Yordanos Lemma

Yordanos is a first-generation Ethiopian American and takes great pride in her heritage and cultural identity. Within the Ethiopian community, there is a collaborative culture that places great value on mutual aid and a sense of belonging. These shared values foster unbreakable bonds and highlight the importance of creating unity rather than focusing on differences.

As a first-generation student raised in a bilingual household, she recognizes the crucial role of providing all students with fair and equal access to education. Yordanos’ greatest passion is in promoting and advocating for educational equity and she takes pride in using her voice to promote positive change. As a participant in Citizen University’s Youth Collaboratory, she spent last year learning how to build civic power for good. It was a deeply rewarding experience providing Yordanos with the opportunity to expand her social network and develop personally. As a Scholar she is, “very excited to develop meaningful relationships with other Scholars, especially connecting with and learning from the African Leadership Academy Scholars.”