Kate Berlin

"I am so grateful that I get to go to work everyday knowing that whatever I do, no matter how trivial it is, will help someone." 

Kate Berlin is a long time Duckpond downtown lady, the "Swan of the Duckings". I know her brother, Luke Harrell, from High School and always saw her around town hanging with the boys, rocking her bikini and perfect surfer-girl body. Her duckpond-home is a safe haven and hang spot for many people in town. Her mother opens her home up to anyone who needs it- providing comfort food and her southern hospitality. She let us take her yard over this past year for the Fest Art. Fun fact on my end, I also rode the school bus back in middle school with her boyfriend, Jesse. I have always heard wonderful things about Kate in every situation and her efforts to help people and constantly improve the world makes her such an inspirational woman. Her movement and strides to increase the well-being of humankind blows my mind and she is the walking definition of a philanthropist. If you see her in town, be sure to give her a big high-five for ruling as a human being. 

Kate is currently working in the Institutional Funding Department at Handicap-International, an NGO that focuses on emergency disaster relief, land mine removal, and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities in developing countries. She is currently wrapping up her Masters in International Development for Persons with Disabilities from Gallaudet University, in Washington DC. Kate taught in Indonesia and eventually went to Burma to help open a school. She decided that she wanted to advocate for persons with disabilities in developing countries, so she found Gallaudet and moved to DC. 

"Attending Gallaudet University has been a unique experience. Before going I had to learn American Sign Language, all of my classes are taught in ASL. Sometimes I think I’m crazy for getting my Masters in a Foreign Language, but it’s kicked my butt in a positive way. And now I love it. Last summer I worked at a camp for children who are deaf or have disabilities. It was a crazy, amazing experience."

When I asked what she would like to see in downtown Gainesville she wrote: 

"I think it would be cool for the city to host weekly workshops for things like urban gardening, bicycling, raw foods, hula hoop making, really anything that bring people together in a positive way. Currently I’m trying to get involved with a community garden in DC to make it more handicap accessible. For example, widened pathways; raised garden boxes so people in wheel chairs can comfortably garden; and therapeutic garden plots so persons with cognitive disabilities can touch and smell the plants (like herbs) and then taste them and use them to cook. This would be a cool idea for Gainesville too."

A few fun facts about Kate:

• My cat is Steve French and he loves bacon. We named him after the panther that Bubble adopted on the show Trailer Park Boys. 
• My boyfriend, Jesse Spallina, is amazing and has unselfishly followed me around the world while I try to figure out life. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without his love and support.
• I really like Abraham Lincoln. We have a shrine at our house.
• My dream job would be to establish a program in Burma that helps train persons with disabilities to engage in agricultural work, raises their self esteem, and gives them skills they can use to support themselves. 
• My brother Luke is one of the kindness and most compassionate people I know, but you could never tell by looking at him. 

"In the little free time I have I like to create art, cook, bike, and spend time with people that are important to me. Obviously, Gainesville is fucking awesome. Luke and I grew up in the duck pond, and my mom still lives in the house that we were raised in. I love the Wednesday farmers market."

"Gainesville is, and will always be my home."

A link to donate to Handicap International is here.