Writing & Social Change: Kat Mahoney (English, '98) and Colin Perry (English, Journalism, '17)
Wednesday, April 9 through Friday, April 11, 2025
Wednesday, April 9 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Social Justice Work: How to Align Your Values with Your Skill Sets
Science Center, 105
Thursday, April 10 from 9:30 - 10:50 a.m.
First Annual Ethnic and Gender Studies Symposium
Williams Center, S204ABC
Friday, April 11 from 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Writing and Social Change
Fenton Hall, 105
** REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE AT PUBLIC EVENTS
Kat, a South Korean adoptee and immigrant raised in Brooklyn, New York, has had a diverse career. After various jobs, including ghostwriting, she attended law school at the University of Oregon and opened her own family law firm. From 2022 to 2024, she was the executive director of Sisters of the Road, a Portland-based non-profit focused on alleviating poverty and advocating for systemic change.
Kat has served as an ACLU legal observer and was a plaintiff in the 2020 case, Index Papers v. City of Portland, involving injuries sustained during an arrest by federal and local law enforcement. Now, she runs her law firm, focusing on family and environmental law, while continuing to volunteer and serve on the board of Portland Neighbors Welcome.
Colin Perry is a Senior Program Officer at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, where he supports grantmaking and helps advance the Foundation's strategic community goals. His work spans initiatives aimed at promoting racial and ethnic equity, advancing economic mobility, supporting climate resilience through environmental stewardship, and fostering a vibrant arts and culture sector.
While there is no formal degree program for philanthropy, Colin applies a wide range of skills developed at SUNY Fredonia, including critical thinking, research, problem solving, project management, and writing. Prior to his role at the Foundation, he worked as a grant writer, focusing on anti-poverty initiatives in his native Chautauqua County, where he saw the impact of strategic funding on local communities.