My fourteen conversations with activists at BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development) Chicago communicated all those various narratives and more. Their empathic, resilient, and deeply meaningful stories are the threads that wove this project into life, and I have unending gratitude for their time and vulnerability. In my view, those who dedicate their lives to sitting with survivors in their pain, creating space for voices that are silenced, and helping others reclaim their agency represent the most human qualities towards which we all strive. What I learned above all is that there is struggle every day in the work of an activist, but there is almost always equal parts fulfillment and gratitude as well. That is not to romanticize the work that is done at organizations like BUILD; those who do it are often in the middle of the arena, trying and failing and trying again. But that is also not to put activists on a pedestal either. If there is anything I want to instill upon visitors of my capstone, it is that everyone can become an agent of social change in their community, with actions big or small. I hope these vignettes of lessons and anecdotes do justice to the impact each person at BUILD made upon me, and that they might inspire someone else to listen to a new story, or have the courage to tell their own. 

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I want to give a special thanks to Charles Allen, my internship supervisor at BUILD in the fall of 2019. He thoughtfully and intentionally connected me to the people I interviewed, and I couldn't have created or completed this project without his endless support and faith in me.

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My best friend, Patrick Lentz, lent me the 35mm film camera used to photograph all my subjects, and lovingly taught me how to hand-develop the film in his own dark room. These moments and memories were captured in a way I couldn't achieve without him. I am thankful every day for our friendship that adds profound meaning and fulfillment in my life.

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My talented sister, Brooke Rickett-Green, designed all the digital illustrations seen in the Gallery. She is my life-long teammate I didn't know I needed for this project, but now I cannot imagine it without her artistic touch.

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I want to express my deep gratitude for my advisor, Melissa Mendez, who jumped on board with me and my major without a second thought, and right when I needed her most. Her continued guidance, strength and warmth are invaluable in my life and my education at St. Olaf. 

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And lastly, I am firmly thankful for my parents, who have always supported me in my passions without question or doubt. These treasured past 4 years I spent at St. Olaf did not come without cost, and yet they have been nothing but eager to see what my sights are set upon next. To have the space to unapologetically grow, learn, and change is what any child could want from their parents, and they've always given me this. Because of them, I am the luckiest.