What are young activists thinking about these days in places like Gettysburg? What are they passionate about? What issues are they working on? What community organizations are they collaborating with? What are their hopes for the future, for themselves, and for our country?
In search of answers to questions like these, Gettysburg Democracy for America (DFA) brought together six young campus activists for a panel presentation and discussion on Wednesday, October 4 in the Community Room at the YWCA in Gettysburg. The event made for a great conversation between generations.
Conversations, and how to conduct them in the community on important issues of the day, were, in fact, part of a theme that ran through the entire evening. DFA board member Elmer Shelton summed it up in a comment near the end of the evening by advocating for taking up “the work of being uncomfortable” in conversations that confront the injustices of our time. This is a special responsibility, he said, for those who enjoy the double privilege of being white and relatively affluent.
The panelists covered a lot of ground in their initial ten-minute presentations. Meghan Clarke, a recent Gettysburg graduate who has returned to campus as part of the Vista program and is based in the Center for Public Service, spends about half her time working with the South Mountain Partnership focusing on their State of the Region project which is developing metrics for better understanding both human and environmental health in South Central Pennsylvania. The other half is spent working on sustainability issues on campus and in the community.
Meghan is working on campus with Molly Hoffman, a senior Environmental Studies and Public Policy major and a second panelist. Molly works at the Center for Public Service as the Program Coordinator of Partnerships for Sustainability. In this role, she coordinates student volunteers working with environmental organizations in Adams County such as the Adams County Planting Partnership, Gettysburg Foundation, Friends of Micheaux State Forest, Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and many others. Meghan and Molly are especially focused on advocating for sustainable purchasing protocols for offices across campus. They are also exploring options for bringing solar power to campus and for improving composting of food waste at the College.
Toni Esquivias’ first introduction to Gettysburg College came through the Painted Turtle Farm when his parents began cultivating a plot there. The Center for Public Service, which sponsors Painted Turtle Farm, was a major influencing factor when Toni decided to attend Gettysburg College and has been a defining aspect of his co-curricular experience there. As an Adams County resident who graduated from Biglerville High School in 2021 after arriving from Mexico at the age of three, Toni brings a distinctive perspective to bear on immigration and related issues. Last summer he represented Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower Institute in Washington, D.C., during a summer-long internship with CASA, a national organization working on immigration issues.
Cynthia Ortiz-Perez is a sophomore Economics and Management major offering Adult ESL classes to non-English speakers through the Center for Public Service. She also works with Drive PA Forward, an immigrant rights coalition founded on the basis that everyone, without regard to immigration status, should have access to a driver’s license, a critical resource for families everywhere. Her work with the coalition focuses on education and outreach to new constituencies on campus and in the community who may not be fully aware of the problems the lack of a driver’s license can create.
Brenna Hadley is a junior at Gettysburg College and is double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy with a focus on civil and human rights policy. This semester she is president of College Democrats and plans to focus on voter registration and turnout and meaningful conversations on the issues of the day both on campus and in the Gettysburg community. She is also personally involved in Adams County politics and is interested in criminal justice reform, environmental protection, and public history. Currently, she is serving as campaign manager for Commissioner Marty Qually.
Adam Doran is a junior at Gettysburg College majoring in Political Science. He is passionate about electoral reform, foreign policy, and fighting climate change, and is working with the Gettysburg College Democrats in order to facilitate conversation and action regarding these issues. Currently, he serves as secretary and treasurer of the College Dems.
A lively question and answer followed the initial presentations. Gettysburg Democracy for America’s next panel presentation will take place on Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM at the YWCA community room. Retired Office for Aging Director Steve Niebler will host a panel on the housing crisis in Adams County. Presenters include Stacy Rice from @Home in Adams County and staff from the Adams County Housing Authority.
Featured image caption: Gettysburg DFA Panel Presenters: l.to r.: Adam Doran, Brenna Hadley, Molly Hoffman, moderator Will Lane, Meghan Clark, Antoni Esquivias and Cynthia Ortiz-Sanchez.
Will Lane, a founding member of Green Gettysburg and the Green Gettysburg Book Club, is a Lecturer in English and Affiliated Faculty Member with Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College.
Thank you for covering this important group. I was not even aware of it.