ADVOCACY
Check out my writing page to see my written publications advocating for environmental policies and programs around the world.
2025: Commemorating the US Agency for International Development through the arts
Since 1961, the US Agency for International development (USAID) was pivotal in global humanitarian efforts and development — delivering aid, bolstering health systems, and providing disaster relief around the world. In January of 2025, the agency was publicly dismantled in a matter of days, with almost all employees fired and programs cancelled. The result has been a near collapse of the entire foreign aid industry in the United States, with almost 20,000 American jobs lost and over 230,000 jobs lost worldwide. To commemorate USAID’s history and to honor the public servants who dedicated their careers to foreign aid, I painted “From the American People” and raised donations from the prints of this painting for mutual aid benefiting USAID employees who were laid off. This painting has been shown in DC, in Florida at the Unraveling of USAID exhibit, in NYC with Art at a Time Like This, in The Peace Chronicle magazine with an accompanying article, and has raised over $15K in mutual aid to-date.
2025: Featured artist at the inaugural DC Climate Week Marketplace of the Future
Featured in article about storytelling driving climate solutions
2025: Raising funds for microfinance grants
“Seeds of Change” was commissioned by the microfinance nonprofit Worldwise Microfinance in order to raise funds at an auction for their programs that provide access to capital at a reasonable rate to individuals — primarily women — who aspire to lift their families out of poverty by starting and running a small business. In the face of a decimated foreign aid industry in the United States, organizations like Worldwise Microfinance are more important than ever to support communities around the world.
2024: Featured artist Mobilize Frederick’s Climate Summit at Hood College
Ali Syverson’s solo exhibit Realms explores the phenomena and art that the ecosphere offers to us in its natural state. The abstract acrylic paintings are intended to help the viewer appreciate the beauty created by earth and space, and envision their own personal connection to the environment depicted. Each piece is a catalyst for reflection on the viewers’ experiences with the different realms that make up our universe and to inspire action to conserve earth’s delicate ecosystems.
Realms was shown as the featured art exhibit at Mobilize Frederick’s Climate Summit at Hood College, which has the theme of “Reason to Hope — Progress and Solutions to Climate Change”.
2022: Raising funds for women’s reproductive organizations in the wake of Roe v. Wade overturn
This painting was auctioned at Pro-Choice MN to raise funds for women’s reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. I made prints of this painting and donated all proceeds to pro-choice organizations.
2021: Prints with donations to Occupy DC, right after the January 6 insurrection