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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| <- |
2021-01-01 |
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| Name | Kesha Ram Hinsdale |
| Previous Name | 08/02/1986 - 08/07/2021 Kesha Ram
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| Address |
Shelburne, Vermont , United States |
| Email | info@keshaforvermont.com |
| Website | http://kesharam.org/ |
| Donate |  |
 Facebook | kesharamvt |
| Born |
August 02, 1986
(37 years)
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| Contributor | RBH |
| Last Modifed | RBH
May 28, 2022 05:54pm |
| Tags |
Caucasian - Indian - Jewish -
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| Info | Kesha's father migrated to the United States from India and her mother is a Jewish woman from Illinois. With a Hindu father and Jewish mother, there was a shared set of values central to her childhood built on reverence for diversity and tolerance, a sense of civic pride, and an insatiable passion for community engagement.
She was sought after by schools across the country because of her achievements in a high school of 5,000 students in Los Angeles. She helped to pass legislation banning carcinogenic chemicals from dry cleaning, started a recycling program for her school, and led a delegation of students to India for the World Social Forum where she made a documentary about globalization. She left sunny Southern California, gave up full scholarships to a number of small private New England colleges, and turned down the University of British Columbia's International Leader of Tomorrow Award because she fell in love with Burlington and the University of Vermont.
In her notable career at UVM, she gained the knowledge and experience necessary to effect meaningful change. With a dual degree program in Natural Resource Planning and Political Science, she challenged herself academically to combine the sensibilities of the study of the natural world with the pragmatic knowledge of government function and social policy. Her self-designed thesis research on environmental justice communities in Vermont spurred House bill H. 463, which she hopes will increase citizen access to clean natural resources, a healthy environment, and meaningful participation in local land use decisions regardless of race or class.
Kesha was elected Student Government Association President for her senior year, and was the seventh woman and first person of color to fulfill a term. As president, she was charged with representing nearly 10,000 students, learning how to articulate their values and concerns effectively within the university and beyond, while also serving as a conduit between students and Burlington residents.
Even with the demands of academics and leadership, she still found time for direct service in the community. She has spent nearly a year serving on the Mayor's Environment and Energy Coordinating Committee, working with other community members to craft recommendations on how to reduce Burlington's greenhouse gas emissions. She also forged a partnership between the Rubenstein School and NeighborKeepers through a pilot project to provide low-income families with energy efficient appliances, reducing their electricity bills and connecting them to environmental initiatives.
Her leadership and service earned her notable recognition and distinction. In 2006, she was one of 80 students nationally to receive the Morris K. Udall Scholarship, an award given to students who demonstrate the highest commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2007, she was honored as one of only 65 students in the country with the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for young people identified as America's next top leaders in public service. In 2008, she represented UVM and Vermont as a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. One of her proudest moments was to be named the 2008 Mary Jean Simpson Award recipient at UVM's Commencement, which is an award given to the senior woman who exemplifies the utmost in academic excellence, leadership, and service.
As a young woman with a father from India and a mother from Illinois, Kesha is changing the face of politics in this historic year for Democrats. Her role as president lends itself to a complex understanding of the needs of UVM students and the role of higher education in Vermont's future. Her work in the community highlights a deep commitment to civic responsibility and the creation of a future that is just and sustainable. She has the energy and experience that will allow her to serve the constituents of District 3-4 in session and out of session effectively and meaningfully.
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