IGNITE's Blog

Abriana Kirt wasn’t always interested in politics, but her political journey started soon after the 2016 election -- the first election she was able to vote in. While scrolling through Instagram one day, Abriana stumbled upon some posts by her good friend and previous IGNITE Atlanta Fellow, Kirsten Jackson. As Kirsten continued to post about her work as an IGNITE Fellow, Abriana’s interest in becoming a Fellow herself grew. IGNITE wasn’t in her area at the time, but after a year, the Fellowship opened up in Birmingham and Abriana jumped at the opportunity to become the very first Fellow in the area. 

Growing up in Nevada as the child of Afghani-immigrant parents, Saha Salahi always felt as though she was trying to find her sense of self, but didn’t think she’d find herself in politics. “I never thought I would be interested in politics, mostly because I’ve never seen someone like myself in the political realm.” shares Saha. 

Meet the 4th cohort of IGNITE Fellows. Every year IGNITE recruits a cohort of diverse and passionate women in communities across America and provides them with resources, training, and networks to flex their political power and mobilize women on their campuses and in their communities to become civically engaged. Fellows serve as ambassadors for IGNITE’s mission and vision and play a valuable role in our efforts to spread a national message that it is time for young women to step into political power.

After working at a law firm for six weeks, Zeenat Yahya realized she wanted to do something different. She applied to work for IGNITE, and after serving as the California Program Coordinator, headed off to grad school to study Education Policy in Washington state. Zeenat wanted to stay engaged with IGNITE, so she transitioned into the role of Seattle Fellow in 2017. 

As a child of Ethiopian immigrants, IGNITE Minnesota Fellow Raie Gessesse saw firsthand how politics can impact people. “My life has been a product of policy decisions and always had a relationship to how political leaders have structured society,” she shares. Though she never saw herself running for office when she was younger, attending IGNITE events showed her that to make a change in her community, she had to get political. 

Born in Jordan to Palestinian parents who were forced to flee their country, Ayah Ziyadeh says being an activist is in her blood. Fueled by her passion for making a difference in the world, she began participating in protests at the young age of 15 and now, at 23, she’s even more vocal about the changes that need to be made. Ayah is currently IGNITE’s Denver Fellow and has already started a career in politics, currently as a Legislative Aide to Representative Mike Weissman at the Colorado General Assembly. Despite her passion for change, she wasn’t always sure if politics was the path for her. 

With a passion for helping people tap into their hidden power, IGNITE Fellow Alicia Smith wants everyone to know that their civic engagement is crucial to the success of their community. Alicia came across IGNITE when she attended the annual Young Women Run New York conference last year. Upon hearing the call to action, she participated in a College Council hosted by the NY Fellow at the time, and was inspired to become a Fellow herself. With a bachelor’s degree in social work, Alicia wasn’t sure if the Fellowship was for her. She quickly discovered the Fellowship is for anyone who is passionate about creating change. 

“If you want to grow with others who support your personal and professional growth, and be part of an organization that’s changing the face of democracy, apply to be an IGNITE Fellow. Whether you want to be an environmentalist, or an activist, or an event planner, IGNITE will empower you to pursue these interests. IGNITE is right for so many different types of young women.” - Mary Black, IGNITE Fellow, North Carolina

Fiona Murray was interested in politics from a young age, but she never really saw herself as a politician. Now, the former IGNITE Seattle Fellow is well on her way to becoming a politician and is motivated to help other young women do the same. Fiona first came across the IGNITE Fellowship when a friend sent her the application, but she was unsure of whether to apply. She came across the application a few more times and spoke with her career advisor about the opportunity before finally applying on the last day. 

Meet the 2nd cohort of IGNITE Fellows. Every year IGNITE recruits a cohort of diverse and passionate women in communities across America and provides them with resources, training, and networks to flex their political power and mobilize women on their campuses and in their communities to become civically engaged. Fellows serve as ambassadors for IGNITE’s mission and vision and play a valuable role in our efforts to spread a national message that it is time for young women to step into political power.