Sanaa Sloan

With the NC Child Youth Council we work to drive policy change for youth in North Carolina. Engaging with peers and mentors, we work to raise awareness about the importance of mental health resources in our community and other issues regarding youth.

I am able to mentor an amazing group of black students, supporting them with volunteer opportunities to prepare them for college. I teach them the importance of supporting their community and leadership through service.

I work to diminish food insecurity by providing choices in groceries and meals that are nourishing, and delicious. I have packaged over 100 grocery orders with this nonprofit.

I manage and address organizational issues while also learning about biology and medicine.

As a volunteer I created educational TikToks about mental health, participated in youth led storytelling event where we shared personal mental health experiences with other youth, and completed QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training.

Best Foot Forward is a nonprofit that works to diminish financial barriers to participation in extracurricular activities by providing professional clothing to students in need. I create monthly initiatives for community service, educational campaigns, clothing drives, and promotional series. We are proud to have donated professional clothing to 15+ schools in our school district.

I address the pressing challenges of expanding sustainability and fostering social impact within companies, communities, and organizations. As boardrooms filled with older executives and confusing jargon exclude youth voices from shaping solutions, I offer a unique perspective from the youth allowing my generation to be heard. At Navigating Grey, we also developed an app, SustainImpact Navigator, that helps companies comprehend and scale localized socioeconomic impact. Our app acts as a bridge, offering a real perspective straight from the citizens, who validate the progress that companies claim they are initiating. Through the app, so far, we have targeted over 2,000 users and are able to see real-time data from all over the U.S.

I lead team practices, give my peers advice, and uplift my team with a positive attitude and spirit. I also qualified for regionals all four years of high school.

I actively volunteered and raised $1,000 for St. Jude's Research Hospital. Through shared experiences with members, mentors, St. Jude staff, and the community, I gained valuable leadership skills while supporting an incredible cause. I connected with patients and their families, and had the opportunity to discuss impactful leadership with various community leaders. (13+ hours contributed)

I supervised children summer cooking classes and provided hands-on guidance in the kitchen, teaching children essential cooking skills.