This post was originally published by the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED).
The stars aligned for Kali Fillhart ‘20, a Virginia native studying anthropology and creative writing, when she came to NC State and developed her passion for activism and feminism.
Fillhart’s passions have led her to work as a poll worker for the primary and general elections, learn about the intersection of astrology and feminism at the Portland School of Astrology during a gap year, volunteer as an interpersonal violence prevention peer educator with The Movement and work as a programming intern for the Women’s Center.
As an intern, Fillhart helps plan projects for the Women’s Center, including Women’s Herstory Month in March and Denim Day in April. This semester, she co-facilitates the spring book club. The book club is reading Sing, Unburied Sing by author Jesmyn Ward and explores themes of addiction, incarceration, oppression and white supremacy.
In response to the pandemic, the center has had to transition to online events. One of the Women’s Centers signature events, Feminist Fridays, has gone virtual; each week, students engage and discuss topics that are important to them. Last semester, Fillhart co-facilitated a Feminist Friday discussion on voting — a timely and complex topic. But Fillhart’s interest in the Women’s Center began long before this school year.
“I think it was during orientation that they introduced students to all of the centers, and the first week of school, I went to check out the Women’s Center and it was love at first sight. I was like ‘this is my space, this is where I want to be.’ I joined The Movement within the Women’s Center my freshman year and I’ve basically lived there for all of my years in college,” says Fillhart.
She cites the staff and community as the reason she was so drawn to the center.
“I always feel at peace. It’s such a welcoming environment,” says Fillhart. “And they’ve been my source of community throughout college — and it’s been nice being around people who are also very passionate about the things I’m passionate about.”
Fillhart’s commitment demonstrates the Women Center’s mission to “build and create a community of authentic and engaged allies and leaders to pursue gender equity and social justice, enhancing the campus climate through education, advocacy, support and leadership development.”
In addition to her involvement with the Women’s Center, Fillhart is also a Park Scholar at NC State, helped organize the Women’s March in Raleigh last year, studied abroad in Guatemala, went on an Alternative Service Break to Alaska and lived in a converted van in Portland, Oregon while taking a gap year, the latter of which is of great significance to her.
When looking towards the future, Fillhart says she is looking into grant writing and taking a few courses on that. And she will continue integrating activism and feminism into her life and the work she does.
Jenna Nabors (she/her) is a fourth-year student majoring in communication with minors in international studies, journalism and English and a Park Scholar. Share your thoughts about this article on Twitter at @NCStateOIED.
This post was originally published by the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED).