The Basics:
Hi, I'm Hannah! I'm so glad that our internet worlds have collided! Here's a short introduction to me and my blog:
I'm passionate about social justice and this blog is my place to chronicle my journey to live simply and sustainably, in a way that promotes justice. I write about conscientious consumerism, fair trade, and how I try to incorporate a justice into every element of my everyday life.
You'll see quite a few fashion posts around these parts, which is funny- I never cared about fashion until I learned about fair trade. Now that I know the positive impact that I can have on the world through the purchases I make, I LOVE it! I love that I can literally wear my convictions.
If you want to know more about me, Here's my story:
My Story:
Social Justice has always been a huge part of who I am. As a little girl, my heroes were Gladys Aylward and Amy Carmichael. While other kids were playing barbies, I was playing "orphanage" with my dolls and stuffed animals or holed up reading yet another book (my mom had to confiscate my literature so I would go play outdoors). As a teenager I lectured anyone who would listen about human trafficking, persecution, and poverty. I started volunteering with my first anti-trafficking organization, Justice North, during my highschool years.
In 2009, just after my 20th birthday, I moved overseas and lived in the Philippines with a Filipino family while working at a children’s home. While there, I became even more acutely aware of the issue of sex trafficking (I’d often see sex tourists from all over the world with young Filipina girls in “that” part of town). I was also profoundly influenced by my experience at “smoky mountain”- one of the world’s largest landfills and home to thousands of Filipinos. The amount of wastefulness produced by consumerism and the stark contrast of poverty next to it was a huge eye-opener.
In 2009, just after my 20th birthday, I moved overseas and lived in the Philippines with a Filipino family while working at a children’s home. While there, I became even more acutely aware of the issue of sex trafficking (I’d often see sex tourists from all over the world with young Filipina girls in “that” part of town). I was also profoundly influenced by my experience at “smoky mountain”- one of the world’s largest landfills and home to thousands of Filipinos. The amount of wastefulness produced by consumerism and the stark contrast of poverty next to it was a huge eye-opener.
In 2012, after moving to Minnesota, I started working for an anti-trafficking organization that provided care for 400-500 domestic trafficking victims every year. I planned events and rallies and went all over the place speaking at conferences, schools, and events. On the side, I started up a boutique program that employed women who weren't quite ready to transition into the workforce through the job skills program we ran, and had a lots of fun designing products and building relationships with tons of amazing women!
During this time, I became convicted that I needed to delve deeper into a conscious lifestyle. I was already purchasing mostly second-hand and fair trade stuff, but I knew that I could do more. I felt very strongly that If I were to say that I were against modern-day-slavery in all of its forms, I would need to live that conviction out radically in the way that I lived, ate, consumed goods, and treated others. I issued a challenge to myself to go for an entire year ONLY purchasing ethically produced goods. After that year was up, I just kept going and haven't looked back. Though not every single purchase I make these days is perfectly ethical (anyone know of a manufacturer that makes totally ethical toasters or phone chargers??) I'm on a constant journey towards a lifestyle of justice (hence the name of this blog).
During this time, I became convicted that I needed to delve deeper into a conscious lifestyle. I was already purchasing mostly second-hand and fair trade stuff, but I knew that I could do more. I felt very strongly that If I were to say that I were against modern-day-slavery in all of its forms, I would need to live that conviction out radically in the way that I lived, ate, consumed goods, and treated others. I issued a challenge to myself to go for an entire year ONLY purchasing ethically produced goods. After that year was up, I just kept going and haven't looked back. Though not every single purchase I make these days is perfectly ethical (anyone know of a manufacturer that makes totally ethical toasters or phone chargers??) I'm on a constant journey towards a lifestyle of justice (hence the name of this blog).
I fell in love with Andrew when he joined a group of my friends and I to roadtrip out the The Justice Conference. When we got back, our first few "dates" were attending social justice meetings and sitting in coffeeshops talking about human trafficking (eventually I let him take me on a "real" first date to the art museum). He proposed January 2013 with an antique 1920's ring off of Etsy and fair trade chocolate! In the summer, we got married (read more about our fair-trade wedding) and have been enjoying the adventure of married life ever since!
Today, I serve on the Minnesota State Human Trafficking Task Force and work as a designer and business consultant for ethically-minded, justice seeking non-profits, bloggers, and businesses. What's your story? I'd love to get to know you, too!