From the president
Liv Duarte is the President of the Intersectional Feminist Collective and the Senior Program Assistant for Advocacy Initiatives at the Center for Civic Engagement. Her IFC and CCE work focuses on equity, advocacy, and community building. Through the IFC much of her advocacy has been focused on reproductive justice, period poverty, gender equity, sexual health/education, and LGBTQ+ rights. Many of her programs address the intersectionality of multiple social issues. One of the IFC's popular events, "Spilling the Tea at Jolie Tea Company," has involved important discussions on racial inequities in education and the healthcare system. She has also been involved in many other advocacy efforts, including addressing campus hunger through her role on the SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition, advocating for legislation that supports Indigenous People of Massachusetts, and volunteering for various local nonprofits throughout the academic year. Liv has also developed a strong partnership with the Center for International Education and is the founder and lead organizer of Students with Students: A Cultural Melting Pot, a program that is designed to help cultivate and build community and belonging between our international and domestic students.
Personal Statement
Growing up, it was hard not to be aware of the inequity and inequality that exists in our world. It was in high school that I became passionate about social justice and advocacy as I finally articulated what that meant to me. 95% of the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District lives in poverty; I watched kids slip through the cracks, many of them dropping out, and instead of making changes to address these issues, the administration implemented strict policies that came with punishments such as suspension or detention. Those most affected by these policies were not only experiencing poverty but were also students of color and they needed more than what our school was willing to give them. After the tragic loss of one of our classmates at the hands of gang violence my junior year, I promised myself that when I had the opportunity, I would challenge systems like that of my high school and advocate for a more just world. I am fortunate enough to have found those opportunities here at Salem State and within our Center for Civic Engagement. I can only hope to continue empowering students to champion similar change in their communities.