Greta Solsaa

Hi! My name is Greta Solsaa, and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Vermont majoring in Global Studies with a Human and Environment concentration and a double minor in Law & Society and Reporting & Documentary Storytelling. I have experience in activism, organizing, political work, public speaking, and communications. 

Job Experience: 

Intern, Senator Leahy’s Office, Burlington, VT (September 1st - December 15th, 2022) (20 hours + per week)

•         Attend governmental meetings and write memorandums for staff
•         Write letters of support for organizations 
•         Help organize the Women’s Economic Opportunity conference
•         Survey and compile local, national, and international news to create a daily news brief for staff
•         Answer calls and log mail for staff 
•         Take on other tasks to support Senator Leahy’s office staff

Canvasser, VPIRG, Burlington, VT (June 6th- Aug 11th, 2022) (40 hours per week)

•         Walk or bike door-to-door in Vermont communities to potential and existing supporters educate  people on environmental issues in Vermont and ask for donations to the organization
•          Memorize and recite scripts prepared and provided by VPIRG
•          Get signatures for petitions and contact information of supporters for further actions
•          Confidently answer questions and hold conversations with community members
•          Consistently meet daily and weekly quotas for donations and signature acquisition 

Independent Online Vinyl Record Seller, eBay, @vinylfr0ntier, (October 2020-Present) 

Main Desk Attendant, University of Vermont Residential Life Services, Burlington, VT (February 2021-May 2022) (5 hours per week)

Nanny, Charity Pimental-Hyams, Mendon VT, (May 2020-November 2020) (18+ hours per week)

•        Care for three boys (Age 3, 5, and 8)
•        Help with homework and remote classroom activities due to the pandemic

Notetaker, Mount Holyoke College Accessibility Services, South Hadley, MA (September 2020-May 2020) (4 hours per week)

•         Write coherent and comprehensive class notes for students in need of academic accessibility services

Busser, The Lookout Tavern, Killington, VT (December 2019-January 2020) (20 hours per week)

•          Clean and set tables, pour water, serve food, and otherwise help waitresses and staff help customers

Aerial activities attendant, Killington Mountain Adventure Park, Killington, VT (June-August 2019) (40 hours per week)

•       Run the ropes course, jump tower, and zipline and assist visitors, including many families and summer camps

Activism, Internships/Volunteer Work, and Leadership Experience:

Intern, Community News Service, Burlington, VT (January 17th-May 5th) (6 hours per week)

•        Research environmental issues and connect with community leaders in order to write news stories about  the Lake Champlain Basin

Writing and Research Summer Virtual Intern, CIRCLE Women’s Association, Pakistan (June-August 2020) (6 hours per week)

• Research start-ups, outreach partners, and other connections in Pakistan
• Create an organized database of contacts and promotional materials for the She Loves Tech event 
• Participate in organizational meetings

Student Activist Coordinator for Massachusetts College Clubs, Amnesty International USA (August, 2020-May 2021) (5 hours per week)

• educate and mobilize college-age activists around campaign opportunities
• support AIUSA members to be aware of policy-related issues and act as a spokesperson for the organization

Student Activist Coordinator for Vermont High School Clubs, Amnesty International USA (September, 2017-May, 2019) (5 hours per week)

• educate and mobilize high school-age activists around campaign opportunities
• support AIUSA  members to be aware of policy-related issues and act as a spokesperson for the organization

Group Coordinator, Amnesty International Rutland High School Group (November, 2016-May, 2019) (5 hours per week)

• Created AIUSA school group at Rutland High School
• Organize events and actions that address Amnesty human rights campaigns 
• Introduced “I Welcome” Resolution to Board of Alderman which was passed unanimously

Officer, New Neighbors Club (September 2016- May 2019) (5 hours per week)

•   Presented to the school board to ask that the Black Lives Matter flag be raised at the high school
•   Organized dinners and events to support and welcome Syrian refugee families into the community
•   Recognized by the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP with the 2019 Youth Courage and Activism Award        

Organizer, Facilitator, and Presenter, Global Issues Network Conference, Rutland High School, VT (September 2016- March 2019)(1-6 hours per week)

• Collaborated with teachers and students at planning meetings
• Facilitated “global village” discussions on global issues
• Presented workshops on art and poetry’s impact on social change movements
• Presented workshop on my experience in South Africa through the Experiment in International Living Program
• Introduced the keynote speaker of the conference in my junior year of high school
• Aided presenters from outside organizations with the navigation of building and with technical difficulties

Organizer, Emcee, and Presenter, Youth Activist Summit, Peace & Justice Center (June-September, 2019) (5 hours per week)

• Collaborated with other youth activists and the Peace & Justice Center to develop an event to give young people the knowledge, tools, and resources to be effective activists 
• Emceed event and lead break out presentation on youth activist strategies
• Publicized event through social media and paper sources

Programming Intern, Peace & Justice Center (June-August, 2018) (8 hours per week)

• Support the outreach and messaging of the Peace & Justice Center so it is consistent and effective
• Assist with the development, promotion, and implementation of large and small events  
• Introduce, support, and plan events such as screenings, speakers, and workshops  
• Participate in weekly Programming Meetings, and other program-specific Team Meetings when available
• Attend events, conference calls, organizational meetings, and public meetings relating to programs and campaigns 

Organizer and Speaker, March for our Future march and rally, Montpelier, VT (April 2017-January 2018) (5 hours per week)

• Corresponded with other young activists around Vermont to create an event for youth activism
• Moderated and participated in planning meetings for the march

Leadership and Social Change Program Attendee, Experiment in International Living, South Africa, (July 1-30, 2017)

•        Traveled to various places in South Africa and learned about South African history and culture
•        Stayed with a host family in a township of Port Elizabeth and painted a community day care center 
•        Attended a week-long leadership training at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg

Volunteer, Maclure Library, Pittsford, VT (2013-2015) (5 hours per week)

•           Organized and lead youth reading and craft activities 
•           Help librarians organize bookshelves, put away books, prep new books by putting protective plastic over the dust jacket, and assist community members

Education:

University of Vermont (January 2021-May 2023) (3.89 GPA) (BA in Global Studies (Hon))

• Major in Global Studies with a Human and Environment Concentration; Double Minor in Law & Society and Reporting & Documentary Storytelling

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA (Sept 2019-May 2020)

Rutland High School, Rutland, VT

• High School Diploma, May 2019; Summa Cum Laude with a Concentration in Global Studies
• 2019 Rutland High School Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award