The Path Forward

#18: R.I.S.E.-ing Up: A New Generation of Activists (Ft. Nyla bowers)

Welcome to today's episode of the Path Forward Podcast! Nyla is a senior at Walter Payton and an executive board member and co-founder of Resilient Intelligent Sisters Enterprise (R.I.S.E.), a student run organization that is dedicated to creating and maintaining a celebratory affinity space for Black women by providing weekly lesson plans and community building opportunities. Outside of R.I.S.E., Nyla is on the Black Student Union Leadership Team, and Student Advisory Committee. For fun, Nyla enjoys learning Spanish, painting and drawing, and leading other clubs!

#17: The Meaning of Mentoring (ft. Ava Penn)

Welcome to today's episode of the Path Forward Podcast. Today we feature Ava Penn, a junior at Whitney Young. She founded Chicago Teen Mentors in February to support CPS students with free educational resources. Ava works with the organization’s board of teens and compassionate, committed mentors who are offering free tutoring and outreach events for CPS students. She also loves STEM and is on her school’s robotics team, math team, and aerospace team. For fun, Ava plays water polo, reads about the origins of our universe, and sends letters to her friends!

#16: Rewriting Equity in Education (ft. Sareena Shah)

Welcome to today's episode of the Path Forward Podcast! Today we feature Sareena Shah, a sophomore at Walter Payton and co-founder of The Re-Write It Project. The Re-Write It Project is a youth-driven organization combating educational inequities around the city by distributing essential learning resources to underserved youth institutions. She’s very devoted to interrogating the systemic influences that impede access to vital services and fostering tangible reform. Apart from her organization, she loves the outdoors, leading other clubs, and spending time with her grandmother!

#15: Ambitiously Empowered Voices Pt. 2 (ft. Armelle Balogun)

Welcome to today's episode of the Path Forward Podcast! In this episode, we have Armelle Balogun, a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, and a co-founder of Ambitiously Empowered Voices, speak about this organization focused on equipping young girls with the tools to be strong leaders and agents of change in their communities.

#14: Ambitiously Empowered Voices Pt. 1 (Ft. Emma Zubak)

Welcome to today's episode of the Path Forward Podcast! In this episode, we feature Emma Zubak, a senior at Walter Payton College Prep who co-founded Ambitiously Empowered Voices, an international women’s empowerment organization that inspires young girls to be leaders through presentations on feminism, equity, and leadership. Emma’s commitment to women’s empowerment led her to join and work her way up to the Board of Directors of SheVotesIL, a political action committee focused on educating voters about female candidates and getting more women elected to office.