TORONTO AMBASSADORS
Nikayda Harris, She/Her
Age: 21
A song lyric that describes me… Count on me through thick and thin, a friendship that will never end.
A book I would recommend is… Between the World and Me
A movie that I would watch again and again… The Godfather
An issue I care about is… Representation of racialized people in government
Why RISE? Rise is an amazing opportunity to learn about and be involved in my community. Rise puts the power back in the hands of the youth to give us a voice. Rise allows us to apply or many different lived experiences to bring awareness to and tackle global issues from municipal community level to do grass roots work.
Wiheba Kalisa, She/Her
Age: 28
A song lyric that describes me…
A book I would recommend is…
A movie that I would watch again and again…
An issue I care about is… I care about dismantling anti-Black racism, socioeconomic barriers within educational institutions and ongoing environmental issues
Why RISE? I joined Rise because I appreciate that it is a youth-led initiative that focuses on supporting and educating youth-filled communities. I am excited to work with a diverse group of peers who share a desire to improve their communities while gaining new skill sets and tools to better serve those around me.
Soniya Udayashankar, She/Her
Age: 23
A song lyric that describes me… I will find my way if I can be strong
A book I would recommend is… Castle Waiting
A movie that I would watch again and again… Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl
An issue I care about is… Sustainability and Labour Rights
Why RISE? I want to gain the knowledge and tools to approach community outreach in a critical and innovative way that leverages resources to maximize impact.
Thawany Monteiro, She/Her
Age: 30
A song lyric that describes me… I break tradition sometimes my try, are outside the lines, yeah, we've been conditioned to not make mistakes but I can't live that way, no, oh. staring at the blank page before you open up the dirty window let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find - Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
A book I would recommend is… A Series of Unfortunate Events
A movie that I would watch again and again… Toy Story I & II
An issue I care about is… Migrant rights in Canada and Reconciliation
Why RISE? RISE is an incredible organization that provides space for diverse young people to come together to learn new skills, build relationships and create meaningful community initiatives. I want to engage with like minded peers, and contribute my skills and knowledge to a community project.
Sujin Shin, She/Her
Age: 27
A song lyric that describes me…
A book I would recommend is… Demian
A movie that I would watch again and again… The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
An issue I care about is… Environmental issues
Why RISE? I want to be a part of, and be well aware of my community with RISE.
Darrel Kwong, He/Him
Age: 24
A song lyric that describes me… Now don't go wasting my precious time. Get your act together we could be just fine
A book I would recommend is… Rich Dad Poor Dad
A movie that I would watch again and again… Harry Potter
An issue I care about is… Climate change
Why RISE? RISE offers an opportunity for me to collaborate and grow with peers from various backgrounds. I have always been drawn to working in a space with diversity as it ensures a variety of different perspectives. As such, I believe we will create a project that is practical, leading to great benefits for the community. I will gain first-hand experience in project management as well as relationship building, which will be highly beneficial to my career.