Volunteer of the Month: Ashley Harris

Meet our volunteer graphic design volunteer, Ashley Harris! Ashley is a multitalented photographer and graphic designer who has supported the Great North IP at the Benefit for Innocence and on various design projects. Most recently, she has been working with staff to design brand new Great North IP merch - stay tuned for its upcoming debut! 


Great North Innocence Project: How did you hear about the Great North Innocence Project and why did you want to get involved? How long have you been connected to the organization?

Ashley Harris: The larger Innocence Project has been on my radar for years. Throughout my education and adult life I have been interested in helping better the community I am in and doing what I can to help right the wrongs that our collective community faces.

I moved up to the Minneapolis area about 10 months ago and in my first few months I started looking for volunteer opportunities within the community. I ran across the Great North Innocence Project and it immediately drew my attention from my knowledge of The Innocence Project. I dove into GNIP’s story and grew inspired by the work being done by this amazing group of people. Fortunately enough, they were looking for graphic design help and I immediately reached out to see where I could fit in and if they wanted any more aid in spreading their mission and raising awareness of the wrongfully convicted and the prevention of wrongful conviction. I initially connected with the team in September of 2022 and have been working with the team since whenever they have needed it!

GNIP: What about GNIP's mission resonates most with you? 

AH: Is it cheating to say all of it? At this juncture of our lives, so many face systemic discrimination and barriers that take away an aspect of their freedom. GNIP's mission aims to directly address these issues and change society for the better and that is something I can get behind. So, although it may be cheating to say the whole mission resonates with me, in truth, it does. An organization that aims for changing and bettering a broken system is an organization I stand behind and want to build up in any way that I can.

GNIP: Describe your volunteer experience with GNIP.

AH: In my time with GNIP, I have worked with the Development and Communications team to aid in marketing efforts. I am a graphic designer and photographer by trade and I have used those skills to help spread the mission of GNIP in hopes of raising awareness of the issue of wrongful conviction. Additionally, I aided in photographing the Benefit for Innocence last October, capturing people interacting with the theme "the science of justice" as they arrived at the Benefit. From here, I plan on working on a variety of marketing collateral in the near future as well as aiding in the planning and branding of the next Benefit for Innocence.

GNIP: What has been the most rewarding part of your volunteer experience with GNIP? 

AH: I think the most rewarding part of my volunteer experience with GNIP is seeing people interact with GNIP and its mission. While photographing at the Benefit for Innocence, I had the opportunity to watch people interact with the theme of the Benefit, "science of justice." GNIP had a variety of beakers and books set up as a photo opportunity for the guests of the Benefit and I had the opportunity to get their reactions on camera. Seeing people come together, have fun, and celebrate an organization like GNIP, and more so getting to be a part of that joy, was extremely gratifying and rewarding.

GNIP: Why would you urge others to get involved with GNIP?

AH: I would urge others to get involved with GNIP because they are a light amidst much darkness. Too often nowadays there is so much negativity in the world and GNIP is an organization that is always looking towards the good, always looking for who they can help next. By getting involved with GNIP, you will join the quest for the good and will be able to tangibly see the change that is being made by GNIP in the community and beyond.