Roots & Resistance Activators
2026 Cohort

Akshita Nannapaneni (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. Akshita is Indian-American and deeply connected to her roots, and is passionate about dismantling social injustices through education, policy, and youth civic engagement. She also has a strong interest in physics and STEM.

Akshita cares deeply about racial equity, menstrual equity, educational equity, human rights, and policy. Through civic leadership, research, advocacy, and service, she has worked on school and town policies to bring tangible change to her town, researched societal issues, and written articles and literary pieces to bring greater awareness to issues affecting her community. Akshita is also a swimmer and javelin thrower!​

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Cyvant Hayes (he/him) is a member of the Claremont Academy Class of 2027 in Worcester. He is a first-generation biracial student with four siblings who has a strong love of music, sports, and philosophy. He enjoys learning, pushing himself to improve in the things he is passionate about, and developing a stronger understanding of the world around him.

Cyvant cares deeply about climate change, women’s rights, inclusivity, African American and human rights, and cultural diversity within his community. He has contributed to his community through several community service activities and by organizing and inspiring others to peacefully advocate around issues such as the mistreatment of individuals by ICE. He has also helped plan and manage charity events, including walks for Alzheimer’s and ALS, while supporting local youth groups in the Worcester area. Cyvant loves making music and performing live.

Diya Manikandan (she/her) is a member of the Andover High School Class of 2027. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, trying new coffee and matcha recipes, volunteering in her community, and adding to her CD collection. She is passionate about learning more about public policy and urban planning, particularly the ways that history continues to shape the places where people live.

Diya is passionate about immigrant rights, equitable housing, and environmental justice. She believes that individual experiences can reveal systemic issues that require change and that these issues can be addressed through advocacy and collective action. Her community involvement has included volunteering at soup kitchens, helping facilitate local youth advocacy and know-your-rights workshops, tutoring a student from Ukraine in English, and interning at the Massachusetts State House. Diya also has a beagle named Cookie, loves going on walks with her, and enjoys traveling, discovering new hobbies, and experiencing new foods and traditions from different communities.

Rediet Shimelis (she/her) is a rising senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. She enjoys baking, taking walks along the Charles River, and doing nails. She is also passionate about celebrating her Ethiopian culture through dance, music, and community, which allows her to stay connected to her roots while sharing her culture with others.

Rediet cares deeply about health equity, racial justice, and ensuring that marginalized communities have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. Her experiences as part of the Ethiopian community have inspired her to advocate for greater representation, inclusion, and support for communities that are often overlooked. Rediet has been involved in her community through cultural, educational, and youth leadership opportunities. She serves as a leader in her Ethiopian community through dance, mentors younger students through Science Club for Girls, and supports her school community through student leadership opportunities. She is especially proud of her Ethiopian roots. A fun fact about Rediet is that her favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip, especially the one from Trader Joe’s.

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Florida Sur-Pen (she/her) is an 11th-grade student at Worcester Academy. She is from the Central African Republic and has a younger brother. Florida is passionate about writing and was honored with a Silver Key for poetry from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. During the school year, she serves as the head editor of her school newspaper, where she enjoys writing and helping bring stories to life.

Florida cares deeply about homelessness and the systemic inequities that contribute to it, including a lack of affordable housing and inadequate access to resources. She also cares about immigration issues and advocating for people who do not have power over the country’s aggressive enforcement policies and deportations. For the past two years, Florida has volunteered each summer as a counselor for several summer camps in her community. She has also been a member of YCI, Youth for Community Improvement, a program that empowers young people to address pressing community needs through philanthropy. Outside of her community work and writing, Florida loves to read and speaks French and Sango fluently in addition to English.

Ayanna Smith (she/her) is a rising senior at Fairhaven High School in the Class of 2027. She is biracial, with Jamaican and White heritage, and her father is an immigrant. Ayanna enjoys reading, writing stories, listening to music, exploring nature, spending time at the beach, and decorating and designing spaces. She also loves visiting new places and learning about different communities.

Ayanna is passionate about racial justice, immigrant rights, and creating more inclusive schools. She has participated in ICE protests and spoken out against racism and inequity in her school community because she believes everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Ayanna enjoys getting involved in activities that encourage inclusion, social justice, and positive change in her community. Her background and experiences have shaped her passion for social justice and equality, while her creativity and curiosity inspire her interests in writing, interior design, nature, and exploring new places. ​

Harman Kaur (she/her) is a member of the Somerville High School Class of 2027. She is a first-generation Punjabi Indian American student who is passionate about advancing educational equity, supporting immigrant communities, and empowering young people through civic engagement. She also enjoys reading and playing badminton.

Harman cares deeply about ensuring that every student has access to opportunities and feels represented in their community. She is especially passionate about expanding language accessibility and empowering young people to advocate for meaningful change. Harman founded her school’s ACLU Club, where she works to educate students about civil rights, encourage civic participation, and create spaces for conversations about equity and justice. She has also volunteered through a multicultural reading project, developing and implementing a diverse book curriculum for younger students so they can see their cultures and experiences represented in education.

Harman has worked with local youth and community organizations focused on racial and social justice, contributing to initiatives involving language accessibility, immigrant advocacy, and community engagement. She has helped create multilingual resources, participated in discussions about issues affecting marginalized communities, and advocated for students’ voices to be included in decisions that impact them. A project she is particularly proud of is the multicultural literacy project she developed to help younger students see their cultures represented through books.

Nosaiba Jahin (she/her) is an 11th grader at Cambridge Rindge and Latin Academy. Through the Roots & Resistance Activator Fellowship, she hopes to develop a deeper understanding of social justice and how it connects to everyday life. She cares about not only about the systems and issues that affect communities, but also about the practical ways individuals can create positive change. 

Nosaiba is especially interested in gaining hands-on experience working directly with communities and learning from people who are already engaged in this work. She believes there is a great deal that can be learned through real life involvement that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. Nosaiba is passionate about immigrant rights, housing stability, and journalism and media. 

Vienna Dschung (she/her) just graduated from Weston High School and is excited to begin her next chapter at University of Michigan in the fall. Vienna is an alumni of the Leadership Next Gen program at CARE. Vienna is a daughter and granddaughter of first generation immigrants.

About her time with CARE, Vienna writes, "When I first became a CARE Leadership Next Gen Fellow, I thought justice and equity were mostly focused on fairness and making sure everyone has equal opportunities. However, I’ve since realized that there are deeper layers in this topic. In my community, justice and equity cannot occur without education."

Daisy Mendez (she/her) is a member of the GLCPS Class of 2028 in New Bedford. She is a second-generation Latina from Guatemala with six siblings. Daisy enjoys playing badminton, hiking, camping, and biking up mountains, and one of her passions is going to Boston as often as she can. She cares deeply about humanizing big issues, whether that means looking at immigration through personal stories, analyzing how leaders use speeches to shape public opinion, or focusing on overlooked topics like people’s feet to explore questions of labor, poverty, and dignity.

Daisy has been involved in her community since starting at her current school, taking advantage of opportunities to volunteer at events and help package materials and clean community spaces. She is proud of her Guatemalan heritage and enjoys finding ways to give back to the community around her.

Paul Kaloi Ssengendo (he/him) is a member of the Acton-Boxborough Class of 2027 in Acton. He is a proud Ugandan from a family of three children and is passionate about helping people who need support. Paul is particularly interested in immigration and environmental issues. He enjoys watching movies, reading books, and playing soccer. He has also given back to his community through volunteer work at a place that serves community members. Through his interests and volunteer work, Paul is committed to supporting people who need help and contributing to his community.