Sanah Jivani
Career & Alumni Services Manager
Sanah Jivani is a Harry S. Truman Scholar and dual degree graduate at The University of Pennsylvania, receiving a M.S. in Non-Profit Leadership and an M.S.E.d. Education, Culture, and Society. She was drawn to the position of Community Engagement Manager at Generation Hope because she is passionate about community partnerships and promoting college access. She previously served as the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization called The Love Your Natural Self Foundation, which focuses on empowering individuals through events, movements, and hands-on sessions. She started this organization after losing all of her hair to Alopecia in the seventh grade and struggling with wigs, bullying, and low self-worth. Her organization continues to have an impact, with programming on over 150 campuses that reaches over 50,000 students per year. Outside of her work with her non-profit, she has worked with organizations such as The Born This Way Foundation, The Peace Studio, America’s Promise Alliance, and The National Network to End Domestic Violence. In her free time, Sanah enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, and writing (particularly poetry and personal columns).
Quote:
“My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.” - Tara Westover
Why I chose this quote:
As a survivor of domestic violence, the voices telling me that I could not overcome my adversities were loud. My life changed when I realized the power of my own voice. I learned to love myself, even when the voices telling me not to were loud and relentless. Generation Hope scholars showcase this persistence and resilience daily as they navigate systems often not designed to support them. Loving yourself is one of the bravest things you can do and I think this quote embodies that idea. To realize the power, strength, and resilience of your voice in a world that often tries hard to silence you is courageous beyond measure.