Mariam Ahady

Mariam Ahady is a sophomore from Kabul, Afghanistan majoring in Business administration at Berea College. For several years now, Mariam has been active in the public sphere. As a counselor at YSEL, Youth Solidarity & English Language Program, (held in India) Mariam was a facilitator for a participatory group working to draft an administrative, constitutional and public law for their country.

She spent the following six months with the Future Leader’s Club, funded by Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), where She had learned about Afghanistan’s political system, and developed skills in public policy making, women’s rights, advocacy and public speaking.

She is particularly inspired by the work of Shukria Barakzai and Fowzia Koofi who work for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Mariam is deeply committed to finding ways to end violence in her country.

Mariam has also worked as a coordinator and a writer for the Afghan Women’s Writing Project. There Mariam gained a deeper understanding of women’s issues by translating their interviews from Persian to English. She organized monthly workshops for other young writers who wrote about their problems and hopes.

Mariam aims to help other young women’s rights and peace activists to change the society for the better. Becoming a member of the Women in Public Service Project is an important opportunity for Miriam to empower her to help others bring change in their communities.

Her current focus is on girls who are excluded from the society they live in, just because they are women/girls. Mariam believes every women is responsible for helping another innocent women who is currently suffering from any kind of violence. Women whose voices have been silenced by force need to be lifted up, and their stories broadcast to the world. They are to be heard and defended. Do you know how many women’s eyes are filled with tears at this time?

 

Maria Anastasiadou

I am currently a sophomore majoring in pre-medical studies and Biology with a concentration in cellular, molecular, and systems Biology. My hope is to join an MD/PhD program after graduating from Berea, and pursue translational medicine.

During my first year as a Bonner Scholar at Berea College, I participated in an exposition for which I had to prepare a presentation and a poster for an issue that I would be willing to “chop off my pinky for.” I chose to present on rape and domestic violence.

The reason why I picked this topic is because throughout my childhood I came across plenty of people who were victims of sexual assault, rape or domestic violence and who suffered emotionally and physically because of it. Unfortunately, while living in Thessaloniki Greece, I was part of a community that was not ready to come together and collectively offer help to individuals in need. Therefore, individual help was the only kind of support I could offer.

When I entered college, I broke the silence by spreading knowledge and experiences. I decided that it was up to me to help people learn about the violation of women’s rights.

After I discovered Project Unbreakable, I thought to myself: “It starts with me.” Through this nonprofit organization, founded in 2012, that focused on raising awareness for issues surrounding sexual assault, I was able to find my voice.

Project Unbreakable, the act of healing through art is achieved by having victims of sexual assault have their pictures taken, while holding signs which quote their attacker, their relatives’ reactions, police officers’ responses etc.

When I came to college, I realized it was up to me to change the “rape culture” mentality and increase awareness. I chose to do that by spreading the word and by helping people utilize the resources that were available to them.

I am honored to be part of the Women In Public Service Project and proud of Berea College, for the many opportunities offered to people to combat the forces of violence. Defending women’s rights is my passion and I  am learning from the example of other women  leaders who take initiative to create a better future.

 

Katelyn Blair

Katelyn Blair is a junior double major in political science and child and family studies. She is a native of Berea, Kentucky, and has only recently discovered what a small piece of the world she inhabits. At Berea College, Katelyn has met people from many countries across the world, all of whom have different stories and worldviews.

After finishing college she plans to engage in education advocacy campaigns for children and families from low-income rural areas. Her goal during the WPSP program is to gain experience and insight about how to develop leadership skills to work on the challenging social and educational issues facing today’s children.

Katelyn has volunteered with the campus organization “Adopt-A-Grandparent,” and held mentor positions at the Emerging Scholars Program. She has also participated in the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good program that has allowed her to witness the struggles facing many small business owners and rural communities. This experience helped to shape her goals around children and families without access to necessary resources for good health and appropriate education.

She further believes that learning about leadership from women all over the world will help her reach her goal as a change maker.

Katelyn’s hope is to move from a male-dominated atmosphere toward a more balanced society where the needs of all individuals are addressed equally.

 

Naomi Alixandra Nichelle Burke

Naomi Alixandra Nichelle Burke is a senior double major in English Literature and Writing and Women’s and Gender Studies. She has worked as a Circulation Attendant at Hutchins Library all four years of attendance at Berea College, and has worked for the Women’s and Gender Studies Office for three years. She has also been a Teaching Associate for both the Women’s and Gender Studies Department and the Emerging Scholars Program, of which she is an alumna.

Aside from school and work, Alix has volunteered with the New Opportunity School for Women in Berea, KY, volunteered for Sustainable Berea in Berea, KY, and worked for Johnson Law Firm in Pikeville, KY. She has received certification for hotline and hospital counseling through the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center. She is a member of the Great Committee 6 — a committee dedicated to reimagining the Berea College commitment to gender equity. She has been co-President of the Alpha Nu chapter of TRIOTA, the National Women’s Studies Honor Society at Berea College, for the past three years.

As a Berea College student, Alix has studied abroad in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Cuba. In Ireland, she saw the role American tourism plays in economy. In Northern Ireland, she saw the ways that modern British imperialism and religious differences have divided the country into a functioning civil war zone, particularly in Belfast. In Cuba, she saw the tight grip of American imperialism and the successes and failures of communism in action. Each of these experiences has led her to a more global understanding of American and British influence on the global economy. These experiences have inspired her to commit herself to a life of social justice activism and becoming a global learner and leader. As a Women’s and Gender Studies major and an Appalachian woman, Alix has always had a passion for advocating for gender equality and hopes to pursue that passion in as many ways possible upon graduating.

 

Tyller Culver

My name is Tyller Culver and I was born in Baltimore, Maryland but my home is in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am currently a sophomore here at Berea College. I work primarily as a Peer Consultant in the Center for Transformative Learning (now Center for Teaching and Learning), and also part time in Admissions as an Ambassador.

I love working with people, which is why I am pursuing a double major in Child and Family Studies and Chemistry  with a Pre-Med focus. This unique combination comes from my experiences whilst abroad and growing up with a mother who is a nurse. I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to be a doctor, but it was not until I traveled to Haiti in the summer of 2012 that I decided I wanted to use my future medical skills in developing countries.

Since the summer of 2012, I have traveled to Costa Rica and most recently to China. I love to travel and learn about other countries.   Both my personal and career goals are what led me to the Women in Public Service Project. By participating in WPSP, I hope to develop close relationships with my fellow peers and my professor, while also becoming empowered to work on gender issues that women face today.

 

Anais Cheyenne Decquir

Anaïs Cheyenne Decquir is from New Orleans, Louisiana. She is currently a junior Women’s and Gender Studies major at Berea College, and is interested in one day making a big change in the world. Anaïs is the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Program Coordinator (a mentoring program for first year minority students), having worked for the program for the last two years.

If you could describe Anais in one world, it would be “Counselor.” Anaïs’ life goal is to open up a counseling center for people who have experienced extreme traumas  induced by political conflict (including rape), domestic violence, drug abuse, human trafficking.) These violations of women’s human right took place in Anais’ family. For this reason, she is committed to helping other women to heal from social trauma.

She applied to WPSP because she is passionate about serving the needs of others.  She believes that helping people in need should be  the number one priority for people working in the public sector.

 

Aminata Dia

Aminata “Ami” Dia is a junior Women’s and Gender Studies major and English minor at Berea College. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, she grew up in a multi-cultural community. Her parents and older siblings are from Bababé, Mauritania, an area  in West Africa known for its vibrant culture.  Her family immigrated to the United States during a time of political conflict in Mauritania, in the hope of securing more freedom for the children to prosper.

Growing up in Columbia, Ami  found out that no matter where you are in the world, conflict will arise in some way, shape, or form.  She grew up in a neighborhood with kids from all over the world, all of different social identities. Ami herself was discriminated against at times because she was an African American girl in a Muslim household. As she got older, she realized that discrimination was a learned trait.

Today, Ami aspires to serve the world by advocating for political solutions that promote the social, economic, and political equality of all people. Throughout her life, her father repeated one phrase that still sticks to her today:

“Open your mind a little bit.”

Ami can admit that she did not quite understand what he was saying at first, but it is clear to her now. What he meant is that with an open mind, all people can start to understand one another. And with understanding, peace will dominate the world.

 

Kelsang Dolker

Kelsang Dolker is Tibetan, born and raised as a refugee in India. She believes that being a refugee made her strong and helped her develop an optimistic attitude towards life.  Before joining Berea College, she studied English Literature in India’s prestigious Humanities College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) in New Delhi.

In an effort to give free education to the underprivileged children in Delhi, she joined the NGO, “Vidya” under the National Social Service (India) in 2011 where she was awarded the Best Volunteer  of the Year. There she worked as a mentor, teacher, friend and a listener. She understands that like every country, India has both strengths and challenges. Though a refugee in India, she is a firm believer that India can never be understood through media but only through experiencing it. She is proud to be a “Female” from India and believes that the issue of rape is not directly related to the lack of empowerment of women in India.

She perceives that, though the status of refugee have its many disadvantages, this same status of “Stateless” gives her the power to undermine trivial problems and helps her understand her responsibility as a Global Citizen.

 

Charis Dowell

Charis Dowell  is a  sophomore  psychology major who plans to make a career in mental health. She plans to graduate from Berea College in three years.  Her passions are dance and music. Charis has been involved in women’s choir, wind ensemble, a theatrical production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Kinetics (dance) at Berea College.  She also loves working in her church as a Teacher’s Assistant at the church’s day care.

Charis enjoys educational travel. To date she has been to Colombia and Cuba, and has plans to travel to Scandinavia in the summer of 2015.  She was drawn to WPSP because she wants to develop her potential as a change maker in the international arena.  Charis hopes to shape policy in mental institutions around the world in an attempt to advance the quality of these institutions.

 

Patrick J. Elzinga

Patrick J. Elzinga  was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Zeeland, Michigan. After graduating from Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan, his ambitions were to extend his educational career at Berea College. This year Patrick is a senior political science major. Mr. Elzinga admits that although he has a general knowledge of global gender issues, he is excited to gain further insight.

Patrick worked as an intern for CASA of Madison County. Working with CASA allowed Mr. Elzinga to dedicate himself to bettering his community, while gaining necessary real world experience. Mr. Elzinga experiences have served as a platform to develop his leadership, critical thinking and decision making skills.

While in high school he was actively involved in sports and Youth in Government. During his time at Lake Michigan College he was a member of the baseball team as well as the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Now, while attending Berea College, he is again a member of the baseball team and member of Young Americans for Liberty. His passion for people fuel his commitment to bettering the lives of others. Mr. Elzinga is an ambitious young man who believes that the possibility for gender equality exists.   With his strong commitment to serving others before himself, Patrick aspires to be a “male champion of change” for the Women in Public Service Project.

 

Sarah Firebaugh

I was born in Texas and moved to Eastern Kentucky in 1996.  I am the mother of two extremely smart, handsome, and wonderful boys.  My mother has two Masters in Library Science, and my father held a degree in Geology and Mental Health and Retardation.  We were not rich by any means, but my mother made sure to put me in various art lessons including but not limited to: dance, voice and violin.  I still love to dance and play my violin.

I grew up a dittohead, and once gave a speech entitled “My Favorite American: Rush Limbaugh” at the age of 10.  I first became politically active in seventh grade while participating in the Kentucky Y-Club.  I won an outstanding speaker award for presenting (and passing) a bill that would require seat belts on Kentucky School Buses.   Since then, I have expanded my horizons to include battling the democratic deficiency present within the American political landscape.

I was selected to be one of the 20 interns out of a pool of 3,000 applicants for the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2010 Legislative Session through the Legislative Research Commission.  During that internship, I became familiar with drafting and editing bills, and was also introduced to the Open Primary Debate.  Senate Bill 53, an act relating to primaries has pretty much consumed my life since that internship.  I am now the Madison County Representative and a column writer for Independent Kentucky, a ballot access organization headquartered in Louisville, KY with members all over the state.

One of the coolest things I’ve done with regards to politics/ballot access for Independents is stage a protest in 2011.  I was encouraged to become more active after attending IndependentVoting.org’s biannual conference held in New York City, where I listened to a large number of politically active women speak about the fight to open primary elections to independents.  In 2013, IndependentVoting.org staged a primary copying my initial protest.  “Voting Rights are Primary” caught the attention of many news outlets, and allowed Independents in closed primary states a chance to inform other citizens of their plight.  I am proud of this, because it shows that random acts of courage can bring about national movements, much like the message we are hearing from WPSP.

Outside of politics, I am a community volunteer.  Another proud moment in my life that also occurred in 2010 was receiving the Julia Drukker Stammer award for Appalachian Service.  This grant allowed me to conduct a two week dance camp for disadvantaged students in my Eastern Kentucky hometown (Magoffin County, Puncheon Creek).   I hope to expand upon this program and encourage amateurs and college students all over the country to give disadvantaged girls a chance at being ballerinas.  I strongly feel that both the arts and politics should be accessible to all people no matter their economic background or political affiliation.

In terms of other Berea College activities, I am a  founding member of Non Traditional Students Association, founding member of Berea College Women’s Chorus Organization (served as Treasurer/fund raiser on both), and participant in Board of Residents as Ecovillage representative.

 

Marcella Fitisone

Marcella Fitisone was born and raised on the beautiful island of American Samoa, a territory of the United States, located in the South Pacific.  She is a sophomore majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies.

Marcella is a kind and loving person with a passion for change. Although culture is an important aspect in her life, she is open to change for the betterment of her people and society, improving the quality of life among all peoples of the earth.

Marcella aspires to promote equality among all peoples of the Pacific. She strives to empower the women of Samoa by opening the doors for opportunities in higher education. She hopes to make changes to the legislative system and village laws in Samoa. These laws prohibit women from being Matai (chiefs) therefore leaving them out of the decision-making process. “There will never be equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.” – Susan B. Anthony

 

Michelle Flannery

Michelle Flannery, born in Louisville, Kentucky, will soon complete a major in Sociology and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. A firm believer in the ripple effect, Michelle seeks to create healthy spaces on the personal, local, national, and global level. These spaces are formed in the body by exercises within the healing arts, in the community through grassroots activism and education, in the country by movements towards peace through non-violence, and, globally, within the movement to preserve the planet and natural resources.

Upon entering college, Michelle began a yoga practice that opened the doors to informal study in homeopathic medicine and traditional ways of healing. Considering that food is one of the most powerful natural medicines, this space opened up yet another door into the realm of food justice and sustainability. Engaged with the sustainability initiative at her school, she helped coordinate community events involving local farms, businesses, and artisans, committed to protecting the planet.

One way of protecting the planet, though, comes from protecting the people that inhabit it. Michelle just returned from two months in the Sonoran desert on the U.S. Mexico border, where she worked with a humanitarian aid organization, No More Deaths, that is committed to ending death and suffering on the border. This stay not only inspired future engagement within immigration rights, but it also served as a reminder that it is from the earth that life is sustained. Therefore, Michelle has adopted the responsibility and joy of creating and implementing healthy spaces in all the ways that she is able.

 

Vanessa Hamilton

Vanessa Hamilton was born in Bogota, Colombia. She has an older sister and a younger brother. Her father is Uruguayan/American and her mother is Colombian/American. In her early years, her parents made the intentional choice of only speaking English at home, since Vanessa and her siblings were quickly learning Spanish in school and with friends. During the first eight years of her life, Vanessa moved back and forth between Medellin and Bogota, Colombia. At the age of eight Vanessa moved to Montevideo, Uruguay. Her parents choose to put Vanessa and her siblings in the Uruguayan American School — an international school which would allow Vanessa and her siblings to receive an education in both English and Spanish.

The Uruguayan American School provided many opportunities for Vanessa including community service, leadership positions, and travel experiences. In sixth grade Vanessa began traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Curitiba, Brazil to play in friendly sporting competitions for soccer, basketball and volleyball. The friendly competitions Vanessa was used to participating in changed to competitive ones upon arrival in high school. The Uruguayan American School was a part of SAAC (South American Athletic Conference) and Vanessa traveled to Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina to compete. Starting her junior year Vanessa was named captain of all three teams, and remained so through her senior year.

Once in high school Vanessa took her position as class president more seriously and was actively involved in the National Honor Society and the Student Council for the remainder of her four years at school. Her senior year, she became student body president. Being an active part of the Student Council for the school gave Vanessa many opportunities to be involved in a variety of community service and outreach programs, as well as running her own events at the school. Vanessa had always had a passion for baking. And, starting in high school her father encouraged her to start a small business of selling her desserts. Vanessa became well known, and was constantly busy. Learning how to balance school, sports, student-council, and her side business was challenging but worth it.

Vanessa is now a sophomore at Berea College, where she intends on double majoring in Communication and Psychology with a minor in Business. Her dream is to work with children in need all around the world. Vanessa’s favorite quote, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not,” by Dr. Suess. This quote summarizes her belief that unless people truly care and want change nothing will.

 

Joshua Holmes

Joshua Holmes is from Birmingham, Alabama, and is a junior political science major at Berea College.  He is the Junior Class President of the Student Government, participates in a service fraternity off-campus, and enjoys participating in intramurals on campus.

Joshua has a heart for helping others through conflict mediation. He plans to attend law school , and later to run for a congressional seat from Alabama.   Joshua also plans to create a non-profit organization for elementary and middle school-aged children in order to create a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle.

Finally, Joshua believes that Berea College has offered him numerous opportunities to expand his learning in and out of the classroom setting, and wants to thank his parents for all their support, as well as his friends and other family members.

 

Faith Jones

Faith Jones is a native of Hueytown, Alabama. She is currently a junior at Berea College, pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Peace and Social Justice. Before the transition to Berea College, she received the Carter G Woodson Award her junior year in high school. She knew instantly Berea was her destiny. During her time at Berea College she has become a member of the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good Cohort 10 which has taught her valuable skills, including group facilitation, marketing small local businesses, and to advocacy for social change. In addition, Faith is employed by the  Residential Life Department as a resident advisor to first year students.

In the summer of 2014 she was a resettlement intern at Kentucky Refugee Ministries. The experience has truly inspired her to want to work with refugees.  Her graduate school plans include a master’s degree in counseling and conflict resolution, followed by a PhD in Psychology.

The reason she applied to the amazing Women in Public Service Project at Berea College  is to find the power of her voice so that she can become a leader for social change in the public sector.

 

Brittany Ruth

Brittany is a Sophomore Music Education Major this year at Berea College. She comes from Oak Hill, Ohio and plans to become an Elementary Music Teacher after finishing her degree. Brittany has decided to take the class, Empowering Women for Global Leadership, in order to obtain more knowledge on how to become an effective leader in and outside of her community.

Seeking to become a voice of peace, hope and reason, she hopes to become an influential woman who not only shows compassion towards her innermost concerns, but is also able to relate to those around her and develop the courage to speak for all people in the midst of their struggles.

Brittany states, “Having both of my parents abusing drugs, I was placed under the care of my grandparents. Despite this, I have been blessed beyond measure with freedoms some would die for. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live a life without freedom, but many countries live like this. I may not be able to comprehend the battles others have faced, however, I do know what struggle is, and at times, I have been placed at the heart of it.

“Still, I believe that the struggles each person has can only make them stronger. While I may not have a significant story, I have a passion to fight for what is right and an internal craving to speak on the behalf of justice. I want to be a part of the good fight. Granting, I do sometimes doubt my ability, but I still hold onto the belief that we were all made to be courageous. The internal fear of having limitations in our own abilities must be thrown out, for we have already been destined for greatness.”

 

Atilla Sá

Attila Sá is a senior Sociology and French double major at Berea College. Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, Attila has always been drawn to and fascinated by the rest of the world. In 2011, he moved to the U.S. to attend Berea College, the first stop in his world travels.

Despite his young age, Attila has already had valuable experiences serving with non-governmental organizations in Brazil, the U.S., Italy and Senegal. He started volunteering and learning about the power of organized activism at a very young age. With React & Change, a group of young social-entrepreneurs in Brazil, Attila led fundraising activities that allowed for the promotion of the first Youth Empowerment Forum, a reunion of talented young activists gathering to learn from each other’s experiences how to combat gender inequality in their own communities.

In 2011, Attila became part of the Bonner Scholar program at Berea College. As a Bonner, Attila has enhanced his academic experience through serving his new community. In the summer of 2012, Attila interned at Broto Onlus in Italy, where he handled the communication between Broto’s office in Italy and the NGOs in Brazil and Tanzania that receive financial support from the Onlus.

In the fall of 2013, as the Service-Learning Student Manager at Berea College, Attila led a team of students who helped implement service-learning activities and courses, connecting Berea students to local community partners working for the development of the town of Berea.

Attila has also recently taken a semester abroad and lived in Dakar, Senegal for six months. In the West African country, Attila worked with CIPFEM, a local NGO that focuses on women leadership and the education of girls, to create a photography club where little girls learn basic photography skills and are encouraged to communicate their life stories through photography.

Attila joined the Women in Public Service Project in the fall of his senior year at Berea College. Attila hopes to learn more about international gender issues and transnational feminism, in preparation for his intended master’s program “Gender and Sexuality Studies” at the University of Toronto.

 

Haley S. Skeen

Haley Skeen is a junior double major in English Literature and Women’s Studies at Berea College. Born and raised in Bristol, Tennessee, poverty was not the abnormal but the normal for Haley.

She is privileged to be of Native American descent and feels a calling to work for the rights of those indigenous communities that live in extreme poverty, and represent the underdog in the USA. Researching women’s historical role in American Indian and Alaska Native culture proves enlightening in her view of the modern world.

Haley currently works as a resident assistant for the Residence Life Program, and as an intern for the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. On a daily basis she uses her growing leadership skills to improve life for the residents in her charge.  Haley has extensive experience volunteering as both a candy striper and with the People Who Care program. Both of these programs serve as outlets for her deep commitment to  care for others.

She is honored to be in the Empowering Women for Global Leadership course for fall of 2014 and looks forward to strengthening her leadership capabilities and developing connections with women around the world. She has been inspired by many women and men in the program and anticipates the day when she herself will serve as a role model of leadership for other women.

In her free time she enjoys photography, reading, and hiking.