WW: How do you feel about political activism?
Celeste: I feel like it’s really important. It’s really important for people to voice their opinions and be heard. It’s our Amendment right to be able to be heard. So I believe it’s really important to be active activists in your community and in your country as far as politics go.
WW: Would you consider yourselves political activists?
Nessa: I post a lot of things on social media. I do other little things.
Celeste: We’re not quite out actively protesting, but I think we are protesting in our own way, with some of the boycotts that we do, and with some of the organizations and stores that we support.
WW: Why does political activism matter to you?
Celeste: It really matters to us specifically because it helps the people in our community. I think it’s important that people are aware of what’s happening to a certain demographic of people, whether that is people of color, our teachers, or our teenagers, but this is really important to fight for those people that might not be able to fight for themselves or have the privilege to fight for themselves.
WW: Are you both aware of the situation that was going on in Portland regarding potential military presence and the public backlash that was related to it? How do you both feel about that?
Nessa: It is kind of scary knowing that they’re in our state and in our community, especially being people of color; it is a little bit scarier knowing that something could happen.
Celeste: It’s scary because the idea that the military could be used against our own people of the country, that’s not what it’s supposed to be used for, or that we could become a militarized area. Martial law, that kind of thing kind of comes into the back of your mind, like, what’s going to happen? I think, though, that Oregon, fortunately, is kind of pushing back on that.
WW: How do you think you have influenced Nessa’s view on political activism?
Celeste: I think that I am pretty outspoken on what I believe. We talk about the issues, and I let her have her own opinion on any political issues. I also work for a Head Start program, so politics is very ingrained in the work that I do with families and children.
WW: Nessa, do you think you have influenced your mom’s view on political activism?
Nessa: I like to think that I can change her mind on some things, speaking about them and helping her get a better understanding of [things] she doesn’t completely understand. Also, me being gay has opened her eyes to those issues as well.
WW: Do you think that your political views change the relationship that you two have at all?
Celeste: I think it makes it stronger. We’re just open enough to be able to share our opinions, and even sometimes, if I think she’s 16 and not correct or doesn’t have all the information, I’m still willing to listen to her.
Nessa: I also think that it builds a stronger relationship, because we can still have a strong connection, even if we think the other is wrong. We do not let our different views separate us.
This article was featured in the WAHS Whirlwind published in November 2025 under the headline “Meet the Inspiration.”
