When I was a teenager living in Mexico, I didn't speak the language well at first. I was dropped into a local neighborhood with no other foreigners, forcing me to learn how to connect and listen from the ground up.
As I found my footing, a new friend honored me with an invitation: a trek to a hidden, natural watering hole. It wasn't a tourist attraction; it was the community's gathering place. Upriver, families played. Downriver, a collective of women washed clothes, their laughter carrying over the water. To be invited into that space, to share that simple, essential part of local life, was an unforgettable lesson in humility and true connection.
That memory is the core of what I value in travel: the generosity of local people who share their stories, culture, and wisdom. It's the reason I studied abroad as an undergraduate and graduate student.
However, I've learned that without intention, our power and privilege as travelers can easily disrupt or harm the very places that welcome us. We must ask: Am I simply extracting an experience, or am I considering my impact?
That's why I'm raising funds for the RISE Travel Institute. RISE teaches travelers how to use their power and privilege not to extract, but to become a Responsible, Impactful, Sustainable, and Ethical (RISE) force for good. They challenge us to look beyond our own enjoyment and ensure our journey is not harming the local community—economically, environmentally, or socially.
Join me in supporting RISE to help build a generation of travelers who are invited in, not just passing through, and who leave the world more just and equitable than they found it.
