Nithya Adusumilli |
Hometown: Cary, NC Majors/Minors: Entrepreneurship, Social Impact & Responsibility, Environmental Management & Policy What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Environmentalism. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. I am on the board of the Ivy League Mental Health Coalition, Penn Wellness, and Penn Filmaid. |
Fatima Al Rashed |
Hometown: Basra, Iraq Majors/Minors: Biology What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Women’s rights in developing countries. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. Last year, I was an SAT math tutor at Moder Patshala and a member of Penn KDSAP, which is a student-run organization that provides free health screenings for underserved communities in Philadelphia. This year, unfortunately, I am unable to continue my involvement with Moder Patshala due to my schedule conflicts and other responsibilities. However, I am currently the Health Education Director for Penn KDSAP. This year, I am also part of Penn MERT. |
Sudeep Bhargava |
Hometown: Dallas, TX Majors/Minors: Major in Communications, minor in Fine Arts What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Access to Artistic Spaces and/or Public Health Education. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. The past year, I did my civic engagement at Broad Street Ministries. On campus, I serve as the Political Chair of the South Asia Society. My role is to organize events that aim to increase the political agency and voice of the South Asian student population on campus. Also, as a member of the Excelano Project, I at times volunteer with local writing programs and groups. |
Amira Chowdhury |
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Majors/Minors: Political Science, Urban Studies What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Classism as it relates to the powerful congregating to systematically oppress working people. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. As a Bangladeshi-American Civic Scholar I consistently tutor Bangladeshi immigrant students at Moder Patshala in West Philadelphia. On campus I am involve with the Penn Alternative Breaks, the Penn Political Review, the Government Politics Association, the Penn Asian American Pacific Islander Politics & the Penn Model Congress. Off campus I have worked for Congressman Dwight Evans and the Public Citizens for Children and Youth as a K-12 Education Policy Intern. |
Ashley Fernandez |
Hometown: DeLand, FL Majors/Minors: Major in Business (undecided concentration), minor in EALC in Chinese Studies What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Environmental Justice and Economic Inequality. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. My first year at Penn I engaged with Why Not Prosper, a non-profit that serves women coming out of prison, and I did a one day service event with The Art Department, an organization that helps amplify the voices of minority artists and reclaim history through art. My first summer break I did a volunteer internship for my local Courthouse in Florida, where we help divert juvenile cases away from adult court and help minors keep their records clean. |
Brendan Lui |
Hometown: Potomac, MD Majors/Minors: Political Science What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Climate justice, voting rights, and fighting wealth inequality. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. At Penn, I am involved in Moder Patshala and volunteered to tutor Bangladeshi immigrant children during my first year. I was also a Penn Launch Fellow for rePurpose Global, a socially conscious startup dedicated to raising awareness about sustainable waste practices and the global recycling crisis. |
Serena Martinez |
Hometown: Chevy Chase, MD Majors/Minors: Gender, Sexuality & Women Studies (GSWS) What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Intersectional feminism. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. I was lucky enough to work with Bangladeshi students at Moder Patshala. I used to want to be a teacher, but it is a lot harder than it looks. I sharpened my skills in communication, patience, compassion, and empathy weekly for all of my 1st year of undergrad. |
Grace McKenney |
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN Majors/Minors: Biological Bases of Behavior (BBB) What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Education inequality in America. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. At Penn, I have been involved with the Community School Student Partnership (CSSP) as |
Namrita Narula |
Hometown: Highland Park, IL Majors/Minors: Concentration in Finance & Business Analytics What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Gender inequality in education and in the workplace. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. At Penn, I’ve enjoyed combining my business interests with my passion for social impact. I am a consultant in the Penn Social Entrepreneurship Movement and work with local & international enterprises. Through the Financial Literacy Community Project, I teach students in West Philadelphia schools how to be financially responsible. Last year, I learned about urban education as a tutor at Moder Patshala. During summer 2019, I served as a Development Strategy Intern at UNICEF USA in Chicago, IL. |
Wyatt Perez |
Hometown: The Bronx, NY Majors/Minors: Sociology, Law and Society What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Educational inequality. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. I volunteer weekly at Moder Patshala helping immigrant children with schoolwork. Additionally, as the National Society for Black Engineers’s community partnerships co-chair, I am working to connect develop initiatives between Civic House, NSBE, and black, public school students in Philadelphia. |
Sireesh Ramesh |
Hometown: Johns Creek, GA Majors/Minors: Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management: Biology and Finance What is a social justice issue that you’re passionate about? Increasing accessibility to healthcare in low-income counties. Describe your Civic Engagement involvement at Penn. I’ve been involved in two avenues of civic engagement at Penn. The first is with Puentes de Salud, an organization focused on increasing health equity in the community. I specifically volunteered with their Hacias al Futuro program, an after-school program for elementary schoolers. In addition, I worked with Service Link, an on-campus organization helping people navigate social safety net services in the community when they are in need. |