Community Building Conference

 Emily Myers is an advocate and artist living on the far south side of  Columbus. She is also the founder of Heer to Serve in 2020, has lived  experience being unsheltered as an 18 year old, and is a passionate  community member for radical love and solidarity to all. Her educational  background is in social work and harm reduction at Columbus State. She  has been a guest speaker and panelist at local universities, high  schools, housing conferences, etc since 2022.  

Heather Petersen (She/They) believes in the power of community building. As a full-time activist focused on LGBTQ+ social issues and justice, she is dedicated to fostering mutual aid within Knox County. Heather is the President and founder of the Knox County Pride Alliance, where she plays a vital role in enhancing community connections. Deeply involved with Kenyon's campus community, she enjoys working with her students. In addition to her activism, Heather is a mixed media artist, certified aromatherapist, and reiki practitioner. She loves gardening, singing, playing the piano, and spending time with family and friends, along with her certified therapy dog—a Doberman Greyhound named Vida.

Nicholas Theis will join Kenyon’s Department of Sociology in July 2024. His research addresses important questions across various fields, including environmental sociology, world-systems analysis, and rural issues, with a focus on community building in Knox County. He explores scientific knowledge production and research methods, particularly interested in (1) using quantitative methods to understand the intersection of social inequalities and environmental change across different scales, (2) innovating research areas by applying novel methods to well-studied questions, and (3) analyzing the relationship between rural identities, environmental problems, and decision-making, while also considering the role of mutual aid in these dynamics.

Kayla Hughes (She/They) is a community organizer, advocate, and operations professional whose work is grounded in radical empathy and dignity. As President of Hard Knox Mutual Aid, they focus on community building by developing sustainable systems of care rooted in solidarity within Knox County. With over a decade of grassroots experience, she has led initiatives like Pay it Forward Columbus, coordinated resources, and built coalitions across Ohio. She is also a writer, artist, photographer, and operations manager at a local wildlife preserve, where she blends her love of nature, sustainability, and community resilience.