Meet Your Site Leaders!
Noor Hillou
Third Year Genetics Major and Chinese Minor they/them/theirs pronouns How did I get involved with IMPACT? “We are all born into these broken systems and it’s our job to find ways to curb, if not to eradicate, the harm we are set up to perpetuate.” [Chani Nicholas] IMPACT is an excellent way to be knowledgeable about social issues occurring locally and internationally and to become active in our communities. No matter your background and your level of knowledge, this trip will be a great introduction on gender: in terms of LGBTQ issues, international experiences of women of color, human trafficking, refugees, and more! Whether you want to become more aware of the systems that dominate our society, be introduced to activism, or just learn and make friends, Serena and I will make sure this week is a unique, warm experience for everyone. IMPACT has been a wonderful avenue for make cherished memories with life-long friends and created adventures that are the highlight of my college time. Why am I interested in my trip focus? I am a transgender/queer Palestinian,so I have a lot of personal experience with gender and how it plays into other intersectionalities. I’ve experienced prejudice and discrimination in many settings, so I believe knowledge about all the many ways gender can be emulated and appear is important in order to be accomplices to other communities. Fun facts? I love to cook! It makes me happy to make a warm meal to share with me and loved ones. On the side, I’ve done seven years of martial arts and am on UGA’s martial arts team, and I know six languages! Contact: nh65471@uga.edu |
![]() Serena Graham
Third Year Public Relations Major and Political Science Minor she/her/hers pronouns How did I get involved with IMPACT? I applied for my first IMPACT trip on a complete whim! A couple of my friends had gone on IMPACT trips before, and when I saw one of IMPACT’s fliers in Tate, I felt pulled to apply. I sat down right then and there, whipped out my laptop, and applied for a trip! I went on the Disability and Ability Awareness trip to Jackson, MS, and it was by far one of the most important and incredible experiences of my time here at UGA. Why am I interested in my trip focus? Gender is such an expansive and complex topic, and it directly affects everyone on this planet, whether consciously or not. Many people associate the word “gender” with male and female, but gender is so much more than that. Gender dives into identity and privilege in such an intersectional way, and I am so excited to co-lead a trip with such a great opportunity for collective growth and learning. Fun fact? I always wish on good luck charms (eyelashes, 11:11, birthday candles), and I never share my wish until it comes true! Contact: slg55603@uga.edu |
Why get involved?: Gender is a complex and intersectional topic that impacts everyone in one way or another. On this trip, we will be diving into a multifaceted approach to gender. We will focus on issues like reproductive justice, intersectionality with race, LGBTQ+ issues, domestic violence, human trafficking, and going beyond the gender binary.
Reproductive justice refers to a person’s right to control their own reproductive health including things like access to an abortion and birth control. Gender plays a huge role within the LGBTQ+ community, and we will be looking at issues that people within this community face like discrimination, homelessness, and lack of access to basic needs like healthcare and housing. Nashville is a hub for domestic violence, and while on our trip, we will address stereotypes that we have in regards to domestic violence while serving survivors of domestic violence. Human trafficking refers to illegally transporting people typically for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation, and we will learn about issues and legal complications that survivors of human trafficking face every day. On our trip, we will go beyond the gender binary. We will learn that there are multiple ways a person can identify outside of the traditional male/female binary. We will also navigate how intersectional all of these issues are with race and racism that exists in our society today.
All of the issues that we will be addressing on our trip are issues present here in Athens and in the Atlanta area. Did you know that Atlanta is a huge hub for human trafficking? Do you know about the culture of silence and survivor-shaming built around sexual assault at colleges and universities? What do you know about gender other than male and female? We’re looking forward to a powerful week of service in relation to these issues, and we hope you’ll join us!
Reproductive justice refers to a person’s right to control their own reproductive health including things like access to an abortion and birth control. Gender plays a huge role within the LGBTQ+ community, and we will be looking at issues that people within this community face like discrimination, homelessness, and lack of access to basic needs like healthcare and housing. Nashville is a hub for domestic violence, and while on our trip, we will address stereotypes that we have in regards to domestic violence while serving survivors of domestic violence. Human trafficking refers to illegally transporting people typically for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation, and we will learn about issues and legal complications that survivors of human trafficking face every day. On our trip, we will go beyond the gender binary. We will learn that there are multiple ways a person can identify outside of the traditional male/female binary. We will also navigate how intersectional all of these issues are with race and racism that exists in our society today.
All of the issues that we will be addressing on our trip are issues present here in Athens and in the Atlanta area. Did you know that Atlanta is a huge hub for human trafficking? Do you know about the culture of silence and survivor-shaming built around sexual assault at colleges and universities? What do you know about gender other than male and female? We’re looking forward to a powerful week of service in relation to these issues, and we hope you’ll join us!
The following resources are aimed at helping everyone understand different issues related to gender. All in all, they provide a wide view of what gender impacts.
Geena Rocero: Why I Must Come Out
https://www.ted.com/talks/geena_rocero_why_i_must_come_out?language=en
The Urgency of Intersectionality
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality
Domestic Violence and the LGBTQ Community
https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/domestic-violence-and-the-lgbtq-community
Dimensions of Gender
https://www.genderspectrum.org/quick-links/understanding-gender/
Privilege 101: A Quick and Dirty Guide
https://everydayfeminism.com/2014/09/what-is-privilege/
Geena Rocero: Why I Must Come Out
https://www.ted.com/talks/geena_rocero_why_i_must_come_out?language=en
The Urgency of Intersectionality
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality
Domestic Violence and the LGBTQ Community
https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/domestic-violence-and-the-lgbtq-community
Dimensions of Gender
https://www.genderspectrum.org/quick-links/understanding-gender/
Privilege 101: A Quick and Dirty Guide
https://everydayfeminism.com/2014/09/what-is-privilege/
Intersectionality: Here are some resources for intersectional topics with Gender issues!
Race:
https://timeline.com/feminism-ignored-black-women-44ee502a3c6
https://now.org/blog/my-chair-is-made-of-plastic-black-womens-seat-at-the-feminist-table-part-i/
https://www.them.us/story/weve-always-been-nasty
Immigration:
https://www.wabe.org/sex-trafficking-in-atl-what-you-dont-see-behind-closed-doors/
https://everydayfeminism.com/2017/10/undocumented-lgbtq-parents/
Indigenous movement:
https://www.thenation.com/article/palestinian-feminists-liberation-two-meanings/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-feminism-facebook-live-panel-1.4428484
Reproductive Justice:
http://helloflo.com/trans-and-non-binary-folks-must-be-part-of-conversations-about-abortion/
https://medium.com/the-establishment/the-reproductive-justice-movement-has-a-gender-inclusion-problem-cf88e3a4ce61
https://nwlc.org/blog/trans-non-binary-folks-on-why-birth-control-isnt-just-for-cis-women/
Human Trafficking:
https://www.essence.com/culture/gabrielle-union-op-ed-human-trafficking-women-girls-color/
Race:
https://timeline.com/feminism-ignored-black-women-44ee502a3c6
https://now.org/blog/my-chair-is-made-of-plastic-black-womens-seat-at-the-feminist-table-part-i/
https://www.them.us/story/weve-always-been-nasty
Immigration:
https://www.wabe.org/sex-trafficking-in-atl-what-you-dont-see-behind-closed-doors/
https://everydayfeminism.com/2017/10/undocumented-lgbtq-parents/
Indigenous movement:
https://www.thenation.com/article/palestinian-feminists-liberation-two-meanings/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-feminism-facebook-live-panel-1.4428484
Reproductive Justice:
http://helloflo.com/trans-and-non-binary-folks-must-be-part-of-conversations-about-abortion/
https://medium.com/the-establishment/the-reproductive-justice-movement-has-a-gender-inclusion-problem-cf88e3a4ce61
https://nwlc.org/blog/trans-non-binary-folks-on-why-birth-control-isnt-just-for-cis-women/
Human Trafficking:
https://www.essence.com/culture/gabrielle-union-op-ed-human-trafficking-women-girls-color/