HOME > Back to More 35 Under 35 Award Winners

Kristen Cox

What would you like to accomplish within the next 5 years?

To integrate creative spirit, committment to social justice, and a moral/conscientious lifestyle into the work I do. To find a sustainable space where pleasure & work intertwine.


What do you think are the biggest issues facing your generation?
Trust. Trust in newness, in experimentation and difference of perspective.

What do you hope to learn from more established leaders?

Tactics, strategies, & models that both worked and didn't work well for them. A sense of history and cultural perspective given their situation, context, place in time, etc.

What do you think more established leaders can learn from your work?

Openness to creative uncertainty. That risk-taking is radical and that communication, sharing, and connectivity are key.

What is the most gratifying aspect of your work?

Bringing people from differing perspectives, opinions or cultural spaces together to dialogue and build community.

What are the biggest obstacles in your work?
Institutional isms & corporate dominance. A failing public education system. Look around.. the financial industry (from which a large % of the upper class have benefited) is profiting while a majority of others, young people in particular, are encouraged to feed off debt and look to the generosity of corporate monocultures, i.e. walgreens, starbucks, amazon, verizon etc. be it through corporate giving programs, or even, your credit card redeemer package.

How do you work around those obstacles?
Try to Walk the Walk. Be extremely consumer conscious about where my money goes and what it's supporting. Be honest and open about how my own class privilege has affected my identity politics. Also, through the Fire This Time Fund, support and advocate for younger people to be able to voice their own ideas and visions to think critically about, and challenge, the way the world works.

What tools or resources do you need to help you continue your work?
Easier access: to progressive and transparent pools of money; for informal, collaborative and collecctive (non-incorporated) groups in the US to organize and open up bank accounts for their work; for individuals to receive grant support; to communicate amongst a national network of younger artists, activists and educators' dedicated to new, creative strategies for social change.

What advice would you give to younger folks wanting to impact social justice issues?
Listen to yourself. Challenge the mainstream media, what you read, hear and see on TV. Believe in your conviction and your own ideas.

Define leadership.
Positive, non-judgmental, selfless conviction, dedication and drive to a particular charge, effort, or struggle.