Aisha Elbgal is a first-generation Muslim Yemeni-American with an intended major in Social Welfare. She was born and raised in Oakland, California where she has witnessed a plethora of issues engulf her beloved city coupled with the lack of action at the hands of those in power. This sparked a passion in Aisha from a young age when she gave a speech at her middle school about the early rise of gentrification and displacement in what was once a beautiful and diverse Oakland. She is now working to address issues such as educational inequity, public health and safety, homelessness, and more. Aisha is currently serving her second consecutive term as a Commissioner for the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC). Alongside other passionate youth within the city, Aisha represents the issues and needs of youth and other marginalized communities throughout Oakland and presents these concerns to City Council. Her latest project is a collaboration effort with the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program (APISA). She is aiming to address the lack of support offered to Yemeni/Arab high school students during the college application process through college readiness workshops with guest speakers from similar backgrounds. Aisha plans on continuing her work with the Commission and hopes that her efforts will spark a city-wide conversation on how we can better serve our communities.
Major(s): Social Welfare