Hi, everyone! My name is Ashley Vann, and I am a rising junior at Elon University. I am majoring in political science and statistics with minors in policy studies and sociology. This summer, I will be working at Benevolence Farm as a policy advocate intern, and I couldn’t be more excited! I have been passionate about politics for much of my life, but my interests truly turned to policy work when I first started college. In my first semester at Elon, I joined the North Carolina Student Legislature, which is an organization on campus that allows students to engage with and reform existing North Carolina policy. As a born-and-raised North Carolinian, this organization broadened not only my understanding and experience with the policy process but also helped encourage me to engage with the policies of my home state more meaningfully.
I have been interested in carceral system reform for a while, but I truly began researching and advocating against the deep injustices in the system after a debate I participated in through the North Carolina Student Legislature. At one of the first meetings that I attended, a friend of mine presented a policy resolution that dealt with the provision of menstrual products for women who are currently incarcerated. As this friend discussed their intended reforms, they spoke about the absurd rationing of menstrual products in North Carolina prisons, allowing women only a few free pads or tampons each month, and charging astronomical prices for any additional products a woman might need. I was appalled by these conditions and began to truly delve into the systemic issues in the carceral system.
I first learned about Benevolence Farm through a program at Elon designed to get students more engaged with the Alamance community. When I read this organization’s mission and learned about the programs that they offer, I knew that I wanted to be involved. I am so excited to be a part of the team this summer and I look forward to learning and advocating more. As a policy advocate, I am eager to research, write, and engage to work toward real, lasting reforms in our carceral system. I can’t wait to begin this important work!
