Activism at AU is a series devoted to highlighting activists at American University. To celebrate Women’s History Month, AUSG Women’s Initiative is teaming up with Kennedy Political Union and Her Campus to highlight feminist activists who are making a difference on campus and in the community, as a subseries of Activism at AU. The month will culminate with Wonk of the Year Donna Brazile on March 24th and Women’s Initiative WHM speaker, Wagatwe Wanjuki on March 31. Click here to learn more.
Name: Liliana Ascencio
Year: Class of 2018
Major: Public Health
Minor: Arab World Studies
Her Campus American University: What kind of advocacy have you been involved in both on and off campus?
Liliana Ascencio: Mainly I work on sexual violence awareness and prevention. I focus on both domestic and international affairs through community dialogue and learning. On campus, I try to have as much of a holistic approach as possible to working on sexual violence prevention. Some of the things I am involved with such as Step Up and Wellness Crew are not specifically addressing sexual violence but deal with the events that may lead up to sexual violence or surrounding the issue. Starting a dialogue around the little things we can do to help our community out makes a difference. I really do believe that each member of a community can be a part of preventing sexual violence even if they do so indirectly. More of my time is spent working directly on the issue on campus- at school I am one of the student staff and teacher for Empower AU. I try my best to ensure that the conversation around consent is heard loud and clear to as many students as possible here at AU.
Some of my work on campus deals with bringing attention to international sexual violence in collaboration with other organizations off campus. I am a member of the Students Against Sexual Violence Executive Board as chair of the Intersectionality Committee. We work to bring to light voices that may not often be heard. Domestically, sexual violence prevention and health outreach programs consistently ignore the voices of people of color, queer people, gender fluid and non binary people, undocumented individuals; the list is extensive. Our committee tries to make sure some of those voices are heard from these communities, so that AU students can more effectively support movement led by these groups for these groups.
Off campus I am most actively involved with an organization called Advocates ForYouth where I work on their International Youth Leadership Council. Here I am involved with bringing to light issues of LGBTQ people, Women and Youth all around the world. Mainly I am able to be a face in spaces where queer, minority or youth voices may otherwise be lacking and try my best to put forward ways to integrate our thoughts when legislation is made “in our favor”.
HCAU: What do the issues you work with mean to you personally?
LA: Ever since I was 14, the stories of sexual violence from friends or family seemed to accumulate and I felt something had to be done. It seemed like an issue you just swept under the rug until I met activists who could yell about these issues. The more I learned, I began to realize that sexual violence does not exist in a bubble. Like many other social justice issues it is related to the multitude of issues and causes out there. As I work with these issues I also fight with communities for justice in their own causes.
Many of my personal identities have been ignored when dealing with violence prevention- I am the daughter of an immigrant, I am queer, and I am a woman of color. Still I have been blessed with amazing support systems and opportunities along the way that have allowed me to work towards fighting the oppressive forces in my society. I am privileged to have the ability to speak in spaces where people like me aren’t often heard but I am also aware that there are many other identities that need to be heard too. Working with these issues I’m constantly trying to make room for the voices we don’t hear as much so that justice isn’t just for one group alone.
HCAU: What drives you to keep advocating for what you believe in, even in the face of potential obstacles?
LA: My family members are truly my inspiration and motivation. My parents have always fought for what they believed in and instilled in me a deep seeded need to fight for justice. My father grew up in El Salvador during the civil war and when he came to the United States, he worked tirelessly for refugee communities in San Francisco. My mother is a powerhouse; she has worked leading mental health clinics and programs for immigrant and minority communities since her 20’s and has never stopped. They are the most strong, persevering people I know and they taught me to always be looking out for not just your own but for those beyond your backyard.
My sisters (23 and 6) also keep me fighting every day. My older sister has always taught me to not be afraid of falling and to keep on fighting for what I believe in. My younger sister is the most amazing six year old you will ever meet. Every time I face an obstacle I know that with each little push of a norm the world is becoming a better place for her generation. If you’ve ever seen her smile you would know it’s worth overcoming any obstacle.
Of course, many of my friends from around the world and here inspire me everyday to continue my work through their own activism. Their unending passion reminds me that there are many people who are fighting for a better tomorrow.
HCAU: Describe one experience you felt reminded you of what you were fighting for.
LA: Recently, a person who came to an event I hosted on campus mentioned something she learned from the event during class. It was a very small moment of knowing that dialogue had reached at least one person in the room and made room for new ideas. I believe that everything here on campus has the power to impact future legislation, regulation and the world at large. If even one person learns to think about the issue of sexual violence with regard for intersectionality, then I am doing something right.
Photo Credit: Olivia Huffman