Much of Clarise’s worldview is shaped by the summers she has spent in Ireland. She was able to learn about her ancestral roots and connect with her ancestral homeland, perspectives that made her passionate about using writing to advocate for an equitable and sustainable world. 

This passion led her to participate in the Colorado Youth Congress, where she built community power for racial justice and mental health initiatives across the state. As a junior, Clarise collaborated with a peer to produce the Anti-Hero Film Festival, which was hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and sought to uplift the narratives of those who have been forcibly erased by dominant culture. Clarise seeks to live into the film festival’s tagline “to tell your story is a sacred act” by sharing her writing and her knowledge of writing, particularly as a volunteer for the local organisation, Denver Writes.