ABOUT ME
Aidan Rising
"If I am a pure product of genetic, cultural, or class determination, I have no responsibility for my action in the world and, therefore, it is not possible for me to speak of ethics. Of course, this assumption of responsibility does not mean that we are not conditioned genetically, culturally, and socially. It means that we know ourselves to be conditioned but not determined." - Paulo Freire, [Pedagogy of Freedom]
Aidan Hill (they/them/theirs) is a 24 year old queer/trans political activist in the bay area living on the intersectionality of multiple identities. A lifelong Southern Californian resident, Aidan found themselves traveling frequently to visit their sister attending UC Berkeley Go Bears! This familiarity with the area led Aidan to attend the college themselves in hopes of creating change in a traditionally progressive city. As such, they hope to highlight the disparity of power among marginalized groups and actively contribute to the social, cultural and political movements during their lifetime. Once Aidan moved, they quickly began organizing. Aidan traveled the state organizing press conferences to save the Bag Ban with the assistance of the California Public Interest Research Group (Founded by Ralph Nader) and interning for Nancy Skinner who currently serves as a State Senator representing Alameda County.
Aidan’s ultimate goal is to ensure that all persons have the ability to live their life with dignity and autonomy. Aidan believes that everyone should have access to a seat at the table and that their experiences should be taken genuinely. Seeing firsthand how poverty strips marginalized persons of the choice to determine their future, Aidan has promoted multiple efforts to enhance food security and cost reductions for the populations they served including budget allocations for college food pantries, community gardens, and serving homemade meals to houseless persons within Berkeley.
Before transferring to Berkeley, Aidan promoted the social rights of individuals through food security as a Senator in the Associated Students of Riverside City College. They advocated heavily in favor of a sustainable resource center to partner with Second Harvest so students may have reoccurring access to free and affordable food. Similarly, Aidan chaired the Senate's Community Garden Ad Hoc Committee to bring awareness towards the community garden managed by our Sustainability Collective club. This garden gave students sustainable food access where they could grow crops in partnership with clubs and organizations on campus.
Through Senate, They stressed the importance of a book rental program so students could have the opportunity to rent text books for their general education requirements at a reduced cost. Subsequently through the Youth Advisory Council, they discussed the importance of financial aid flexibility and a strong subsidization for higher education to decrease tuition costs for community college students with Riverside's Congressman Mark Takano. These opportunities enhanced Aidan's responsiveness against the root causes of discrimination against marginalized groups.
Likewise, Aidan worked as a supplemental instructor for their community college’s Model United Nations program for four years. During this period, Aidan taught students about the interconnected nature of oppression and how to become politically engaged within it. They infused their passion for learning into teaching. As a result, Aidan dedicated themselves to making sure knowledge and skills were shared freely and easily.
Aidan happily recalls their time leading the Supreme Court in which they had the most diverse body in years. Aidan has years of experience drafting legislation, allocating budget items, and embracing community standards for better living. As Supreme Court Chief Justice, Aidan led the charge to transform their student body’s constitution by including protections for more marginalized groups and streamlining the process to join. Aidan effectively stopped the Senate from promoting a raise on student fees for superfluous spending and encouraged budget allocations to promote the general wellness of the campus at large.
Aidan actively works to promote intersectional feminism, trans-inclusion and environmental protections and develop a culture of consent and radical vulnerability in order to create a cycle of empowerment. They argue:
By being vulnerable we empower others to share their stories as well, breaking down stigmas that tell us that we must remain silent and alone. I believe in the power of community. I believe we can come together in a way that is both intersectional and nonviolent. We must fight for the most marginalized, the most vulnerable, the most at need and reject violence at every turn. Always remember that hunger is violence. Houselessness is violence. Racism is violence. Police intimidation is violence. Gender-based discrimination is violence. Violence is the game of haves and have nots. It's time to wake up.
​
Aidan recognizes the difficulty for many individuals to speak out, be they undocumented or a racial minority, suffer from mental health issues, at risk for being assaulted, or previously convicted and is willing to leverage their privilege to provide a microphone. Through this site, you may expect Aidan to highlight the struggles of many marginalized groups and provide solutions towards effective and tangible change. Aidan is fully aware that they are just one person and is asking the community to promote direct action in order to invest in the things us, especially students, need most: Safety, community, education, work, and wellness. Aidan is currently working as a County Councilor with the Green Party of Alameda County.
The political moment is now. Considering the state of our national government as well as the rising costs of tuition for students, we must speak out and work together now more than ever. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Will you join me?