We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Edie Young. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Edie below.
Hi Edie, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
One unexpected issue was getting people interested in coming to my club! I remember at our very first interest meeting, no one came, and I started to think no one would join the club. I kept pushing and advertising, and we ended up growing to 30 members! We have now been able to do great things!
To any and all club presidents out there don’t give up! Keep promoting on social media, the announcements!
Also, volunteers kept dropping out, and I thought we would have barely any volunteers for our Disability Justice Fair last year. We ended up getting volunteers, and it ended up being a huge success!
Edie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, my name is Edie! I specialize in Issues surrounding Disability Rights, Human Rights, and Gun Violence Prevention. I also specialize in supporting artists.
I want a world where one day people will stop losing their lives to guns, where people will be able to feel safe in schools and public spaces, and where queer and trans youth will be able to freely express themselves and not have to worry about coming out or simply existing. I also want a world where disabled people will one day be able to exist without fearing for their lives. That is why I will continue to advocate.
I am currently the president and founder of my school’s Disability Student Alliance (DSA). I also founded and currently lead We Are Artistic. I do work with the Queer Youth Assemble not Queer Youth Assembly. I love supporting others and advocating for them.
Two exciting projects I am working on are the Queer Unity March and I am currently helping with recruitment outreach, advertising, and planning the Washington, DC, March. The march is about community and bringing together queer and trans youth. To support one another regardless of the 2024 election. To also help as many as possible come out. We want to make this march safe, but incredible. I want people to feel safe and have places to regroup and go if they feel overwhelmed. I also want to make sure it is accessible; as everyone deserves to fight for their rights.
Another exciting project I am working on is the 2024 Disability Justice Fair. The 2024 Disability Justice Fair is a fair where we will have nine tables set up in the Atrium. Info and prize table, resources table, physical disabilities table, neurodivergent table, mental health table, Disability Awareness TikTok Station (where students can create Disability Awareness TikTok, and TikTok about stuff they learned at the fair,) Spread The Word To End The Word table (they will be able to pledge to not use the R-word, and learn the harmful effects of the word), and Sensory Table. at the fair, we have a passport (a paper with questions about 5 tables) and once it’s completed they get a prize.
I started it last year to provide a space where students can get educated and learn how to become better allies. I noticed a lot of people in my school were using slurs like the “R” word and “SPED” and didn’t really know a lot about disabilities! I wanted to find a way to educate them.
I want to thank Ms. Spiccani, Ms. Dorsey, Anya, Bennett, and Mira, and the many people who have helped make this event a reality last year and for helping make it a reality again this year. It makes me so happy to be educating my school community, and to see people also want to help me educate the school community. It is sponsored by my club, the Disability Student Alliance, and the Student Government Association.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The goal or mission that is driving up my journey is to help others!
There are always ways in life you can help others that may not seem helpful but, in reality, make a big difference! Such as volunteering, offering support, or simply accepting someone for who they are!
one impactful thing I do is make cards for a nonprofit called Cards For Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) because hospitalized kids are often isolated and lonely and may be in the hospital for a long time! The card brings them hope and joy! It’s simple yet so impactful! I also host card-making events through my organization, We Are Artistic, which gives an outlet to other people to give back and uplift! They come and can create a card or cards! They also get to talk to other people at the event making cards and build community! It has taught me that things that may not seem like they make a difference actually do!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my opinion, what society can do to best support artists and creatives is not ask for free art and offer more ways for artists to access quality support! Often times, people think they are supporting artists when in reality, asking for free art doesn’t support the art but makes the artist upset because the person isn’t valuing their time, energy, and money used to buy the supplies that created the piece!
