Amina Abdille
(She/Her)

I’m currently a third year student at the University of Alberta, majoring in Sociology. When I’m not in school, I’m also volunteering in the Research department of CapitalCare and at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

RISE is a program that embodies the motto of “for the youth, by the youth,'' which I resonated with. It creates a platform for people who aren’t thought of, to have a seat at the table, especially regarding a topic like the environment. I would like to create a project that initiates conversations about environmental injustice with the marginalized communities who have suffered as a consequence.

Dalyah Mouallem
(She/Her)

Currently a first year student at the University of Alberta, pursuing a degree in secondary education with a major in English and minor in physics.

I want to bring people together and share space. Especially since the environment is such a universally pressing issue, RISE gives way to a diverse group of youths, specifically the BIPOC community, to create space for themselves in a conversation they are often left out of.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@dalyahmouallem

Danielle Swampy
(She/Her)

I'm an introverted mother with a passion to help others and find my voice. School, my beautiful daughters, going to meetings for my recovery, and finding other ways to get out there keep me busy :)

I want more experience, to contribute to something bigger then myself, to make more connections and push myself out of my comfort zone, it's also apart of my healing journey.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@Daanii_Rosa

Elfas Johannes
(He/Him)

I am currently a third year Civil Engineering student at the University of Alberta. Aside from school inflicted work, I pass time coaching basketball and tutoring.

Rise offers a platform for meaningful conversations to be had and presents the opportunity for people to come together to initiate the change they want to see happen. What I want out of rise is to tackle the and build meaningful connections on the way.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@elfasjohannes

Grace Wainaina
(She/Her)

I am a current student at the University of Alberta. I am working towards a degree in political science with a minor in Native studies. Outside of school, I work at  St. Mary’s Hospital as a staffing clerk.

RISE is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded youth. I want to create a space for folks of the BIPOC community to discuss their relationship to the environment. As this group is often excluded from this conversation.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@grace.wainaina

Harman Kang
(She/Her)

I’m currently a fourth year undergraduate student at University of Alberta majoring in Human Geography with a Certificate in Sustainability. Aside from RISE and school, I tend to keep busy by annoying my dog and watching an excess amount of Ken Burns documentaries.

I wanted to do something in the environmental justice realm especially around the BIPOC community’s relationship with the land. I’ve often felt during my geography education that discussions around urban planning are very white, with so called “ethnoburbs” being cast aside in favour of more “vibrant”, affluent communities in the downtown core. Through this RISE project, I want other BIPOC folks to feel a connection with the land they grew up in and claim space to develop those land relationships that have been lost through environmental injustice.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@hamuthecrab

Val Rwigema
(They/Them)

Avid music lover and tea drinker, I am passionate about creating safer QTBIPOC spaces in all contexts. If I could meet anyone and ask them any question, I would want to meet Alice Walker. I would ask her when she came to the realization that she absolutely needed to write about Black narratives.

I joined RISE to have access to reliable resources while trying to make positive sustainable changes in my community.