The Name Game
Just who is Zoe Mitchell?
Me. No, seriously, "Zoe Mitchell" is a self-created identity of a mostly-anonymous individual. Well, that was *super* vague... The name started as a pseudonym but morphed into my prominent identity. No, it's not like multiple personalities...It's like changing your name. I'm still the same person. If you get to know me outside of the internet, I may tell you my real name.

How long have you been Zoe Mitchell?
Nearly three years.

Are you planning on changing your name legally?
Ultimately, I'd like too...but it costs money to deal with the legal system. Since I just graduated college, I'm broke.

The Mundane Details of My Existence: Work and School
What do you do for a living?
I'm a Partner with the Mintwood Media Collective. I'm a media strategist/public relations consultant. I like to change my title occasionally for kicks.

What did you study in college?
I was a Political Science major and I have a certificate [read: minor] in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. I've actually specialized quite a lot as an undergraduate and focused primarily on American Politics [particularly: parties and elections and new social movements] and Democratic Political Theory [particularly through my award-winning undergraduate thesis, "A Critique of Consensus Process"].

Where can I read your thesis, "A Critique of Consensus Process?"
I posted it on the web. Here's the link to the Introduction and the subsequent chapters are linked from there. Enjoy!

What are you going to do since you have graduated and finished your thesis?
Ultimately, I'd like to go to graduate school and get a Ph.D. in political science so I could write and teach professionally. I'm not sure when/if that's going to happen.

Life in Washington, DC/ Group House Living
What's it like to live in Washington, DC?
I have a love/hate relationship to the place I call "city." There's so much for a political junkie like myself to love about DC beyond just "the center of the government." There's never a lack of things to do; however, it really is a small town. I guess it's like living anywhere once you have a fabulous clique of friends.
On the otherhand, DC is plagued with scandal. Effective city government is largely impossible since Congress controls the city's budget. When DC becomes a state, I think the elected city government will have to become more accountable to DC residents. Until then, we suffer.

What's it like living in a large group house?
Yes, I have a lot of housemates; but my house is large enough for all of us to live comfortably. It's easy now that all of the housemates get along with one another, but it has been difficult when personalities conflict.
DC is an expensive place to live for most young people. Group houses are just a mechanism for young people to survive in the city. Like all cities, it is also an alienating place. Living in a group house means constantly being surrounded by people that become a sort-of impromptu family.

Life on the Edge: Protests and the Independent Media Center
What is the Anti-Corporate Globalization Movement in DC really like?
I guess I have some insider knowledge here, since I've been involved in this new social movement since April 16, 2000. It's chaotic. It's underwhelming. It's ridiculous. It's splintering. But, it's also filled with people with good intentions and some good ideas. There's always a protest approaching in DC, so there's a lot of burnout. However, most of the people I first met in the Anti-Corporate Globalization movement in DC are still associated with social justice work somehow.

What is the DC IMC and how are you involved?
The DC IMC is an acronym [DC is full of them] for the Washington, DC Independent Media Center. It is part of a larger network of Indymedia outlets around the world. The DC IMC was formed prior to the April 16, 2000 protests against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, but became a "sustainable IMC" [that is: existing outside of sporadic protests/covering local issues, etc] in the Fall of 2000. I am happy to say that I was a part of the group that helped the DC IMC become a "sustainable IMC" and I've remained involved ever since.
Basically, I work with the Editorial/Web Group to develop the features on the website and monitor the newswire for violations of our editorial policy. My major achievements with the DC IMC are: "Zoe's Diary", organizing press conferences on IMC related issues, coordinating and facilitating breaking news, and developing the editorial policy. I have also worked on various issues of the DC Free Press and been associated with the print team. It's been fun.

*That's it for the "Frequently Asked Questions" section. If I start to answer more questions often enough, I'll update it. Thanks for reading. I hope you have a better understanding of me now. *Go Back to the Blog!