Aoife Leonard
(She/Her)

Aoife (ee-fa) is a hint to my Irish origins. Of European origins, I was born and raised mostly in Montreal. Currently, I am specializing in Middle East studies at university and work as a massage therapist. I am passionate about understanding what makes us the way we are, and in exploring how to be our best selves within the frames of our respective realities.

RISE is one way for me to work toward that for myself. Connecting with like-minded people is a great way to foster hope and motivation and build community—all important elements for positive change.

Joyce Joseph
(She/Her/They/Them)

Quiet, omnivert, artistic, I am  an individual that enjoys the simple things of life. After completing a degree in Social Science (with criminology, sociology and anthropology as the core subjects), I decided to revisit her roots as an artist. From a young age, I was a part of many musical activities (such as piano and signing) and would create simple music to pass the time.

I also had a fascination for art, and the process behind it, so I decided to teach myself digital as well as traditional art. As the years went by, I slowly started incorporating video games and space into their artistic talents.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@juicyfruiit

Marissa Ramnanan
(She/Her)

I am completing a bachelors in Journalism and Law and Society at Concordia University. I am passionate about covering the environment, and political issues. I love to travel and learn about new cultures.

I chose RISE because of the topic of this cohort’s theme: the environment. Knowledge and awareness is crucial in any democracy, especially when it comes to understanding the complexities of climate change. Youth is often an overlooked demographic, but they are the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow, and should have accessible information available to them so they can make autonomous, informed decisions.

Medina Mohamed
(She/Her)

I am currently completing a degree in bioinformatics at the University of Montreal. While I have a slight interest in life sciences, I also like learning about web and app development including the design process and hoping to move in that direction as a career. In my free time, I enjoy bike rides and watching sunsets. It is important for me to be involved in my community.

With RISE, I am hoping to create an impact on my community while meeting like-minded people and building useful skills.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@medinamohamed

Miè Lacroix
(She/Her)

I am a full time student, likes to spend time with friends and exercise. At 19 I started to feel anxious about the state of our environment. I felt an urgency to consciously change to a more sustainable lifestyle.

I saw an add on Instagram by RISE and immediately felt intrigued. After my research on the program, I knew that I wanted to be a part of this more collective impact. During the first meeting, I was amazed at how energized and hopeful it felt. I hope to learn more about sustainability and give out hope to my surroundings.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@mielacroix

Rachel Takasaki
(She/Her)

I am currently studying biology and environmental studies at McGill University. You can usually find me spending time outside or baking to procrastinate doing homework. I also love talking to people and learning from their points of view. I feel most inspired when I meet other young people who are raising their voices about what they believe is important. Some issues that I’m most passionate are our unsustainable food system, environmental justice, and climate justice.

With RISE, I’m most excited to help mobilize young people in my community to take action around environmental-related matters.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@racheltakasaki

Sarah Myriam Louis
(She/Her)

I am currently completing my bachelor with a double major in Marketing and Business Intelligence. I am very passionate about politics, news and local media. When I am not hitting the books, it’s either because I’m at the gym, watching Netflix or just enjoying yet another Montreal terrace with my family and friends. I would love to see youth acknowledge their true power and stand up for what matters to them.

I also thinks RISE is the perfect program because it gives youth the tools to do so.

Reach out to me on Insta:
@sarahmyriam23