Accelerate Access

Juasline Plasencia⁠, 2019 Nyah Fellow and first generation college graduate from Hamilton College, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss everything from transitioning to adulthood, to her most memorable moments from her Nyah Project fellowship to Ghana, to uplifting indigenous communities. Also find out how she became a Posse Scholar to help pay for college and what it’s like for her to be an art teacher at her alma mater, Southridge...

Heavyn Lee, 2019 Nyah Fellow and Harvard University student, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss her passion for home building and interior design, her aspirations to study law to help those traditionally disadvantaged by the legal system, and . Also, find out how her reflective experiences in Bali as part of her Nyah Project Fellowship and Access coaching helped her win the prestigious Gates Scholarship to attend Harvard!

"It...

James Brown-Urmeneta, 2023 Nyah Fellow and Questbridge Scholar at Boston College, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss his journey from doubt to confidence as key to his success and being limitless, his first international travel experience for his Nyah Project Fellowship to Morocco, and the power of vulnerability in building relationships. Also find out why he admires LeBron James’ as a leader and cares about solving world hunger, ...

Tyler McCray, 2021 Nyah Fellow and Tennessee State University student, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss how he’s working towards his career goal in physical therapy, closing the wealth disparity gap, and honing his creative and entrepreneurial skills. Also find out what his most memorable experiences were during his Nyah Project fellowship to Ghana, how he got a full ride to college, and more!

"Seeing my community be forced...

Brandon Zamudio, 2022 Nyah Fellow and first generation student at Yale University, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss the importance of empathy, the challenges of pursuing success in a socioeconomically disadvantaged context, and what he learned about himself and vulnerability during his Nyah Project fellowship to Ghana. Also find out why he’s studying economic policy and how he plans to address issues in his own community before ...

Melvin Rivers, 2014 Nyah Fellow and physical education teacher in Orlando, FL, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss the evolution of his purpose and career path, being adopted and finally reconnecting with his biological family, and how volunteering for weekly food drives shaped his childhood. Also find out what it was like for Melvin to be a guinea pig as part of the first Nyah Project Fellowship cohort a decade ago and the leaders...

Jose Prieto, 2018 Nyah Fellow and University of Miami alum, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss his lifelong journey to becoming a musician and educator in Palo Alto, CA; how moving out (and across the country) helped his relationship with his parents; and his Nyah Project fellowship experience in Ghana with Dr. Senyo Adjibolosoo. Also find out how he defines community and how he’s shaping the future, plus more!

"Music re...

Ayden Wilson, 2022 Nyah Fellow and Florida Atlantic University student, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss how Nyah Project helped him get out of his comfort zone, systemic racism in America, and his highs and lows from Ghana. Also find out how he’s combining his passion for sports and statistics with his career pursuits, plus more!

"The biggest challenge for me right now is systemic racism in America. I feel like not enough ...

Ana Gonzalez, 2019 Nyah Fellow and Texas A&M alum, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss starting her own business, her vision for improving the education system to be more equitable and brain-based learning. Also find out how her Nyah Project experience in Bali, Indonesia, transformed her and how Access Online helped her for her master’s program, plus more!

"Everyone has a purpose in this world. Do not let anybody dim your ...

D'Angelo Valdez, 2016 Nyah Fellow and Syracuse University alum, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss his journey from childhood poverty to becoming an educator in Atlanta, using tech for good, and his transformative Nyah Project fellowship experience to Ghana. Also find out what his hopes and dreams are for his young family, and more!

"It's not [about] creating another leader; it's more so giving another opportunity...

Naveen Siddiqui, 2021 Nyah Fellow and student at the University of Florida, sits down with Leigh-Ann (before flying to Brazil as a Critical Language Scholar!) to discuss first impressions, star gazing in rural Ghana, and why she decided to wear the hijab. Also find out how she transferred skills from Access Online to secure some pretty cool academic and professional development opportunities, both domestically and abroad, plus more...

Louise Gong-McGovern, 2022 Nyah Fellow and University of Florida student, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss her unique upbringing between China and the United States, what activities this thrill-seeker loved most during her Nyah Project fellowship to Ghana, and how she builds and maintains relationships. Also find out this first gen student secured the bag to get paid to go to college and more!

"There are so many countr...

Alvin Huezo, a 2017 Nyah Fellow currently working in the commercial real estate industry, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss affordable housing and community development, therapy and cultural barriers to mental health, and (re)building your life during (and after) college. Also find out how the Emory University and Florida International University alumnus became a Nyah Fellow and what his most memorable experiences are from his fe...

Isabel Armedilla, 2019 Nyah Fellow and recent University of Florida graduate, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss imposter syndrome, the birth of Access Online, and why she focuses on equity issues, especially as it relates to education and healthcare. Also find out more about her Nyah Project Fellowship experience to Bali, Indonesia, and more!

"There is so much collaboration that is needed to bring humanity to the forefront. ...

Edward Leonard, 2015 Nyah Fellow and University of South Florida alumnus, sits down with Leigh-Ann to share his perspectives on love, independence and creativity, his experience attending a small college, and his love of literature in a state that’s banning book. Also find out more about the early (paper application!) years of Nyah Project and his fellowship experience in Costa Rica, plus more!

"I was in a school system w...

Nyla Seymour, 2019 Nyah Fellow and computer engineering major at the University of Central Florida, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss representation in STEM, emotional agility and becoming a “soft” leader, and what (and who) has helped unlock her own potential. Also learn why she values opportunities for cross-cultural connection, why she wants to open her own restaurant, and more!

"It was really important for me to show up ...

Miles Mariano-Ortilla, 2019 Nyah Fellow, youth activist, and head coordinator of the TAP Scholarship Fund, sits down with Leigh-Ann all the way from Ritsumeikan University in Japan. They discuss why he struggles with the label “Filipino-American,” his concept of home as a self-proclaimed wanderer, and why he’s passionate about education access for all. Also find out how his Nyah Project experience inspired him to create a scholarsh...

Jaida Houston, 2019 Nyah Fellow and soon-to-be graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss life from Overtown to “Black Hollywood”, how she got interested in urban planning and development, and the need for community and a sense of belonging. Also find out more about Jaida’s journey to success at an HBCU, her take on the affordable housing crisis, and more!

They also discuss:

• Her 3 biggest...