Ryan Bolton

Giving a Voice to the Unheard

As a raging idealist, Ryan Bolton believes that writing is the impetus for social change. How apt, then, that he is an editor and writer with bestselling Me to We books, founded by Canadian activists Craig and Marc Kielburger. Ryan is also a writer and researcher on CTV’s Shameless Idealists with Craig Kielburger, who launched the charitable organization, Free the Children in 1995.

While at Sheridan, Ryan was editor-in-chief of the Student Union’s award-winning TRAVIS magazine, an experience that led to his current gig. “Thanks to my Sheridan education and the opportunity to work with such a creative team at TRAVIS, I now hold a job that I’m proud of,” says Ryan, who began working directly with the Kielburgers. In addition to writing for Me to We books, Ryan is also the Director of Product Development for the organization. “I oversee not only our books, but T-shirts, DVDs, and new Artisan line, where we work with mamas in Kenya on fair trade, handmade products,” explains Ryan, who has traveled with student volunteers to Ecuador, Kenya and most recently, China. “The opportunity to travel with youth is always eye-opening. When you’re in high school and university, you think you have it all figured out. It’s when you travel to somewhere like rural Kenya that your perspective changes,” says Ryan of facilitating trips with students.

Before attending Sheridan, Ryan earned an honours English degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he was an editor with Laurier’s campus magazine, Blueprint. After graduating in 2007, Ryan joined Journalists for Human Rights in Ghana, Africa. Working as a foreign correspondent and journalist trainer at a Liberian refugee camp, Ryan’s passion for human rights was married with storytelling. Ever since, he has written numerous investigative articles focused on homelessness and human rights violations. His articles have been published in the National Post, Montreal Gazette, Dose.ca, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun and Canada.com. As an award-winning writer (The Toronto Star Student Journalism Award and T.J. Allen Memorial Journalism Award), Ryan currently contributes to Spacing magazine, blogTO and Adbusters.

Ryan looks forward to travelling to more places where he can make a difference, and documenting his experiences using a typewriter (yes, typewriter!) which keeps him focused and engaged. “Typewriting is a strictly mechanical experience.,” says Ryan. “There’s no Twitter, Google or adorable kitty cat to distract me. It’s just me and the keys.”

For more info on Me to We: http://www.metowe.com/

For more info on Ryan Bolton: http://ryanbolton.wordpress.com/