Vera Kamm
Political Science
"America’s democracy is put into question when there is lack of female equality; I intend to help change that and move forward in a positive matter for our country."
Vera Isabella Kamm is a senior studying Political Science with minors in Theology and Science, Technology, & Values. Originally from Winston-Salem, NC, Kamm's childhood in Tanzania and experience at the Stanford Law School Program inspired her to work as an advocate for women's equality and migrant rights.
Tell us a bit about your personal story and its connection to the Fellows program. What is your personal interest in engaging issues related to American democracy? And what does being a "champion of democracy" mean to you?
The Hesburgh Democracy Fellows provides an unique experience for my intertwining of interests that this program will help foster. Since the Hesburgh Democracy Fellows focuses on leadership development, it is designed for a community of like-minded peers who are passionate about civic engagement and public service. The opportunity to learn about democracy and public policy through a combination of a speaker series, mentorship, and experiential learning is indispensable to myself as I am interested in building these skills. As my first year as a Fellow has passed, I excitedly anticipate that I will continue to attend speaker series, engage in debates and discourse, and participate in intimate discussions with experts in the field. Furthermore, I look forward to working to develop my own action plans for promoting democracy and social justice, for which my academic achievements, leadership potential, and commitment to civic engagement make me excited. The Hesburgh Democracy Fellows Program provides me the chance to make a positive difference in the world, and I've appreciated every opportunity it's given me as I anticipate more to come if I have the honor of being a Featured Fellow.
How have you championed democracy on-campus and in the local community?
My work involving issues related to the advancement of American democracy includes my participation in a Stanford Law School Program, Op-ed writing for my city newspaper (Winston-Salem Journal), an internship with Notre Dame’s Migrant Impact Network, being a Youth Advisor for the Winston Salem City Council, volunteering with Crosby Scholars Community Partnership, and being an activist for female equality as inspired by my childhood in Tanzania.
First, my time at Stanford Law School was a program over a summer in high school, which taught a highly select group of students about the law and justice system in the United States. I was selected as the lead defense attorney because I carried out this idea of democracy in America throughout the entire program. My emphasis on equality for all through the justice system was illustrated through mock-trial and activism towards having a fair and equal law and justice system as it is the foundation of the American democracy.
Second, I wrote Op-eds for the Winston-Salem Journal to pursue the ideal of free speech necessary for American democracy. In a feat to fight censorship, I wrote about issues that people would otherwise not read about; for example, instances of inequality or prejudice in schools, teachers’ rights, and the voice of the impoverished and forgotten. To have a democratic America, there needs to be freedom of speech and media, which was a motive for writing Op-eds in my city’s newspaper, the Winston-Salem Journal.
Third, I participated in an internship at Notre Dame with Migrant Impact Network. My goal was to expose the lack of freedom, equality, and democracy in other countries to demonstrate the need to preserve American democracy as well as the ongoing fight for the aforementioned principles in a democracy. I built a website, conducted interviews, wrote articles, and concluded with reports on first-hand stories I personally heard. Through this research, I was pursuing a higher knowledge for the public on democracy through other countries.
Next, I am an alumna of the original Youth Advisors for the Winston-Salem City Council. I was chosen for the Forsyth County Young Leaders in 2018, which led to my appointment to the Winston-Salem City Council. I conducted projects to advocate for the undeserved, which included high school students without a voice in the decisions of a City Council. In an effort to increase equality and voices for all, which is necessary for a democratic America. I listened to my student body speak and was a voice advocating for their needs.
Furthermore, I volunteered with a Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. As a Crosby Scholar, I was an activist and advocate for members of the community to vote and become educated on political issues. Voting and education are fundamentals for American democracy, and I took this to heart as I went into the community to encourage young people to vote and become educated in schools and their respective communities.
Lastly, I am an advocate for female equality through my work with Maria Kamm and social media advocacy. I have attended and posted protests for female equality, written about it for Spare Magazine at Notre Dame, and nominated Maria Kamm, who won the Saint Mary’s College Distinguished Alumnae Award in 2023 for her work with female education. America’s democracy is put into question when there is lack of female equality; I intend to help change that and move forward in a positive matter for our country. The program is fittingly named after Father Theodore Hesburgh, which demonstrates a champion for social justice and civil rights. I hope to exhibit these ideals through my work in the advancement of American democracy and desire to be a Featured Fellow of The Hesburgh Democracy Fellows Program.
Do you have a favorite course or book that you found helpful for thinking about democracy - either in the US or abroad?
James McAdams of the University of Notre Dame teaches a class called "Truth, Politics, and Democracy," which I took and was opportunely changed due to. He says, "[In a democracy] equal and free-thinking individuals could make intelligent decisions about how best to live together and nurture a just society." The class consisted of discourse that took a deep dive into the personification of democracy concepts. We read Orwell, Kant, Stuart Mill, Machiavelli, Madison, Dewey, and more. We had meetings with Bob Costa and Carlos Lozada in which we learned about the role of truth and democracy in journalism. I learned, very importantly, amongst may things, that only when people are in agreement on what it means to speak the truth and behave according to the truth can liberal democracy endure. Overall, this class changed me as a person and my view of democracy as it is in truth and in politics. There are teachers in everyone's lives that shape them in education, knowledge, and as a person. My list of these teachers is rather short; however, Professor McAdams has certainly done so for me.
Who is a public leader or historical figure that you admire, or would consider a model 'champion of democracy'?
Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler, is, in my opinion, regarded as a champion of democracy for several reasons. First, her journalistic integrity. Ressa has been a vocal advocate for press freedom and journalistic integrity. She and her team at Rappler have been committed to upholding the truth, even in the face of government pressure and harassment. Second, she is challenging authoritarianism with her fearless combating of the Duterte administration in the Philippines, exposing extrajudicial killings in the government's war on drugs and highlighting the erosion of democratic institutions. Maria Ressa's efforts have gained international recognition, with numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, for her work defending freedom of expression. By relentlessly pursuing truth and holding those in power accountable, Maria Ressa has become a symbol of resilience in the fight for democracy and free speech.