Editor’s Note: This interview in our Feminist Giving IRL series features Natalie Deehan-Clark, U.S. Communications Coordinator at the Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology for the Environment (CREATE!). From 2017-2018, Natalie traveled the world solo to explore sustainable solutions and community empowerment in developing countries. Natalie values storytelling as a catalyst for social change, particularly for equality and sustainability movements.
1. What do you wish you had known when you started out in college that you now know?
College was a crucial and challenging transition point in my life. My advice to myself would be to follow my interests and let the rest fall into place. Oftentimes, you’ll be surrounded by the right people and the right community when you’re doing what you value. I learned this after college when I traveled the world solo for one year and began to learn how to enjoy my own company. I didn’t mind eating at restaurants alone, I was happy to grab a map and tour a town by myself, and I looked forward to spending hours wandering around a museum. In finding comfort in solitude, I found that my choices in my life were based less on my discomfort and more on genuine interest.
2. What is your current greatest professional challenge?
As a young professional, when faced with a great opportunity or challenge in my career, I will occasionally find myself asking “Am I ready for this?” However, in the course of my career, I have learned that my passion for my work and sense of curiosity helps me overcome my uneasiness. Recently, I attended and assisted in presenting at an international conference that focused on leveraging systems for improved food security. Before the conference, I was comparing myself/ and my qualifications on paper to the other candidates attending. However, once the first session started, I found that what was more important to me was how I could learn and grow from this experience and keep contributing to this field.
3. What inspires you most about your work?
I have found a lot of inspiration from Jacqueline Novogratz’s book, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, in which she writes, “Philanthropists should find innovations that release the energies of people. Individuals don’t want to be taken care of- they need a chance to fulfill their own potential.” I appreciate that this field of work is constantly growing, changing, and improving which helps me keep an open mind as well as gives me the space to ask questions and challenge myself. People are always finding different and more effective ways to tackle challenges around the world, and I feel like I will never stop learning and growing!
4. How can philanthropy support gender equality?
I believe in the power of storytelling for social change. One of the many ways that philanthropy can support gender equality is by genuinely and respectfully sharing people’s stories who are affected by gender discrimination. One thing I’ve come to understand is when it comes to supporting challenges, such as gender equality, it is crucial for people to listen to one another clearly without inserting their own beliefs and emotions into someone else’s story. What I mean by this can be described by a workshop I attended at GlobalPDX with Philanthropy Without Borders. The workshop was called “Exploitation & Empathy”, and it focused on communicating impact in a way that authentically represents the issues and preserves the dignity of those affected by it. One of the key takeaway points was this: It’s important to treat people how they want to be treated instead of how you think they want to be treated.
5. In the next 10 years, where do you see gender equality movements taking us?
There are different degrees of gender-based discrimination around the world and across multiple cultures, but I believe that the overall goal remains the same: eliminate barriers so that women and girls have an equal chance to thrive and lead productive lives. I see a future domino effect of positive benefits for our global community from gender equality movements around the world. Without investing in and empowering women, we’d be missing out on at least half of the world’s potential. It is important to remember that gender equality benefits everyone, not just women and girls.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize gender equality as their fifth goal. The SDGs are 17 interconnected goals that create a comprehensive blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future. As stated on SDG 5, “Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” I am looking forward to being a part of this movement!
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Related:
Vote for the G.O.A.T! Join in the Fun and Build Women’s Leadership
Lucina Di Meco: Why We Need More Women Making Decisions
Designing More Equitable Systems: Dianne Chipps Bailey
