April was selected to join Rise Up’s inaugural cohort of California Leaders in 2019 and with Rise Up’s support she is working to protect the safety, dignity, and rights of incarcerated women throughout the state of California. Knowing the terrors of incarceration first-hand, April has dedicated her life to raising awareness of juveniles and women impacted by mass incarceration and is deeply committed to giving women behind bars a voice.

April is currently the State Coordinator for the Young Women’s Freedom Center, which is dedicated to transforming the conditions, systems, and policies that lead to intergenerational cycles of violence, incarceration, and poverty through leadership, research, and advocacy.

April also goes inside prisons to inspire women with the hope of a better life. She loves what she does and will continue to fight until the criminal justice system changes and incarcerated women and girls are empowered.

Aisha became one of our first Rise Up Leaders in 2010.  With support from Rise Up, Aisha and her organization, HOPE, successfully advocated for the passage of Liberia’s Children’s Act, which secured Liberian children's rights to education, healthcare, and protection from violence. The Act became one of the most comprehensive pieces of children’s rights legislation enacted in Africa. Aisha then began working for Rise Up as the Liberia Country Representative in 2011. 

Aisha continues to advance the rights of Liberian girls and youth and with Rise Up’s support and in partnership with Girl Up, HOPE established “Girl Clubs” in nine public schools across five counties in Liberia, empowering young girls with knowledge of their rights and encouraging them to become leaders.

Aisha’s hard work has also led to the creation and adoption of the Girls’ Manifesto, a development plan for the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women that is currently being implemented nationwide.