Li also sought advice from mentors at the Brown Center for Students of Color and RISD’s Office of International Student Engagement, as well as from board members of Rhode Island Pride, the local nonprofit that typically runs the event.

“Everyone that I’ve encountered has been super supportive, caring and understanding when discussing the importance of Pride — and especially important this year,” he said.

Li has brought careful attention to detail to his work adapting Pride Month traditions to meet the demands of a uniquely challenging year, said Sage Morgan-Hubbard, assistant director of the BCSC, who mentored Li while he planned these community events.

"I am so impressed with the passion and leadership Justin has brought to this project,” she said. “Here at the BCSC, we love to see such motivated students making a difference in our communities on campus and beyond."

Li’s Pride Month leadership was not his first foray into community-based LGBTQ advocacy. When he was 15, Li — who hails from Vancouver, Canada —  founded the Love to All Project, a global organization that provides accessible resources, education and mentorship opportunities to LGBTQ adolescents across the world. Li said that since its founding three years ago, the Love to All Project has grown to become the world’s largest youth-led nonprofit organization, with LGBTQ students and allies running chapters in community-based organizations across the United States and in 20 countries, from Ireland to India to Hong Kong.

“It has been really rewarding finding ways to amplify the voices — and meet the needs — of LGBTQ youths around the world,” Li said.

Li said that his dual-degree coursework at Brown and RISD has provided him with insights that will help him grow the Love for All Project even further. At Brown, the Open Curriculum has given him the opportunity to explore his wide-ranging academic interests — from entrepreneurship to astronomy — while taking courses that directly explore the dynamics of running nonprofit organizations, including Management of Nonprofit and Industrial Organizations, led by Professor Emeritus of Engineering Barrett Hazeltine.

“I was so excited to learn that class existed,” said Li, who is concentrating in social analysis and research. “I learned a lot about organizational structures and how to ensure that my team members are motivated and passionate about what they are doing.”

And at RISD, where he is studying industrial design, Li is exploring ways that visual design can be used to amplify his community advocacy work. “Working with and developing design tools to address the needs of different communities — especially those who may be marginalized, underserved or difficult to reach — has been really interesting.”

Whether illuminating new ways to engage peer volunteers or diverse communities, these courses will help Li continuing doing what matters most to him: creating connections — and cultivating collaborations — across communities.

“I just love meeting and working with people of different backgrounds and bringing them together,” he said. “It’s my greatest passion.”