Kate was born upstate in Troy, NY and spent most of her life around the Capital Region.  After getting her B.A. in Philosophy from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2012, she moved to Brooklyn to pursue a career in publishing.  Starting at Soho Press and followed by Oxford University Press, her work turned to more technological and landed her at Spotify. She’s recently taken a step back to focus on her renewed interest in epistemology and the arts. She is recently married and corrals two rambunctious cats.

1. How did you first get involved with 826NYC and why did you decide to volunteer?

I knew of 826 founder Dave Eggers, after reading Zeitoun in school and later The Circle. I looked into what else he did a bit more and discovered that while the original 826 started in San Francisco, there were now close to a dozen across the country. To my delight, 826NYC is only a few blocks from home, and I jumped at the chance to help as soon as my schedule opened up this year.

2. What’s your favorite part of volunteering at 826NYC?

I love seeing the kids embrace their own agency. The environment makes it clear that there are so few circumstances set up elsewhere where they get to take the lead and make creative choices.

3. What do you do when you’re not at 826NYC?  

I’m between jobs as I get ready to move to Ottawa, Ontario. Besides sorting boxes, I’m in a nice suspended state of petting kitties, sipping coffee, and reading all the books I’m unearthing along the way.

4. What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Sharpen lots of pencils, keep an eye to encourage the quiet ones, and be kind.

5. What are your superpowers? 

I can envision all different possible realities, making good progress at hopping between them!