Basil "Baze" Ribakare

I was raised by refugee parents who were determined to beat the odds that were stacked against them. This determination to turn the odds in your favor was passed down to me and now I desire to instill that same belief and support in my communities. I was able to beat the odds through the support of my various nonprofit organizations as well as through access to local libraries and learning centers. I am proud to be part of this community of change-makers dedicated to transforming local government. This fellowship connects me with a diverse group of experts and practitioners, each contributing a wealth of knowledge and experience. I look forward to learning from both my professors and peers, who are of valuable insights to enrich my understanding. Through this program and the sharing of knowledge, I am confident that my skills and ability to drive change will flourish. During the pandemic, I started a nonprofit organization with a couple of buddies of mine and we hosted our first meeting on Zoom in April 2020. Since its conception, we’ve raised over 40,000$ and donated grants to various organizations in Arizona. I love doing anything I can to help individuals beat the odds stacked against them!