My first two weeks in Medellín have been incredible and so exciting, and a very strong reminder of my commitment to community and advocacy work. I was really excited to experience this work here in my home country, and see how people organize and resist, especially in light of the hardship and injustices of Colombia’s sociopolitical past and present. 

Week 1
The first thing I noticed is how grateful I am to be surrounded by such amazing people. Dani and Sam from the make_sense team have been such welcoming, kind, and incredible mentors, and my fellow Laidlaw scholars, who came all the way from the United Kingdom, have given me so much energy, support, and joy in these past few days. 

This week, we visited Comuna 13, where we learned about its difficult history and the many actors and dynamics that were involved, from the guerrillas and paramilitaries, events such as Operación Orión, and the harrowing impact of the falsos positivos. But we also saw how the community has reclaimed its space through art, education and dance programs, and collective organizing. It was an incredible example of how collective memory and resilience can transform a place.

Later in the week, we visited Picacho con Futuro, the organization we’ll be working with. We walked up Cerro El Picacho with Adrián (the organization’s director) and César, who shared the political and social history of the neighborhood. We ate fiambre cooked at the organization, saw the “taller de moda” where community members repurpose clothes and fabrics, and visited the kitchen where sustainability and cooking workshops are held. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and I’m so excited to get as involved as I can. 

Week 2
This week we visited Mi Barrio, Mi Sueño in the La Honda neighborhood, where we met Yeso, a community leader, and the neighbors who so warmly invited us into their homes. One highlight was meeting Doña Reina, who runs a small coffee shop and has had a central role in the community. I have loved listening to people’s stories and perspectives, many which are so difficult but also so inspiring. 

We also participated in a cultural fair at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana to recruit volunteers for our work with Picacho. It was so fun to meet local students and exchange our cultures and knowledge, and I really hope these connections can help make our projects more collaborative and sustainable.