Youth Leaders
ARISE's Youth Leaders are a cohort of stipend youth who meet throughout the year to support their development, relationships, and work as community organizers.
What do arise
Youth Leaders do?
As an ARISE Youth Leader, you will participate in a range of learning opportunities including:
political education trainings, where you will develop your knowledge of systems of power, yourself, your community, and justice work
school visits and youth organizing conferences, where you will build power with youth organizers across the country
workshops with local community organizers, where you will develop leadership, advocacy, and organizing skills
participating in and organizing community workshops, gatherings, and political actions with other youth organizers across the city
campaign work to build youth power across the city and fight for educational justice in our public schools
Youth Leaders are expected to participate in an application and orientation process; commit 4-6 hours a week to the program; lead ARISE work within our programs and our larger organization; build relationships with the Youth Leader cohort, other youth organizers, and classmates; share knowledge, skills, and opportunities for leadership with other youth outside of ARISE programs; recruit youth to ARISE programs; and invest in social justice work.
Our current cohort is working in coalition with youth organizers at Providence Youth Student Movement to launch a campaign for educational justice in the Providence Public School District.
Interested in applying?
Captions (left to right):
1). Brian competing in the papaya salad eating contest at PrYSM-ARISE's Southeast Asian New Year Youth Celebration
2). Francois making a stencil of a butterfly at the PrYSM-ARISE Campaign Art Workshop
3). Patrick, Aaron, and Serrina explaining their school design at the PrYSM-ARISE Educational Justice Retreat
4). Visiting the Resilient Roots community farm in Camden during the Grassroots Asians Rising youth conference
5). ARISE Youth Leaders meeting activist and prison abolitionist Cece McDonald after the screening of her documentary, Free Cece!
6). Building projection in Philadelphia by Asian American community activists at the Grassroots Asians Rising youth conference
7). ARISE Youth Leaders at our annual Amplifying Student Voice and Leadership dinner
8). ARISE Youth Leaders Symone, Brian, and Renina
9). ARISE and PrYSM Youth Leaders participating in a school build workshop with the Center for Youth and Community Leadership in Education (CYCLE) at the PrYSM-ARISE Educational Justice Retreat
10). ARISE and PrYSM Youth Leaders at the Youth Leadership Institute in Massachusetts
11). Ger and Deijah at the Washington D.C. March for Our Lives with a poster made by Mealaktey
12). ARISE and PrYSM Youth Leaders at the PrYSM-ARISE Campaign Planning Retreat
13). Brian and Nick at the Amplifying Student Voice and Leadership School Visits
14). ARISE and PrYSM Youth Leaders facilitating a workshop at the Youth Leadership Institute in Massachusetts
15). Youth organizers from across the country at the Grassroots Asians Rising youth conference in Philadelphia
16). Destiny and Nancy posing a question to Providence city council candidates at the Providence Housing Crisis: City Council Candidate Forum.
Youth Leader Alumni
Much love and gratitude to our graduated Youth Leaders, who remain part of ARISE’s community as alumni!
Evelyn Martinez
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | evelyn@ariseducation.org
I am 14 and a freshman at The Met East Bay School. I was born in Providence and my family is Latin. I love spending quality time with them. I overcame many challenges in my life. This is my first year in ARISE and it is an amazing opportunity.
Fatima Anne
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | fatima@ariseducation.org
Hi, I’m Fatima Anne! I’m a Senegalese - American from Woonsocket. I’m currently a Senior at Woonsocket High School. I first joined ARISE in October of 2019 and loved it so much that I went on to become a Youth Leader. At a school that is comprised of faculty and staff that are predominantly white, I continue to fight for the rights of students of color at my school. I was inspired to do this after being mistreated by multiple staff members because of my religion and my skin color.
Ger Lee
Youth Leader Alumn | he/him/his | ger@ariseducation.org
Hi, my name is Ger but you can call me Jay.
I'm tired of seeing this world rot, the rich living their best life knowing that this world is coming to an end, while the middle and lower class are slowly dying. Young kids like us are being left with that world to take care of. As a youth leader, I'm willing to take steps out of my comfort zone to make a change in the world because we are the present and the future. When I leave the face of this earth I'm going to make sure I had a huge impact on those around me. I want to be the reason why others keep persevering, that's why the work we are doing is so important. I believe that advocating for youths who don't have a voice is very important. Not only that, but I want to help strengthen voices for those who are afraid to speak up because I learned that if you don't speak up for yourself who will?
Jeny Daniels
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | jeny@ariseducation.org
Hi! I’m Jeny Daniels. My pronouns are She/Her/Hers. I’m in the graduating class of 2022 at Cranston High School East. I’m Cambodian and African-American. If I’m not at ARISE during YL meetings, I participate in the theater program at my school, student council, and class council. I'm a violinist at my school orchestra and actively do track and field. I have an older brother, an older sister and two younger brothers. Being a middle child is not the easiest. I have the responsibility of undoing the negative things my older siblings did and setting an example for my younger siblings. I strive to be the best leader that I can and I learn from the people who are helping me. I believe age doesn’t matter when we are learning and teaching. I’ve been a part of many groups and communities, none of them has made me feel what ARISE makes me feel. We are like a family of our own. I feel comfortable to be myself and tell them things that I would otherwise keep to myself.
Krisnu Chuon
Youth Leader Alumn | krisnu@ariseducation.org
Hi~
My name is Krisnu Chuon. I'm Khmer, Thai, and Chinese. Currently, I’m a senior at Cranston High School East. I enjoy playing card games and listening to music. I’m aware that families of minorities, such as my own, are oppressed and deprived of opportunities to grow and thrive in their lives. I joined ARISE to change that. Here's a virtual hug to make your life a little more snug.
Masiah Prak P
Youth Leader Alumn | he/him/his | masiah@ariseducation.org
Hi, my name is Masiah Prak Preater. I'm one of the newest recruits to the youth leaders’ program. I am Cambodian and Black and I’m an eighth-grader at Community Prep. I want to know more about things that are happening in my community and more about myself. Besides trying to fight for social justice, I enjoy playing sports like volleyball and football. I play video games as well. I am looking forward to building memories with the youth leaders and everything that comes along with it.
OLi Ogueri
Youth Leader Alumn | he/him/his | oli@ariseducation.org
Hi, my name is Oli and I’m an African-American. I live in Providence. I’m the son of two immigrants from Africa. In the fall of 2020, I will be going into my 8th-grade year. I found ARISE through family and ever since Hidden Lotus I’ve loved it. I think it’s a good way to find intelligent people you’re able to have a conversation with and learn from. You’re also able to learn a lot of things about the world that school doesn’t teach you. I think with ARISE, I will be able to grow exponentially as a person and in knowledge, and I encourage people to try our programs.
Rachel Santos
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | rachel@ariseducation.org
Hi! My name is Rachel Santos! I am a 15-year-old who is Dominican American and currently a freshman at Classical High School. I love fashion, food, and comedy movies. ARISE provided a safe space for me to learn, grow, and appreciate myself and others.
Sarina yang
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | sarina@ariseducation.org
Hello! I’m Sarina, a Hmong American who attends Paul Cuffee High School. I enjoy listening to music and playing different sorts of video games. In ARISE, I’m looking forward to meeting different people and learning new things about myself and others to grow more as a person!
Savannah Wright
Alumn | she/her/hers | savannah@ariseducation.org
I am a 13-year-old girl who sees big things for herself and has lots of goals that I plan on accomplishing in the future. I'm the kind of person who likes to get to know people and also is ready to try new things. I like to do gymnastics, cheerleading, volleyball, and basketball. I plan on owning my own business for cheerleading and gymnastics one day.
Amy Yang
Youth Leader | she/her/hers | amy@ariseducation.org
Hi, I’m Amy. I am a Hmong American who is currently attending Paul Cuffee High School. I love food and watching TV shows. I enjoy listening to music and talking with my friends. I'm looking forward to meeting new people and learning their stories.
Akyla Proeung
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | akyla@ariseducation.org
Hey! I’m Akyla Proeung, I am a young Cambodian girl, seventeen years old, going into my junior year at Cranston High School East. Born and raised in Providence, RI. I love to travel, be creative, and learn about science. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends. I am a very competitive person who likes to be challenged. I have been apart of ARISE summer programs since the first summer, and it has taught me a lot about myself and my history.
Cesar Morel
Youth Leader Alumn | he/him/his | cesar@ariseducation.org
Hi, I am Cesar and I’m a youth leader at ARISE. I go to a high school called School One and I’m a Junior. I wanted to join ARISE because it’s all about social justice and creating awareness. ARISE’s space reminds me of my school’s committee called Open Minds. When I first joined ARISE, I automatically felt connected to what the youth leaders said and how they all treated each other like family. ARISE is more like a community than an organization.
Daliza Reinoso
Youth Leader Alumn | she/her/hers | daliza@ariseducation.org
Hi!! My name is Daliza Reinoso, I am a seventeen year old very proud of my Dominican descent. I am currently a senior at Woonsocket High School. I have been part of a multitude of after-school programs since I started high school, mainly in an attempt to find one I really enjoy. Fortunately, I joined ARISE earlier this year and instantly became inspired by the social/community-based work as well as the dedication of the youth leaders, leading me to where I am now! My hobbies include finding different types of music, playing the bass and the keyboard, skateboarding, and trying to beat my dad in chess. In the future, I hope to see change in the system that marginalizes BIPOC and lower classes. For this reason, I will continue to strive and use my voice for what I believe is just.
Dayanara Felix Monanci
Youth Leader | she/her/hers | dayanara@ariseducation.org
Hello, My name is Dayanara Felix (Day.) I’m a Dominican American recognized as an Afro-Latina, born and raised in Providence and currently attending Highlander Charter School. I sing in my church and do pantomime. One of my biggest inspirations is my mom and music. I am very outgoing and always willing to learn and engage with others. I have always been passionate about the social injustices happening in my community and around the world against people of color. I am also very passionate about the colorism and Anti-blackness going on in the Hispanic community because I am an Afro-Latina. I want to make a change against any type of inequality in my community which is why I joined ARISE.
