Arsalan is a senior at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is passionate about social justice and healthcare advocacy. As president of his school’s Muslim Student Association, Arsalan fosters a space for dialogue and cultural exchange. He is also a board member of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, where he works on initiatives promoting philanthropy and youth engagement. Outside of school, Arsalan enjoys watching movies, playing soccer, baking, reading, language learning, and playing video games. He is excited to join REACH to amplify youth voices and help create equitable healthcare systems for all adolescents.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Mariska is currently a senior at Renaissance High School and is excited for her first year in REACH! She is particularly interested in environmental health, public health, and other health inequities within her community. She is honored to be working alongside REACH this year because of their commitment to self-advocacy and the inclusion of youth voices. Mariska participates in a mentorship and volunteering club for young Black women at her school called P.E.A.R.L.S. Outside of school, Mariska loves to read, bake, and listen to music! She hopes to major in Public Health and continue to address and advocate for health disparities in underserved communities.

Fanta is a senior at Washtenaw Technical Middle College, and this is her first year on REACH! She believes that there needs to be more input from those affected at the hands of health care providers. She is very enthusiastic about adolescents’ experiences with mental health professionals. She wants to help them understand their emotional, psychological, and well-being so that they can communicate and get the help they hope for and need. Outside of school, Fanta loves to paint and meditate. She also participates in her school’s National Honor Society. She plans to pursue a career in Adolescent Psychology. She is excited to work with REACH because it allows her to make change happen.

Bio coming soon!

Yeina is a junior at Pioneer High School and hopes to study biology in college. Yeina wants to be there for little kids and find an organization that lets her be a voice for adolescents, and she aspires to help their needs. She is also a part of the end sexual violence club and a part of the Ann Arbor Youth Council. She plays volleyball, basketball, and is in track. Yeina also loves to read and go shopping.

Sarah Kabala is a senior at the University of Michigan hoping to major in Public Health on a Pre-Medicine track. She is passionate about empowering youth to speak out on their health and advocating for the widespread education of girls’ and women’s health. Through REACH, she would like to learn how to effectively communicate with youth on the importance of their input in matters of their health and women’s health.

When she is not working with REACH, Sarah works at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and Arts as a Coaching and Outreach intern. Through the position, she has gotten the opportunity to guide students in ensuring they are well connected to internship prep and career prep resources. Sarah loves volunteering at the Michigan Medicine Hospital and explores her love of fashion with the Enspired Runway at the University of Michigan.

Overall, Sarah is very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of REACH and looks forward to learning from and engaging with people who are actively inspiring change in the lives of youth!

Bio coming soon!

Arya is currently a junior studying Public Health and Writing along a pre-med track at the University of Michigan, and this is her fourth year in REACH. She is particularly interested in the science and advocacy sides of health care. On campus, Arya writes for the Michigan Daily, works as the Project Lead of a biomedical engineering project team — Project MESA, and facilitates a support group for survivors of sexual assault as a University of Michigan Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center staff member. Outside of school, she enjoys writing, cooking, playing the piano, and exploring boba places on campus. Arya hopes to apply her passions to the medical field, where she'd like to use her facilitation skills and knowledge of lived experiences to better support patients in a health care setting. REACH has provided Arya with the opportunity to shape the health care other adolescents like her receive and amplify youth voices in these settings and beyond.

Bio coming soon!

Sri Tharika is currently a freshman at Wayne State University majoring in Neuroscience on a pre-med track and is super excited to be a part of REACH this year! She is passionate about improving access to healthcare for underserved communities and voicing against healthcare disparities. She is committed to educating her community and peers about sexual health as a Peer Educator for Planned Parenthood of Michigan. In her free time, she can be found volunteering at various hospitals, presenting on menstrual hygiene, binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy, or hanging out with friends! Sri is grateful to REACH for providing her with the opportunity to utilize her voice to improve the quality of healthcare received by her community.

Anum is currently a senior at Washtenaw International High School and this is her first year on REACH! She is passionate about healthcare and self-advocacy within it and has utilized opportunities at school and in her community to explore her passions. She leads her school’s Operation Smile club, is an active member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and hopes to study neuroscience in the future. Outside of school, she is an avid reader and loves to cook and bake! In REACH, she hopes to engage in the steps that can create more comfortable spaces for adolescents in health care.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Nazifa is a senior at Oakland International Academy High School and is thrilled to join the REACH Youth Advisory Council for the first time. She is deeply passionate about addressing health disparities and advocating for culturally competent care, particularly for immigrant and minority youth in South Asian communities.

Nazifa serves as the Student Council President and Parliamentarian for the National Honor Society at her school. She is also the coordinator for both HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and the Model UN Club. With plans to pursue a pre-med track in university, Nazifa aims to attend medical school and become a physician. Her passion for advocacy grew through a health equity research project on sickle cell anemia in the Black community, and she has gained valuable experience shadowing physicians through internships like RYSE MED at Henry Ford Hospital.

Nazifa looks forward to bringing her unique perspective on community-based health advocacy to REACH and working toward more inclusive health care systems for underrepresented, especially immigrant, youth. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing badminton, hanging out with her cousins, or connecting with fellow immigrant girls through a nonprofit organization.

Niko is in his first year at the University of Michigan where he is studying engineering physics, and this is his third year at REACH! He is passionate about advocating for youth mental health and providing resources for LGBTQ+ youth. He finds REACH extremely valuable as it allows for a safe, constructive atmosphere where youth voices can be heard and utilized to help many others. Outside of school, he enjoys playing the piano, baking, driving with the windows down, and reading psychology books.