Meet Our 2021 Fellows
Elisee Point Du Jour (he/him) is a student at Farmingdale State College who cares deeply about racial inequality and learning about its historical context. He is excited to be a 2021 Youth Organizing Institute Fellow to understand how best to communicate and connect with community members around these issues.
Elisee says, “Youth are taking on the role of activists to take charge of the future. We have a great deal of challenges to navigate, but we’re prepared to co-create the future we want to see.”
Maria Shaikh (she/her) is a recent Stony Brook University graduate and received her Bachelor's in Philosophy, Political Science, and Pre-Law. She is also a radio show host on America's Islamic Radio. Maria believes that the most effective way to bring change is to advocate for it yourself. Thus, she has worked with several local politicians and leaders to engage Muslim youth with their local, state, and federal representatives to push legislation forward. She is excited to be a 2021 Youth Organizing Institute Fellow to understand the most effective way of bringing positive change.
Maria says, “As I’ve gotten more involved with my community, I’ve realized the power that voters have. I try to use my voice and my vote to encourage individuals in my own Muslim community to speak out against injustice and fight for a seat at the table.”
Simone Soodoo (she/her) is an Applied Psychology major at Farmingdale State College. She is really interested in art and being creative, and she would like to find innovative ways of incorporating art with improving mental health, especially among youth.
She says, “Youth can do so much to shape the future, especially with everything happening in the world. There are so many ways to be informed on what's going on, and I think young people are using their voices to engage their communities."
Joshua Chan (he/him) is a Political Science major at SUNY College at Old Westbury, devoted to empowering youth to build a coalition of progressive voices to address social and economic inequities. He is thrilled to be a 2021 Youth Organizing Institute Fellow and to gain a deeper understanding of the work necessary to build up political infrastructure to fight the battles that his generation faces.
He says, “Through my work, I hope to represent my generation and implement changes regarding our future, such as healthcare access, immigration, and climate change.”
Adriana Flores (she/her) is a first-year student at Mercy College. She is dedicated to addressing disparities among marginalized communities, including racial, economic, gender, and class-based issues. Adriana is thrilled to participate as a 2021 Youth Organizing Institute Fellow to enhance the skills necessary in activism and civic engagement.
She says, “Youth need to be more engaged in politics because politicians make decisions that affect us, from education to health care and voting rights. If we become more engaged in politics, we can have a bigger say in these decisions.”
Jobert Desgraviers (he/him) is a student from Elmont who cares about his community. He recognizes that he has the power and potential to impact his community, even if in small ways. Jobert is excited to be a 2021 Youth Organizing Institute Fellow because it’s an opportunity for him to learn how to be a community organizer, as well as learn how to use certain tools that assist community members with voter registration, census, and redistricting.
He says, “I see the youth learning from the mistakes and wins of those who came before us and using that knowledge to shape a better future.”