ACTIVIST SPOTLIGHT: SHAYNA GERARD
My name is Shayna Gerard, and I am a rising senior at New York University (NYU) from Burbank, California. I am pursuing a double major in Media, Culture, and Communication and Public Policy, focusing my studies on political communication, strategy, and policy. I first heard about the Workers Circle through a fellow intern, Mya Strong. For my first engagement with the Workers Circle, I joined the Workers Circle and Black Voters Matter for in-person voter outreach in Pennsylvania for the 2022 midterm election. I was excited to reach eligible voters, door knock with college-aged students, and work towards an increase in voter engagement for this critical election. After this event, I learned my grandparents had been involved with the “Workmen’s Circle” — the organization’s former name — and this furthered my interest in the Workers Circle.
I am so thrilled to be an intern in the Social Justice Department. I chose to intern at the Workers Circle because of its social justice goals and Jewish values, and to further my experience in non-profit organizing and communications. My relationship to Judaism and Yiddish culture was somewhat inconsistent growing up because I was not surrounded by Jewish culture in California. I am thankful for a network to engage with Jewish, Yiddish culture and social justice. Moreover, I really enjoyed how people at the SummerStage concert, New York Sings Yiddish, knew what my name means. Shayna, שיינע, means beautiful or lovely. I often hear my mother call me shayna punim, pretty face, an endearing phrase that never fails to make me smile. My name is an incredibly personal and significant part of my identity and it was nice to share without having to explain to other concert attendees. Not to mention, I enjoyed receiving many compliments.
As a college organizer, I contact public officials, mobilize for protests, support cultural events, and uplift student advocacy efforts. I appreciate how the College Network prioritizes college-aged people’s participation in our country’s political future and democracy. Alongside other young advocates, I have chanted at protests for climate justice action and called on public officials for more voting transparency and equality. I am most excited about the Workers Circle’s participation in the 2023 Queer Liberation March and facilitating the College Network’s communication and outreach this summer. My hope is to advocate for a better and more beautiful world for all.
The Workers Circle’s activism meets up with my own interests in furthering democracy and equality. I spent the entirety of Fall of 2020 phone banking and encouraging people to vote for the democratic party’s nominees. I also created social media materials for the National Organization of Women’s (NOW) Young Feminist Task Force to ensure people felt informed and prepared to vote. Then, I began my first year at NYU in the spring of 2021. I joined NYU College Democrats, serving on the executive board in my junior and senior year, previously as the Communications Director and now as Events Director. I am proud of the NYU College Democrats community and our support of advocacy and political efforts across the United States. During the Summer of 2021, I worked at State Senator Anthony Portantino’s office. I greatly valued gaining public policy experience with a representative in my community. Last summer, I worked for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Office of Media Relations. My time there was especially significant because I helped with communications to facilitate 988’s rollout. Almost every college student I communicate with has struggled with mental health. I chose to work at the FCC in part to work on 988 communications and implementation.
As a Workers Circle College Network Organizer intern, I am part of our community, advocating for a better world as I further prepare myself for my future in political communications. If you are or know a senior graduating high school or a college student, be in touch! We’d love to have you as a part of our activist community. Email college@circle.org.