Rashaunea Ambers-Winston

Rashaunea is a first-generation college student born and raised in North Minneapolis. She received her Liberal Arts Associate Degree from Dougherty Family College and graduated with her Bachelor's Degree with a major in Sociology at the University of St. Thomas. She is passionate in fighting for social justice and racial equality in education, health, and housing. Rashaunea uses her voice to make a difference in her community through her poetry. She has created a website called rawlifepoetey.com to express how it feels to be Black in America and to talk about the many forms of social injustices, such as police brutality, gun violence, and the education system that impacts her community. She is the poet for a social justice book called Lake Street Speaks which presents the art from the George Floyd Uprising. Rashaunea has also read her poetry in multiple schools and community events to inspire change. Bridging divides and strengthening civic dialogue is important to her because no one deserves to have different access to resources and treatment due to the color of their skin. Rashaunea is determined to bridge the divide among the negative views of African Americans and to talk about how institutional racism is causing racial disparities in education, housing, and our healthcare systems. We must have community voices and understanding from one another to help advocate change. Rashaunea is a curious and passionate individual who strives to innovate the world.