Cohort 3 (2020-2022)
ADELINA ROMERO, COHORT 3
Adelina Romero is a junior at The City College of New York, pursuing a double major in International Studies and Latin American & Latino Studies and a minor in Community Change Studies. Within this combination of studies, Adelina is committed to unpacking global histories of systemic racism, resistance movements, and educational/achievement disparities facing the latinx community. Currently, her research is focused on examining contemporary manifestations of patriarchal values within diasporic Latin American communities as colonial imports integral to the maintenance and development of the white supremacy that subjugates Latin Americans today via issues of reproductive justice, gender-based violence, and systemic racism. As an academic and woman of color, Adelina is focused on the use of intersectionality within political reform policy, community organizing, and racial discourse. In her personal research and scholarly discussions with other students of color, Adelina hopes to uncover issues of race in America that have been largely dismissed within the POC community. Ultimately, she hopes to use her degree to bring political education to her community and empower young women of color to create their own educational paths to personal fulfillment.
MANGBE SYLLA, COHORT 3
Mangbe Sylla is a junior at City College of New York double majoring in Political Science and Black Studies. As a student activist, Mangbe is an active member of Domestic Awareness, a collective that partners with Columbia University’s Freedom and Citizenship Civic Leadership program. Mangbe also has experience interning with Degrees NYC’s Youth Council in their policy and advocacy division focused on higher education. These experiences developed her passion for black feminist frameworks, foreign policies regarding education, and the rising renaissance of black artists and sustainable fashion practices. As a second-generation Ivorienne-American, Mangbe grew up loving fashion but struggled to find women like her represented. She hopes to travel the world working with women of color to make education more accessible in developing countries, create opportunities for black artists in the fashion world and fiercely use her voice to amplify the voices of black feminst thinkers and advocate for the advancements of black women in society.
DIVINE NDOMBO, COHORT 3
Divine Soona Gertrude Ndombo was born in Cameroon and immigrated to Central Harlem in 2004 with her family. She is a self proclaimed Harlemite and proudly Congolese on her mother’s side. Divine’s introduction to social justice began in an afterschool program at her middle school called GirlsTalk/GuysTalk. With its center on community building and youth empowerment, it planted a seed of love for social justice that has only grown over the past 10 years. This passion has been especially cultivated in the last 4 years within her experience at YVote and the YA-YA Network, both of which Divine is now an alumni continuing to provide her knowledge, enthusiasm, and leadership. Currently, she sits as the Director of Youth Development at The YA-YA Network where she primarily runs the Empower Fellowship Program. Divine is passionate about addressing the disparities of undocumented students within the education system, decriminalizing black and brown students and advocating for school-wide implemented restorative justice, and addressing disenfranchisement and lack of civic education in schools. Outside of these endeavors she is also an entrepreneur, having just recently launched ForeSee Miracles, a black-owned company aimed at providing quality hair care products for Black folks with 4-Type hair and creating a space for Black identity, community, and expression.