In October month we welcomed Ava Foley to the Futurewise team! Ava is the new Legislative Campaign Intern and joins the team after being Futurewise’s volunteer of the year at our 2024 Spring Celebration for her work on the Connecting Communities campaign.  Now, she’s working with our statewide team to manage volunteers, help coordinate events like Lobby Day and more! Read on to get to know more about her. Welcome to the team, Ava!

Tell us a little about yourself! How did you end up at Futurewise?

I grew up in rural Montana and spent most of my time playing in the woods around my house with my older sister. Growing up, my Dad fostered a reverence for the natural world and its stewardship. He often took us to volunteer locally and took the time to teach us how to respect the natural world. I took these lessons with me when I moved to Washington during a gap year between high school and college. I ended up loving it here and decided to stay for school; I am currently pursuing a degree in Economics at Pacific Lutheran University. I learned about Futurewise at a campus sustainability club meeting from one of last year’s interns, Seth. I had been looking for a place to volunteer that aligned with my values of community and stewardship, and Futurewise was that place!

Why do you believe in Futurewise’s work? Why do you think what we do is important?

Land is one of the most valuable and finite resources we have. Futurewise’s work is key to ensuring we use our land well, from urban to rural areas. Washington is an amazing place to live, but it takes a lot of work to maintain and create our communities. Futurewise recognizes this and takes the time to do thoughtful work that includes government, local advocacy groups, and community members. They make the table where everyone can work together to create more resilient and livable communities.

What do you do outside of work?

I always love planning my next adventure, whether a weekend visit to a friends or a dream trip abroad. Exploring is one of my favorite things, especially at the local level. I am continuously on the hunt for a new favorite bakery, park, or concert venue. When I want to cozy up at home, you can find me working on a collage or reading a new book. My current favorite genres are thrillers and comics.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Washington?

I love how I can go for a hike and then sailing on the same day. There is so much natural beauty here and so many ways to be in it. I also love the community I have built here and spending time with friends and family exploring this state.

If you could snap your fingers and fix one issue facing our state, what would it be?

If I could fix anything, it would be to have a fully funded and expansive public transportation system throughout the state. Everyone deserves the opportunity to move freely in their communities, whether they drive or not. Living in and creating isolated communities gives people fewer opportunities to easily connect with friends and make new leaps like switching jobs. Growing up in a rural area, I found it amazing to have access to a bus system when I moved to Washington. There is still so much that can be done throughout the state, and I think an important part of creating a Washington that is accessible to everyone.

You can reach Ava at [email protected].