I’ve always loved stories—listening to them, telling them, and stepping into the shoes of people whose lives are different from mine. That passion now drives my work as an Activism Assistant at the Institute for Justice, where I push for economic justice through legislative advocacy and grassroots organizing of directly impacted communities.

On IJ’s Activism team I contribute to initiatives like Cities Work, partnering with communities and local governments to reform burdensome regulations for entrepreneurs, and Counsel Unbound, increasing access to legal support for underserved communities. My work centers around research, outreach, and advocacy that help drive practical, local policy change.

Outside of the office, my passion lies in expanding access and opportunity for system-impacted people. I’m especially interested in how local policy, reentry reform, and grassroots advocacy can work together to create real second chances. This interest grew out of my research on employment pathways for incarcerated emerging adults in Texas and continues through my work in advocacy today.

Please explore my published and unpublished work for some the issues I care about and the stories I seek to amplify!

©2023 Ava Garderet.