Hello! My name is Olivia Snyder, I am a third-year student studying Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon. I am from Portland, Oregon and this is my first time visiting Japan. I am excited to intern with The DECK for the next 7 weeks!

I have experience in social media content creation, digital art, video editing, and community outreach programs. Recently, I began volunteering for the Eugene/Springfield Cat Rescue and Adoption Network in Oregon, creating content for their social media and fundraisers. I am a big fan of cats, so I am happy to help them find forever homes!

^ Here are my 4 cats!

The Planning, Public Policy, and Management major at the University of Oregon allows me to collaborate with different communities and provide ideas for urban planning and accessible land use. For example, I worked with the city of Sisters, Oregon to create wayfinding concepts. These ideas included murals for local recreational activities and artwork to signify the safest routes for students to walk to school on. It is important to me that everyone has access to necessary resources and community engagement. I believe both my studies and my internship with The DECK will teach me about community and accessibility.

My work at The DECK includes:

• Researching and implementing social and environmental sustainable operations.

• Creating products from recycled material, such as using one use shopping bags to create reusable shopping bags.

• Creating Blog posts for The DECK’s English website.

• Helping around The DECK!

                                                    Photo by: Tyler Tea

In my spare time, I find myself crocheting, reading, and listening to different kinds of music. When I meet with friends, we often have picnics in local parks, do crafts together such as pottery or painting, and watch TV shows. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I taught myself how to crochet, block print, screen print, and sew. I love having projects and finding new kinds of crafts!

Throughout my time in Japan, I hope to meet many new people, as well as connect with relatives who live in Kyoto. 

Feel free to say hello if you see me around The DECK!