Last week, Mameneh started as the Manager of Equity and Inclusion. Mameneh's role is to help build a culture of inclusion within LeadMN, help students develop cultural competency skills, and advance social change within higher education that addresses the opportunity gap in Minnesota.
Please join us in welcoming Mameneh to the LeadMN team!
We did a short interview to get to know Mameneh.
What interested you in working for LeadMN?
Most of the work I’ve been involved in is focused on creating and finding pathways for marginalized or immigrant communities to overcome systemic barriers for a better quality of life here in the Twin Cities. One of the first ways that many encounter a barrier is in the education system, at an early age. I was one of those students. Understanding these barriers and being able to help students navigate out of them is the reason I was interested in working with LeadMN. Empowering the youth or students has been the foundation of most of the advocacy work that I have done.
Working closely with community leaders and local organizations representing immigrant communities in the northwest metro providing services, lifting voices and empowering communities through voter education/engagement, education reform, employment trainings, and neighborhood organizing are works I have been engaged in recently.
What are some of the things that you have been working on and are excited to work on in the future?
I am most excited about focusing more on equity and inclusion, specifically what that looks like to the people being served and how we can support and engage in equity for all students. Diving deeper into cultural competency and how it intersects with racial and social justice. I’m excited to learn. I am looking forward to engaging with students and staff in these ways.
What interests do you have outside of work?
One of my main interest outside of work is the arts. I also enjoy learning about sustainability of our natural resources and the planet and how we can cultivate and maintain our natural environment for future generations.