High school students driving change through storytelling and advocacy with AWAKE 2025.

Our Team

Nicole Appiah (she/her)

I’m a Ghanaian American born and raised in Nashville, TN. As President my main role has been task delegation, accountability, and communication on behalf of the team. Within our HOME in TN project, I worked as an interviewer and content editor.

Valerie Hernandez (she/her)

I serve as the Secretary of the Student Advisory Board and have a consistent history of advocating for and supporting immigrant communities. I am passionate about outreach and collaboration and always welcome opportunities to hear from others and expand our impact.

Regan Duong (he/him)

I serve as the Treasurer and Media Editor and I’m empowered to make a difference on the negative perceptions of immigrants as I believe it’s important to highlight the current obstacles and help eliminate the negativity they face.

Aan Saba (she/her)

I serve as a media and content editor, driven by a passion for equality and a commitment to challenging the dehumanization of immigrants by amplifying empathy, understanding, and shared humanity.

Allison Hernandez-Sanchez (she/her)

As Media and Content Editor I believe that spreading awareness and bringing light to our current events is the most effective way to step forward into a better future for all. Change should be embraced and fears must be faced in order to dare others to grow beyond systemic barriers and I am most passionate about networking with others towards a shared goal.

Dastan Sulaiman (she/her)

I initially joined AWAKE’s student advisory board due to my personal commitment to advocacy. As we continued our work, this project became very personal to me. I serve as one of the media and content editors, and through HOME, I’ve become more passionate about how intersectionality between the humanities and social sciences can create a meaningful impact. I will continue to advocate for immigrant experiences and civic education, and I hope our project can evoke the same feelings for others.

Sarah Ji (she/her)

As a designer for the AWAKE Student Advisory Board, I use creative storytelling and digital design to bring communities together and challenge misinformation. As a second-generation student, I’ve witnessed the inequities immigrant communities face, which drives my commitment to advocacy and education. I designed this website and logo to center immigrant experiences, increase access to resources, and use design as a tool for connection and understanding.

Michael Adamu (he/him)

As a member of the 2025 AWAKE Student Advisory Board, I am committed to using my voice to stand up for immigrants facing challenges in our community. Also I want to spread awareness to issues they may be facing because I believe it is important to advocate for what is right and I hope our project will help make a positive impact.

Alice Cramer (she/her)

Over the past years, growing hate and dehumanization of immigrants has been a huge problem in the United States. I always want to challenge myself to stand up for people whose voices are being ignored, and this project was the first step to doing that for the immigrant community. I conducted the interview “Immigrants Make America Great” and am so grateful to my interviewee and everyone who helped us get to where we are. The experience taught me so much about justice and those who have it taken away. I hope to continue my advocacy journey in any way I can. 

Sofiya Patra (she/her)

As a member of the Student Advisory Board, my immigrant background informs my commitment to community organizing and education. I am motivated by the need to challenge harmful narratives and support spaces where immigrant experiences are treated with dignity.

Zahra Ansari. (she/her)

As a member of the 2025 AWAKE Student Advisory Board, I am committed to using my voice and the resources around me to spread awareness of the challenges immigrants face and break the stigma surrounding immigration in our current political climate.I hope that this platform can make a positive impact in the way that immigrants in Tennessee are perceived and treated.