My Interview with a Sustainability Advocate

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Hello friends!
I've been feeling super inspired lately. The idea of treating myself, others around me, and my environment kindly makes me feel more hope for the future, and more passion about my community.

​   Honestly, Ayana's instagram profile graced my feed at the perfect time. I can't quite remember when exactly I first followed her, but I was drawn in my one of her interior décor reels. What kept me browsing her page were the sprinkles of branding samples, biophilic snapshots, and tricks to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

   Ayana, known on instagram as @auntieayana, not only spreads awareness about living more sustainably, but also about living more artfully. When she isn't teaching her community about zero-waste alternatives, she's sharing some of her clean and minimalistic designs. I was immediately wanting to reach out and to learn more, because I can tell already that she has so much to offer, and that her voice feels incredibly important. I want to celebrate more inspiring people like Ayana on my blog because her drive, her creativity, and her love for the world feels so important.

   I've already learned a lot more about my own impact on the environment since following her, but I wanted to dive deeper into who Ayana is as a human, and what her are goals for the future. With all this said, enjoy our interview!
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​Grins & Needles: "I appreciate that you're willing to share your ideas and lifestyle in a blog collaboration with me. I first want to ask you--how would you describe yourself?
Ayana: "I am a college student, freelance graphic designer, a content creator, a minimalist and an advocate for people and the planet."

G&N: "What are some general concepts that inspire you? Who are some people who inspire you?"
Ayana: "Community inspires me so much. Seeing people work together to make the world a better place and being a part of different communities is what keeps me motivated and optimistic for the future. Intersectional Environmentalist is an organization full of people who inspire me daily - Kiana Kazemi, Sabs Katz, Leah Thomas, Isaias Hernandez, and Philip Aiken to name a few.
Dr. Ayana Johnson is another person I've learned a lot from. Check out the podcast she used to co-host, How to Save a Planet!"

G&N: "When did you find a passion for sustainable living?"
Ayana: "I've always considered myself to be a minimalist but a few years ago, I discovered the connection between minimalism and living sustainably. I learned that minimalism is not just about decluttering and minimizing your personal possessions, it's also about conscious consumerism and reducing the amount of waste you and your household produces. From there, I decided to adopt a more conscious and responsible lifestyle, trying my best to minimize my impact on the environment and advocating for marginalized people being negatively impacted by capitalism."

​G&N: "Why do you think it's essential for people to do their part and prioritize taking care of the earth?"
Ayana: "It kinda goes back to the question about what inspires me. We need community, people working together in order for us to be able to continue living on this planet. Unfortunately the greed and irresponsibility of governments and large corporations has already begun to negatively impact not only the planet, but also people, predominantly Black, Indigenous and people of color around the world. It's important for people like you and me to stand up against the greed and racism that is leading us to irreversible damage. We have the power to vote out government officials who deny the climate crisis. We have the power to refuse to line the pockets of billionaire CEO's who exploit their employees. We have the power to live consciously and intentionally. But it's going to take consistent collective action."

G&N: "Tell me a bit about your partnership with the brand Zero Waste! Who are they, and what is it like partnering with them?"
Ayana: "Zero Waste is a zero waste and sustainable living website that sells reusables, plastic free alternatives, and products made of natural, eco-friendly ingredients and materials. They kindly reached out to me, wanting to hire me for some content creation to promote their products and to interview me for their website blog. It was overall a really great experience. I absolutely love working with small businesses and promoting products that a lot of people looking to reduce their impact never even knew existed! It's also nice to have a company pay me for my creativity:)"

G&N: "What are some brands and organizations that you find are absolute staples for supporting a sustainable lifestyle?"
Ayana: "This is one of my favorite questions! If you know me or follow me on Instagram, you know I can't shut up about Stasher Bags. They are silicon alternatives to plastic ziplock bags and they have so many uses and functions. I also love Who Gives a Crap (for bamboo paper towels and toilet paper), Bite toothpaste tabs, and my favorite zero waste shop with a physical location is Ware in Asheville, NC. For clothes, I try to find pieces second-hand at thrift stores or on Poshmark but some sustainable brands for people of all genders to check out are Girlfriend Collective, Jungmaven, United By Blue, Tentree, and Organic Basics. As for organizations to support, Intersectional Environmentalist, The Solutions Project, Circularity, and The Good Trade are great places to start."

G&N: "What are the most challenging parts to striving for a zero-waste life? And what are some ways you overcome these obstacles?"
Ayana: "The most challenging thing is the lack of access. Not every city has an efficient recycle or compost program. Not everyone has access to a farmers market, zero waste shop, bulk foods store or community garden. And not everyone can afford the prices that come with more ethically and sustainably-made products. This is why I always encourage people to do the best they can with what they do have access to. For some challenges, it's pretty difficult to find immediate solutions, but we can stay politically active and vote for local government officials who prioritize bringing resources to our communities. And on a larger scale, we have to fight for basic human rights like education, health care and livable wages. With those things provided, more people would have the financial access and ability to support ethical and sustainable companies."

G&N: "Similar to the previous question, has the pandemic affected your lifestyle? Or has it given you more of a goal to treat the earth better?"
Ayana: "The first year of the pandemic definitely involved a lot more take-out styrofoam containers and plastic bags than I'm used to. I wasn't allowed to use the bulk foods section at the grocery store or even use my reusable coffee mugs or grocery bags. Now that things are relatively back to normal, I do feel the need to double down on my lifestyle choices and really do all I can to ensure I'm not a part of the problem. I also love being out in nature or just sitting outside in the sun even more now after being locked away in a studio apartment for weeks!"

​G&N: "I have two kitties who I love so much. What are some ways that people with dogs, cats, or other pets can integrate a more eco-friendly lifestyle while caring for their furry friends?"
Ayana: "I love my dog Luna! She is the ultimate princess and she knows it! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a huge market for eco-friendly pet products (that I know of) but I do try to purchase biodegradable poop bags and dog toys made of natural materials. One thing we could all do is talk to our local vets, groomers and pet daycares about their sustainability practices. For example, we could ask vets to recycle medical equipment, sell plastic-free pet toy options, reuse pet medication bottles, and maybe even consider establishing a bulk pet foods section and allow people to bring their own containers to fill."

G&N: "Based off of your instagram, it looks like you enjoy hiking! What draws you to this activity? And what are other ways you might connect with nature?"
Ayana: "Getting outside is how I recharge! There is nothing like getting away from the city, breathing fresh air and walking through the trees hearing nothing but leaves in the wind and birds chirping. At this point in my life, I need this escape at least once a week to stay sane. Other ways I connect with nature are having picnics with friends, sitting in the sun on my patio, tending to my houseplants and volunteering at my university's community garden. All of these activities have been so impactful to my mental health over the years."

​G&N: "Let's talk about design! I see you're studying graphic design at the moment. How long have you been studying it now? And what draws you to this art form?"
Ayana: "I am in my third year of being a graphic design student. At first, I was a computer science major but I quickly realized that I needed to be able to express myself creatively in my work. Design in general, I believe, has the ability to make people's lives easier and it also has the power to evoke action. From traffic signs to protest flyers, the way something is designed can change the world and help shape how society moves."

​G&N: "What do you think are your favorite areas of design? I, personally, am a sucker for branding guides."
Ayana: "I'm actually trying to pursue a career in User Experience design! UX centers the user and ensures their interaction with the interface, experience or system is efficient and effective. When I finish school, I hope to work for a company that strives to make people's lives easier and more sustainable. On the side, I do some freelance brand identity design which has been so much fun! I especially love working with creators and small businesses to create a brand identity that represents them well. "

G&N: "I saw some informational posts that looked pretty cute on your instagram feed. Do you plan to merge your passion for design with your passion for sustainable living more, in a similar fashion? Or do you have other plans in mind for merging the two?"
Ayana: "As long as I am on Instagram, I will continue sharing information and tips through graphics I design. It's a lot of fun creating them and fulfilling when someone tells me they learned something new from what I shared. I'm not sure where graphic design in particular will take me but I would love to merge the two outside of social media if possible. "

G&N: "You talked to me a bit about wanting to spread awareness to your followers online. Since I've been following you, not only have I loved your interior decorating, but I've learned new things about conserving energy and using less waste. Do you have any further goals for your online presence? And how rewarding does it feel to know you're spreading positive messages to the community you're gaining on the internet?"
Ayana: "I am so incredibly happy to hear that! I absolutely love the community that I've built online and hope that it continues to grow! Sharing information is so important and necessary for society to make progress so I plan to continue sharing every bit of knowledge I have for as long as I can. It feels amazing to know that I'm making an impact. Even if only one person learns something or decides to adopt a habit from what I've shared on my little platform, it means the world to me."

G&N: " Lastly, do you have anything you want to share?"
Ayana: "Unlike what people like Lauren Singer might lead you to believe, living sustainably isn't at all about being able to fit a month's worth of trash in a pretty little mason jar. It's about doing your best and living intentionally. It's about educating yourself on how corrupt our government is and fighting against a system that continually fails us in just about every way. It's about holding our government and large corporations accountable for the way they are treating people and the planet. I am optimistic about our future and know that if we work together, it will be a bright, clean and green one:)"

Ayana, thanks again for collaborating with me on this post. I loved your responses, and I'm really happy I'm following you on instagram. I've already learned so much from you, and I look forward to continue learning more lifestyle alternatives and seeing more of your design.

Follow Ayana here, and keep on grinning!

​Lydia