Lindsay Toler

For the next two years, I'll be serving as a health volunteer for the Peace Corps. I'll be writing stories and freelancing while I'm there. To learn more, check out my blog at PeaceCorpsLindsay.com.

Hospital and Court Advocate, The Shelter of Columbia                 June 2006-Present

• Advocated for sexual assault and domestic violence victims
• Held 24-hour On Call shifts at two hospitals twice a week
• Serve men and women of diverse socio-economic, racial backgrounds

Cast member, Vagina Monologues                              September 2005-February 2009

• Performed monologue in production benefiting The Shelter and LEAD institute
• Planned and organized rehearsals as member of Performance Committee
• Worked to promote the cause of women worldwide

Delegate, ForeFront                                                             August 2006-January 2007

• Collaborated with student organizations to promote social justice issues
• Involved in implementation of Multicultural Student Fee
• Led campus-wide discussions as Facilitator for Ethnic Perspectives Series

Volunteer, Missouri Project Victory                                       July 2006-December 2006

• Educated community members on issues surrounding 2006 senate elections
• Initiated and organized Greek Dinner Speaks campaign
• Communicated message to diverse groups across Boone County

Intern, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom                    June 2006-January 2007

• Wrote articles for newsletters, blogs, and magazines
• Served on steering committee for Pro-Choice, Pro-Fashion fashion show
• Conducted lecture on reproductive rights at University of Illinois C-U

Awards and honors

• LSV Tap Day Society
  
• Mortar Board Honor Society
• Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society
• The Shelter Outstanding Volunteer Award   
• 2006 RAMS Service Award
• Selfless Helper Award, Honorable Mention
  
• Deans List, 2005-07   
• Chancellor’s Student Leader Reception
• Mark Twain Non-Resident Scholarship   
• Bess and George Corrigan Memorial Scholarship   

So why should this matter?

Being a journalist doesn’t mean removing oneself entirely from a story before writing it. I believe that news articles are written through a perspective, and I want my perspective to be that of a woman fighting for justice.

That doesn’t mean slanting my words or my headlines one way or the other; that means viewing the world from the background of a feminist and reporting exactly what I see.

Even if I don’t write directly about feminist topics and issues in the future, I know the lessons I’ve learned while fighting for equality will show through my writing.