02/06/2025
Meet Tola ā The Advocateās Advocate! Tola participated in the New American Pathways 2023-2024 Civic Pathways program, where she learned that policy begins at the local level. This realization sparked a passion in her to help others advocate for themselves. Tola works to break down the fear and intimidation often felt around those in power. As she spent more time with politicians, she found herself less intimidated and now aims to make it easier for advocates and their representatives to engage in meaningful, accessible conversations.
Tolaās bold personality and confidence naturally position her as a leader. Sheās proud to have found a way to channel her energy into helping others connect with the issues that matter to them. This insight led her to launch a project centered on credit building for immigrants and at-risk communities, specifically addressing long-term financial decisions like buying a house or car. Tola identified a critical gap in credit education, particularly in refugee resettlement. To bridge this gap, she translated resources into English, Swahili, and Burmese, acknowledging these languages as underserved within New American Pathways.
For this yearās New Americans Celebration, Tolaās vision is to make representatives more approachable. She plans to shift the focus from information overload to clear, actionable calls to action, while helping her team communicate more effectively and work efficiently.
Tola will also be facilitating sessions for high school students and training both adults and younger individuals on how to create meaningful impact and become leaders in their communities.
Join us at the New Americans Celebration next week on February 13th!
Register here: https://inspiritus.jotform.com/team/crsa/NAC2025