Alexandra Papernick
she/her/hers
student, University of Pittsburgh and volunteer, PFLAG Pittsburgh
Alexandra Papernick has always been inspired by the rich history of advocacy and social impact projects in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. In an age where most people have technology at their fingertips, through her work, her studies and volunteering, Alexandra is exploring how advocacy can thrive in a digital world.
Alexandra’s interest in community and service work began in high school, and today she’s pursing a master’s degree in social work while offering her support to local organizations such as PFLAG Pittsburgh.
“Growing up and being able to have access to different advocacy networks in the Pittsburgh area ... I was able to get involved in these movements early on,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn towards different social impact projects, especially having lived experience of the mental health systems in Pittsburgh. I developed this passion for service work in terms of engaging the community and advancing this kind of collective wellbeing.”
While she was in high school, Alexandra was introduced to Talk The New Sex Ed, an organization offering sex education to students and young adults in western Pennsylvania. She became part of the youth advisory council. Now, as part of her social work degree, she’s been working with Talk for her practicum.
“I’ve been helping to support education sessions in schools around Pittsburgh,” she explained. “Through that, I’ve been able to understand the overall interactions and group dynamics of high schoolers and middle schoolers, and also to identify some of the gaps in term of service areas.”
She also has been working on digital curriculum for sex education. Alexandra, who has a background in marketing, sees this approach as a way to increase access to information.
“I definitely see technology, though it has different complexities, as a tool, if used ethically,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in the blend of different tools that increase access and inclusivity. I think there’s been a lot of changes in the last decade, and I think it’s been really important to include people and advance resources so we have some equity there rather than minimize or exclude people.”
Digital organizing and advocacy go hand-in-hand for Alexandra, which led her to one of her volunteer pursuits, managing social media for PFLAG Pittsburgh. PFLAG is a nationwide organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones.
“I knew that I wanted to get involved and be able to use my skills to share information and generate support and just make people feel like they’re not alone,” she said. “I think that the work they do is so important ... building some awareness and understanding in the world. It does make a huge difference. For over two years, I’ve been working with them to share messages on social media.”
When she completes her master’s degree, Alexandra hopes to put her skills to work helping young people, especially those who may feel like they don’t have anyone in their corner.
“I hope that with my degree, I’m able to continue to advocate for mental health and wellbeing, especially for youth populations,” she said. “Youth are our future, and especially LGBTQ+ youth should be supported and nurtured and, at the end of the day, understood. One of the things that I think could make or break someone is being understood. That’s what I think PFLAG is doing – helping increase understanding of people. My work in schools and with youth is trying to help them feel understood. I hope to continue to do that going into the future.”