Rachael Brady, AY2020-21

Name: Rachael Brady (she/her)

Where is home to you? Green Bay, Wisconsin

Placement Site: Social Enterprise Greenhouse

Education:  B.A. International Affairs, Spanish and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, George Washington University

Biography: Rachael Brady grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She then attended George Washington University where she studied abroad in Santiago, Chile and spent much of her time with the Honey W. Nashman Center where she led a service trip to El Paso, Texas focusing on Immigration and Border Community Rights. In May 2020 she graduated Magna cum laude with a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish. She wrote her Spanish Honors Thesis on the representation of fragmented families along the US-MX border in modern literature. 

In October 2020, she joined the Brown University AmeriCorps VISTA Fellowship cohort and is excited to serve as the Program Development VISTA for SEG. She looks forward to learning more about what it means to create a sustainable economy as she supports the expansion of SEG programming to Pawtucket and Central Falls. In her spare time, Rachael enjoys creative writing, exploring, running, and playing piano.

Why I Serve: Community service brings people from all walks of life together. In college, I was able to learn what it means to be a servant-leader for the community. Through my service experiences with the Nashman Center and GW Catholics at GWU. I was constantly inspired by the community, both those I served and served alongside, to continue to grow in my leadership skills, to become more resilient and better advocate, and be on fire with passion for justice. I wanted to use the skills I have gained from these experiences and develop them further this year to help strengthen communities. I am excited to serve with the Swearer Center at Social Enterprise Greenhouse because I believe in this organization and the good it is doing in the community through social enterprise. I am happy that I can spread light this year in the midst of the challenges of the global pandemic. 

Why Brown University AmeriCorps VISTA Fellowship?: I chose the Brown University AmeriCorps VISTA Fellowship because it provides me with the opportunity to best work towards a more just and equitable society. Because of the resources at such a renowned university, I will be able to develop professionally and build a network of socially justice minded people while I also work with SEG to promote an equitable and sustainable economy. This experience will propel me in my career as I gain skills in program development and community outreach while it expands my understanding of the communities I want to continue to serve in the future.