MEET REDSTER DANA WOHLFARTH, AN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WHO LEADS RED’S DEI GROUP reDVOLUTIONISTS AND STITCHES COZY QUILTS IN HER FREE TIME.

Hometown

Scarsdale, N.Y. (like where Ross wants to move with Rachel in that one episode of FRIENDS. Yes, it’s a real place.)

Current location

Weehawken, N.J. with a gorgeous view of the Lincoln Tunnel.

Favorite hobby

I love hobbies where I have the chance to make something with my hands. Baking has always been a go-to stress-relieving hobby of mine, whether it’s experimenting with breads or conquering my fear of pastry and pies or my annual Christmas Cookie Extravaganza. Additionally, I got really into quilting in college, but my one-bedroom apartment doesn’t have room for all my fabric! There’s a quilt shop right by our Midtown office and I have a number of quilt tops that I need to bring in for quilting… some day!

Two of my quilts… mostly stitched by hand! They’re definitely not perfect, but when it comes to hobbies, I’m a big believer in “better done than perfect.”

If you could start a movement, what would it be?

I’ve been passionate about food deserts for years. It’s why our last conversation for REDvolutionists — Red Havas’ DE&I read and watch club — focused on food insecurity. I find urban food deserts particularly interesting. That one could live in the center of such innovation and density of people and yet have no healthy options of food to eat is such a tragedy. There are so many social justice causes that I think take precedence over food quality — and rightly so — but I would love a movement to bring back local farming, making that food affordable for all, and restoring some traditional ways of food preservation and preparation.

What’s something inspiring you right now?

I’ve seen a lot of women on social media recently talking about the threads that connect us to the women of the past, our ancestors. That every time you stand over a boiling pot or mend a seam or balance a laundry basket on your hip, you’re connected to generations of women that did those tasks before you. I’ve found myself thinking a lot about those women – would they be proud of me? Would they understand my goals, my dreams? Did they like some of the same things I like? Do we have the same nose? I think we so often think of the past as uniformly “Bad” — especially for women and people of color — but I often think about the moments of sunshine and lightness our ancestors must have had. Will my great-great-great granddaughter think about me in the same way?

What part of your job brings you the most joy?

I love following the news every day and being able to enjoy the news. In my previous life, I worked in politics and following the news always brought a certain dread connected to re-election prospects and by extension, whether I would have a job going forward! In PR, I get to watch the news, follow it, and plug into the news productively with different angles and stories that our clients want to tell. It’s given me the freedom to learn more about the world around me and be able to connect wider stories and trends.