Rayana Ba

Rayana moved from France to the United States when she was six. In her Senegalese family, traditions, food, and culture are extremely important. Rayana now lives in Jersey City, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country. As an immigrant, she values her city’s rich blend and celebration of cultures. Rayana proudly represents the interests of all Jersey City public school students as the student representative for her district’s school board. She is the president of her school’s French Honor Society and vice president of the Spanish club, which showcases her love for language, learning and immersion. Rayana is passionate about changing food insecurity because she believes access to healthy food is an inherent human right. She loves writing and playing soccer and wants to visit every continent before age 30. She is excited to be a Scholar to bring real positive change to her diverse community and looks forward to meeting her fellow scholars and learning about them and their ideas.