The "Macalester Scotlight" is a special feature series that runs throughout each sports season and highlights individuals within the Macalester College Athletics Department who have a unique story to share.

"Scotlight" video on Skyler Larrimore
Freret Neighboorhood Center
Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG)
HOME Line

As senior cross country runner Skyler Larrimore heads into what could possibly be her last collegiate race at the MIAC Cross Country Championships Saturday,  she is grateful for the opportunity she has had for four years to run alongside a group of “empowered young women” and the relationships she has developed with members of the Macalester team.

Larrimore has also used her time as a runner at Macalester to explore the urban culture of the Twin Cities in ways that most people never have the opportunity to do. It's the combined experience as a student-athlete and an engaged member of the Macalester community, though, that have fueled her passion for social justice issues and pursuit of a career working with community organizing in urban areas.

“I think being an engaged student and an athlete is important because being an athlete has made me think about my holistic health and my emotional and physical well-being,” said Larrimore. “Community involvement is also important for connecting with different individuals off campus and expanding one's knowledge of what is going on in the city and community immediately surrounding Macalester.”

As a Chicago native, Larrimore was attracted to Macalester's urban environment and ability to become involved in service with the greater Twin Cities area. Nearly half-way through her senior year, the sociology and geography major has taken advantage of every opportunity to get involved in different organizations and her resume is nothing short of impressive.

In her time at Macalester, Larrimore has focused on urban studies and worked with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) on different social and environmental justice issues. As a part of the advocacy group, Larrimore has worked to affect change in public policy and taken an interest issues regarding public transportation in the Twin Cities.

Larrimore has also been heavily involved in issues regarding community living. She has conducted research on homelessness as a volunteer with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. As a member of the tenants advocacy group, HOME Line, Larrimore worked to protect renters' credit for low and moderate-income families in the Twin Cities.

“In the last legislative session, the Minnesota government was contemplating a $300 cut in this credit which would have a significant impact on the families who receive this assistance,” said Larrimore. “We did a lot of outreach to inform people about the impact this cut would have on deserving people's lives and were able to protect it.”

Though Larrimore has been very involved in creating change in the Twin Cities, her passion for community development while at Macalester has taken her work to communities outside of Minnesota.

This summer, Larrimore completed an internship in New Orleans, with the Freret Neighborhood Center as a property campaign intern. She worked to update information on blighted and vacant properties in the area to assist in the renovation process.

In the six years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans, about 80 percent of any particular neighborhood has been fully recovered while the other 20 percent remains untouched, Larrimore said. She said despite that, there is still a strong desire within different communities and neighborhoods to find ways to continue to rebuild.

“For the people of New Orleans, it can be really dis-empowering and discouraging to see incessant blight and vacancy in their neighborhoods,” Larrimore said. “There is still an unprecedented amount of poor living conditions in the city.”

In addition to her research as an intern, Larrimore was able to work directly with members of the Freret neighborhood to actively improve conditions and create change. She was responsible representing the collective neighborhood and taking recommendations about demolition to the mayor's office.

In her work with community member's, Larrimore was most affected by the ability of the community members to gather together and work to create a more livable community.

“One thing that amazes me about New Orleans is that there is a huge sense of resilience among the people and a strong desire to return to a community that they can really call their own,” said Larrimore. “So many people are still involved in directly improving the living conditions of their neighborhood and have a desire to help others.”

Larrimore said that the members of the neighborhood really worked to support one another. People worked to assure that elderly members had access to medical care and mental health assistance, she said. There is also a strong effort to assure all neighborhoods have access to quality educational opportunities.

Being involved and engaged with members of the community and the organization she worked for was the most inspirational part for Larrimore during her internship in New Orleans.

“I like to say I was just one wheel in the 18-wheel truck on the highway,” she said. “So much of the work I did was directed by the community members who were so invested in the work we did. It was humbling to be engaged with others to improve the lives of others.”

Though her work in New Orleans was rewarding, it was also difficult but taught Larrimore important lessons about working toward social change and working with a group of individuals.

“The process of building community consensus is difficult,” Larrimore said. “You really see how difficult working with direct democracy can be, but also see how positive it can be.”

Through her work in New Orleans and within the Twin Cities as well as her experience as an active member of the Macalester cross country team, Larrimore has learned to work with a variety of different people to create positive change.

Though it may be a few more months before Larrimore graduates and continues to impact change in the world, she has one last opportunity to help influence her teammates and lead them out on the cross country course. And if her success in her community involvement is any indicator of what lies ahead, the Scots should be in good shape to make an impact this weekend.