Meet Cohort 13

Our Team

  • Person in a tan jacket, black gloves, and ski goggles lying on snow with a snowboard behind them, in a snowy landscape under a blue sky with clouds.

    Alex Mercado (she/her)

    I joined RISE because I not only wanted to take an actionable part in my community but I also wanted to join a collective that strives to provide opportunities for and empower youth like myself to find their voice to engage in the issues that impact them most. I am beyond excited to launch a project along my Edmonton Cohort!

  • A young woman with long braids sitting inside a pink and cream donut-shaped structure with decorative white stars and pink frosting patterns, smiling at the camera.

    Anurika (Rika) Onyenso (she/her)

    I joined RISE because I believe real impact begins at the local level—with listening, learning, and lifting one another up. From mentoring marginalized youth to leading community-driven initiatives, I’ve seen how intentional engagement can unlock potential and create lasting change. Through RISE, I’m excited to co-create a project that breaks down barriers to civic participation and helps more young people feel seen, heard, and empowered to lead.

  • A young woman standing on a wooden dock in front of a lake under a cloudy sky, wearing a dark long-sleeve top, a floral skirt with blue ribbons, and furry slippers.

    Gracey Rich (she/her)

    I joined RISE because I’m passionate about youth empowerment, Indigenous representation, and making civic engagement more accessible for all young people, especially those who feel overlooked or disconnected from traditional systems of power. I’m excited to work with other changemakers in Edmonton to build something that truly reflects and uplifts our community.

  • A woman with curly black hair, wearing glasses and a striped sweater, standing in front of a pink and purple floral wall with a tree on her left. She has a bag strap on her shoulder and is posing for the camera in a modern indoor setting.

    Habibo Gelle (she/her)

    I joined Rise because I’m passionate about uplifting youth and helping them access the tools, knowledge, and support they need to get involved in their communities. As someone who had to learn how to navigate civic engagement and community involvement on my own, I understand how overwhelming it can be. Rise creates space for youth to grow, connect, and turn their ideas into action, and I want to be part of making that journey easier for others.

  • Smiling woman with dark skin and a headscarf, standing in front of a tree and indoor plants, in a modern well-lit indoor setting.

    Iqmat Iyiola (she/her)

    I’m excited to further support youth and community engagement here in Edmonton. As well as contribute to a community project supporting local youth in learning how to enhance their civic leadership capabilities, cultivate meaningful connections, and grow their professional skillset and knowledge base.

  • A person climbing on an indoor bouldering wall with colorful holds, including blue, purple, pink, black, and yellow, inside a gym with a high metal ceiling.

    Judedale Villoso (he/him)

    I joined Rise because I believe that community is the backbone to meaningful progress as it brings people together and encourages inclusivity and connection. I hope to help promote barriers surrounding youth to empower, support, and represent them. Through this program, it has given me an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and connect with such amazing individuals while also giving back to the community I grew up in.

  • A woman with long red hair standing on a wet, leaf-covered trail in a forest, holding a black umbrella, wearing a black jacket and a leopard print skirt.

    Marilynn Burch-Harvey (she/her)

    Through the RISE program, I hope to provide accessible opportunities and learning to inspire youth to explore civic engagement. My experience lies in supporting youth and vulnerable populations, which continues to fuel my passion for igniting change. I was inspired to join RISE by the opportunity to create a project that is youth-centred and community-driven. I can’t wait to create magic with my cohort!

  • A woman wearing a dark red hijab, a black and beige argyle sweater, and gold jewelry standing against a plain green wall.

    Marium Sheikh (she/her)

    I joined the RISE Program to help make those opportunities more visible and accessible. I am passionate about creating pathways for youth to access resources, find their voice, and get involved in action-oriented projects that reflect their values. As a RISE Ambassador, I hope to highlight underrepresented perspectives, build community across Edmonton, and help others feel empowered to lead change in their own way.

  • A young woman wearing a white dress and hijab standing in front of a brick wall and a window.

    Mirelle Djajasaputra (she/her)

    I joined RISE because I believe real change starts within our communities, through collaboration, care, and a shared sense of purpose. Whether it's leading student organizations, organizing events, or building networks of support, I’ve seen how collective action can transform lives. Through RISE, I’m excited to contribute to a project that uplifts voices, strengthens connections, and inspires civic engagement.

  • Woman with long purple hair, glasses, and black clothing standing on a wooden bridge beside a pond with modern buildings and trees in the background under cloudy sky.

    Muna Nwanisobi (she/her)

    I joined RISE to support Youth engagements and create opportunities for Youths especially in vulnerable communities in different areas of society. I am passionate about community engagement and no the RISE program is one of the many ways I hope to do that.

  • Person taking a mirror selfie in a room with wooden doors, wearing a black hijab, black jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, black pants, black headphones, and holding a phone with a butterfly design case.

    Reem Handoom (she/her)

    The reason I joined Rise is because I think it’s really important to contribute to society while you can. At first you may not realize the impact it has on you to be a giver, but it truly shapes your character and gives you aura. Helping youth; my age, younger and older to have a chance to be empowered, educated and supported is literally my jam. I believe that when young people are empowered, they can create real change in their communities and beyond. Through Rise, I hope to grow as someone who uplifts others to recognize their own potential and pursue it with confidence.

  • A person standing indoors in front of a wooden lattice wall, wearing glasses, a white turtleneck, a denim jacket, jeans, and gray boots, smiling and looking to the side.

    Wol Abiamwol (he/him)

    Mental Health/Equality Advocate: Started working in detox/addiction recovery centres since 2017. Gradually progressed to  harm reduction/mental health-based outreach and client advocacy. Currently living my dream job of being able to provide support to services I deeply admire and resources to people of similar lived experience. In my off time I can be found doing every nerdy thing in the book: archery, playing with swords, watching movies/anime , reading , writing and drawing comic books, soccer and marathon running. Usually either planning my next adventure/skydive or hanging out with my dog Korra.