have led Ally and Diversity Trainings as an RA, marched in DC Pride, advocated for diversity inclusion statements on syllabi, participated in campus-wide policy conversations on inclusion, and received awards and stoles from the multicultural student centers of both UChicago and GWU for my involvement.

6: Clean Water and Sanitation

I organize and participate in river, beach, and other cleanups as service project through HOBY and my other volunteer organizations.

7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Advocating for affordable clean energy is my jam. I hosted a session on this topic as it relates to the Paris Climate Agreement with high level nonprofit and academic panelists from the Chesapeake region through my volunteer role on the Sustainable Development Committee of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area.

8: Decent Work & Economic Growth

Socioeconomic inequality is one of my primary research interests, and I continue to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youth through HOBY and other volunteer service.

9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Since trying to found my own social media company in undergrad, I have sought out opportunities support innovators. As an employee of the United Nations Foundation, I frequently aided in UNF’s Global Entrepreneurship Council meetings.

10: Reduced Inequalities

With every conference I plan and all of the work I do I am proud to make exhaustive efforts to bring all relevant parties to the table—that is the point of this campaign! We need our voices to be heard to reduce structural inequality and build a more equitable future for ourselves and future generations. I proposed the idea and hosted about 80 interactive watch parties across 26 countries to ensure that people around the world who could not physically be in Paris could be a part of the Paris Climate Summit process, breaking a UNF record over three times over.

11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

I am constantly advocating for sustainability efforts in the places I work, worship, and live. As an undergraduate student, I led efforts to green our campus, helped support local student farmers, and hosted discussions on local sustainability efforts.

12: Responsible Consumption & Production

Public transportation and locally grown food all the way! Actively working to reduce the carbon footprint in my diet.

13: Climate Action

I am a stalwart environmental practivist (practical activist), supporting local to international climate organizations through volunteer service, grassroots organizing, and sensible protest. From writing fossil fuel divestment legislation passed by part of D.C. government to participating in every major environmental activation in D.C. since 2011, my name has become synonymous with environmental policy and sustainability for my service.

14: Life Below Water

Since high school, I have been a leading advocate for the removal of derelict crab traps from my local bay and a supporter of a mandate on devices that go over the entrance of crab traps to prevent air-breathing turtles from entering and drowning. I turned this into a Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) Commitment to Action, which continues today at MATES.

15: Life on Land

As a citizen scientist, I help teach undergraduate students about sustainability, science, and eco-art in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks as a faculty member of the Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network (RMSSN).

16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Global Goal 16 has been at the core of all of my academic studies, and I help amplify messages of security through peace through my blog, speaking opportunities, and personal donations to causes that support these values.

17: Partnerships for the Goals

I help to connect the causes I volunteer and work for with each other while actively building bridges with new organizations. Let me know how I can help connect you to a social good organization or how the global goals are relevant to your organization!