Ava Kreutziger
New York City,NY
Summary
Dynamic and passionate about advancing human rights, an incoming sophomore at Columbia University is pursuing studies in Human Rights Education and Creative Writing, focusing on youth civic participation, queer liberation, and educational equity. Selected to lead a workshop at the Unleashing Human Rights Conference in Budapest this December, this nationally recognized youth advocate has gained attention from major outlets like PBS NewsHour and NPR for a courageous stand against homophobic and transphobic legislation. Honored as one of Gambit’s 40 Under 40 for impactful leadership in LGBTQ+ activism and food justice in New Orleans, the multifaceted work encompasses grassroots activism, creative expression, and community storytelling. Currently serving as the 2025 HRE USA Summer Fellow, efforts are directed towards expanding the 'Human Rights Education Now!' Podcast to amplify youth perspectives on human rights and freedom of expression.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Forum Participant and Workshop Leader
Unleashing Human Rights Conference in Budapest, Council of Europe Youth Department and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
11.2025 - 12.2025
- Nominated to apply by the Institute of Human Rights at Columbia University, selected by the Forum’s Global Partners, coordinated by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take part in international forum to further universal human rights education for, with and by young people, which will take place in Budapest, from 8 to 12 December 2025. Non-governmental partners including the European Youth Forum and Amnesty International are co-organizers of the programming.
- Will design and facilitate interactive workshops on human rights topics.
Advocacy and Programs Intern
Human Rights Educators USA
09.2025 - 01.2026
- Supports national human rights education initiatives through a blend of program coordination, media production, and outreach. Contributes to the Training in Action series, including facilitating sessions, preparing materials, and supporting presenter logistics. Expanded the organization’s podcast by co-hosting and editing three episodes and assisting with long-term development planning. Manages social media content and analytics to strengthen audience engagement. Coordinated award processes, including organizing nomination materials and participating as a speaker in selection committee meetings.
Edmonds Fellow
Human Rights Educators USA, Human Rights Education Now! Podcast Expansion and Advocacy Project
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Supports the expansion of the existing HRE USA Human Rights Education Now! Podcast program. Expands the podcast reach, improves production quality, and invests in a comprehensive public relations and marketing strategy to grow both audience and influence. Development of an outreach & engagement plan and recruit organizational co-sponsors to sustain the podcast.
Media Assistant
English and Comparative Literature Department at Columbia University, NYC, NY
01.2025 - 05.2025
- Provides support on a variety of digital platforms. I handle website updates, calendaring requests, Google forms, and other data tasks related to supporting the creation and maintenance of digital content in the ENCL department.
Youth Facilitator
Grow Dat on the Geaux, New Orleans, LA
09.2023 - 04.2024
- Alumni-driven program that stems from Grow Dat. We ventured into areas of New Orleans that are food swamps and worked with low-income residents on food equity opportunities.
- Planned community events and worked to increase executive function within the new program. Organized budgets, members, and meeting times.
Assistant Crew Leader
Grow Dat Youth Farm, New Orleans, LA
08.2022 - 06.2023
- Grow Dat Youth Farm Mission: to nurture a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing food. At Grow Dat, people from different backgrounds come together to create a more just and sustainable food system. On our farm, we work collaboratively to grow food, educate and inspire youth and adults, while building power to create personal, social, and environmental change.
- In this position, I led social justice and agricultural science workshops, taught peers how to farm sustainably, and helped facilitate Grow Dat fundraising and marketing events.
Crew Member
Grow Dat Youth Farm, New Orleans, LA
01.2022 - 06.2022
- Worked as a farmer in a crew of 12 people. Soaked in knowledge about the land, farming systems, and community supported agriculture work to combat global climate change.
Data Entry Coordinator
Crescent City Stage, New Orleans, LA
06.2024 - 08.2024
- Office position where I organized and entered data for fundraising purposes at a local theatre company.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Human Rights Education and Creative Writing
Columbia University
New York City, NYSkills
- Facilitating workshops
- attentive listening
- Demonstrated compassion
- Grassroots mobilization strategies
- critical pedagogy lens of education
- Fundraising strategy development
- writing grants and conducting research for organization
- Building relationships with co-sponsors
- Public outreach initiatives
- Engaging podcast interview techniques
- Technological development
Websites
- https://www.nola.com/gambit/digital_edition/gambits-40-under-40-2024
- https://itgetsbetter.org/winning-this-grant-was-a-dream-come-true-lgbtq/
- https://www.npr.org/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5327573/columbia-university-students-react-to-white-house-crackdown-on-protesters
- https://thelensnola.org/2024/06/03/stories-behind-the-soil-le-petit-jardin-de-belle/
- https://apnews.com/video/louisiana-new-orleans-protests-and-demonstrations-stephen-smith-schools-72e82105a557408a8396282c37282a72
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youth-connections/id1737297022?i=1000660475166
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/why-youth-activists-in-louisiana-say-theyll-no-longer-stay-quiet
- https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/teenagers-line-up-to-finally-get-vaccinated/289-419970fe-03b8-4850-80af-8aa040550597
Accomplishments
- Gambit’s 40 under 40- Youngest member selected for work at Grow Dat Youth Farm and as a leader in LGBTQ+ activism in New Orleans.
- It Gets Better Project- Writer and recipient of $10,000 It Gets Better Project grant. The nationally renowned non-profit awards one grant to a Gender and Sexuality Alliance club in each state. Featured on their website for the “Q-Center” we established with the reward.
- NPR Podcast Interviewee- Interviewee in national NPR podcast in a tumultuous and unsettling time directly after the Trump administration revoked funding from Columbia University. Chose to speak out in promotion of solidarity, knowing many of the people’s voices who should be amplified cannot without greater risk of deportation, expulsion, etc.
- President of Gender Sexuality Alliance- Two years in a row, running weekly GSA meetings and delivering presentations to the entire faculty/staff, board, and incoming students at Ben Franklin.
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team Leader (50 service hours)- Team Leader Mission Award Winner for Patient Education and Support, raised $22,000 in seven weeks; our fundraising initiatives ranged from hosting yard sales to obtaining corporate sponsorships.
- Community/Memorial Garden Leader- Led members of Grow Dat Youth Farm in building the memorial garden for Belle Adelman- Cannon and separately appointed to build community garden through internship at RealCycle Nola.
- Capitol Project Student Leader- Appointed student leader of devised theatre piece on Louisiana State Capitol steps in partnership with the Tectonic Theatre Project.
- CYBD Youth Coalition Podcast- Recruited as interviewee because of my experience working for Grow Dat Youth Farm and for my fierce activism to protect it when the city tried to bulldoze the space.
- Student leader at a UTNO (United Teachers of New Orleans)- Invited to participate in a city-wide union meeting on how art can be a mechanism to combat homophobic and transphobic legislation.
- Activist and Speaker against Homophobic and Transphobic Legislation- An interviewee in nationally published PBS news piece on youth activism and on the bills introduced in state and federal legislative bodies.
- Open House Team Leader- At Ben Franklin High School, I was one of ten team leaders chosen to give tours to prospective students and families visiting campus.
- Vaccine Advocate- First teenager in New Orleans to get vaccinated for Covid-19. Participated in numerous press initiatives to persuade my community to do the same.
- Close-Up Program Participant- One of four students at my high school to be a part of the program working with a diverse group of students throughout the country. We investigated the school-to-prison pipeline in certain sectors of the United States, and presented our findings to our schools administration.
- Georgetown University Mock Trial Award Winner- National Student Leadership Conference Law and Advocacy Program. Recognized for leading my team to victory through strong organizational skills and commitment.
LANGUAGES
English
French
Japanese (beginner level)
Czech (beginner level)
UNIVERSITY COURSES COMPLETED
- Education and Social Change in a Comparative Global Context Seminar
- History of Human Rights
- Critical Pedagogies
- Social Justice and Human Rights
- Contemporary Western Civilization
- Literature Humanities
- Intermediate French 1 and 2
- Playwriting 1
- The Ecstasy of Influence
- University Writing: Readings in Film and Performing Arts
- Frontiers of Science
Section name
DUAL CITIZENSHIP in Czechia and United States of America
Timeline
Forum Participant and Workshop Leader
Unleashing Human Rights Conference in Budapest, Council of Europe Youth Department and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
11.2025 - 12.2025
Advocacy and Programs Intern
Human Rights Educators USA
09.2025 - 01.2026
Edmonds Fellow
Human Rights Educators USA, Human Rights Education Now! Podcast Expansion and Advocacy Project
06.2025 - 08.2025
Media Assistant
English and Comparative Literature Department at Columbia University, NYC, NY
01.2025 - 05.2025
Data Entry Coordinator
Crescent City Stage, New Orleans, LA
06.2024 - 08.2024
Youth Facilitator
Grow Dat on the Geaux, New Orleans, LA
09.2023 - 04.2024
Assistant Crew Leader
Grow Dat Youth Farm, New Orleans, LA
08.2022 - 06.2023
Crew Member
Grow Dat Youth Farm, New Orleans, LA
01.2022 - 06.2022
Some College (No Degree) - Human Rights Education and Creative Writing
Columbia University