EDUCATION
Mount Holyoke College
Class of 2024
Africana Studies, Geography B.A.
Mount Holyoke College
Class of 2024
Africana Studies, Geography B.A.
ABOUT ME
I'm a student at Mount Holyoke College pursuing Africana Studies with a concentration in media and migration. I have a background in activism and community organizing with focus areas in racial justice advocacy, income equity, and K-12 educational policy. I tell stories about culture, economic disparity, educational policy, migration, and identity.
Growing up as a first-generation Gambian-American, political events like the 2017 expulsion of Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh were formative moments. Events like these propelled my initial interests in storytelling, international affairs, human and civil rights, and policy. This led me to become involved in community organizing and activism with a focus in racial justice and income advocacy.
I now choose to apply the practical knowledge that I have gained through these experiences by translating them into narrative. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools that we have for affecting global change. The bulk of my coverage focuses on racially and economically marginalized communities, as well as the immigrant experience.
Growing up as a first-generation Gambian-American, political events like the 2017 expulsion of Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh were formative moments. Events like these propelled my initial interests in storytelling, international affairs, human and civil rights, and policy. This led me to become involved in community organizing and activism with a focus in racial justice and income advocacy.
I now choose to apply the practical knowledge that I have gained through these experiences by translating them into narrative. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools that we have for affecting global change. The bulk of my coverage focuses on racially and economically marginalized communities, as well as the immigrant experience.
AWARDS / RECOGNITION
2023 Lynk Grant Recipient
2023 Laurel Grant recipient
2022 Power of Narrative Conference participant
National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting 22 Conference Sponsorship
Inaugural David Carr Scholarship '22
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting
Careers in Public Service Conference participant '21
Weissman Center for Leadership Student Leadership Grant '21
D.E. Shaw Latitude Fellow '21
2021 LEDA Career Fellow
Ajilla Young Leaders Fellowship '21
QuestBridge Finalist '20
Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award
Trailblazer Award in the Emerging Activist category
Iowa Youth Human Rights Award '18
Iowa NAACP Social Justice Award
Second Runner-up for the Robert Mannheimer Youth Advocacy Award
Iowa Youth Human Rights Award '16
Iowa City Press Citizen's 10 to Watch
Quill & Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists
2023 Lynk Grant Recipient
2023 Laurel Grant recipient
2022 Power of Narrative Conference participant
National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting 22 Conference Sponsorship
Inaugural David Carr Scholarship '22
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting
Careers in Public Service Conference participant '21
Weissman Center for Leadership Student Leadership Grant '21
D.E. Shaw Latitude Fellow '21
2021 LEDA Career Fellow
Ajilla Young Leaders Fellowship '21
QuestBridge Finalist '20
Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award
Trailblazer Award in the Emerging Activist category
Iowa Youth Human Rights Award '18
Iowa NAACP Social Justice Award
Second Runner-up for the Robert Mannheimer Youth Advocacy Award
Iowa Youth Human Rights Award '16
Iowa City Press Citizen's 10 to Watch
Quill & Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists
EXPERIENCE / SKILLS
Proficient in:
-Google, Zoom, and Microsoft Suites, Canva, Piktochart, Familiar with: -Creative Cloud Suites, Final Cut Pro, InDesign, Adobe Premiere, CallFire, EveryAction, Squarespace, Wordpress, Weebly Languages: -Swahili (intermediate) -French (intermediate) -Arabic (beginner) |