Observing America as an Alien

How do you contribute to a democracy when you can’t vote?

I didn’t vote, because I can’t.

Still, I can’t vote. I was a forced bystander during the midterm elections, and will continue to be for future voting opportunities. I’m simply not afforded that right.

Living in America, I’m hypersensitive to being the “other.” This shapes my perspective on 1) What it means to be American; and 2) how to contribute to a democracy I’m not able to civically shape. The conclusion is: I don’t need to vote to be what I consider “American.” I’ve found the following three actions and beliefs to be just as strong as voting power.

This political climate is terrifying. Trust has been lost in national and community leaders, and it’s hard for that trust to be re-built. Fear and hate are divisive, global phenomenons that feel ever present in culture.

In the creative industry, I sometimes see brands shy away from strong opinions, styles, and voices. Discomfort prevents them from embracing great solutions in the name of their brands, or transitioning away from what they’re used to. I understand the fear of being different, and of the unknown. But I believe when we are given problems, the best solutions are often hiding behind a layer of fear. By choosing to approach my work from a place of love and embracing my differentness as a tool, this allows me to approach problem solving and developing impact-focused work from another angle; a perspective that’s beneficial to brands, clients, and society alike. Consistently, I’ve seen creative success attributed to building that same mindset, both internally amongst teams and externally by brands.

I’m hired, poached and recruited because I’m valued for my individual perspective — “differentness” is what shapes some of the biggest brands through creative storytelling and solutions. My differentness actually affords me the right to be here, contributing through creativity and business innovation.

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