Project Light Shade
Protecting melanin through sun safety & skincare
Meet our Team
Young leaders dedicated to making a difference in our communities
Co-Founder
Nuhamin Michael
Hi! I am one of the co-founders and a junior from Maryland! I want to study computer science, and public health in future! I love baking, watching movies, and spending time with my friends! One fun fact about is that I have a dog.
Co-Founder
Mikal Kidane
Hello☀️! I am the co-founder of Project LightShade and a junior from Montgomery county, Maryland. I started this initiative to spread sun safety awareness and empower underserved communities with accessible skincare education! In my free time, I love watching Netflix shows, spending time with my friends, and listening to R&B music. Fun fact: I am left handed.
Co-President
Asia Williams
I’m a junior living in Broward County Florida, my interests are mainly historically based and/or fun based with friends/family! I decided to join P.L.S because i feel everyone has a fair shot when it comes to caring for your skin and this initiative would help others in need of guidance!
Co-President
Muna Ikeme
My name is Muna, and I'm one of the Social Media Directors! I’m 17 years old and live in Pennsylvania. Some of my favorite hobbies include cheering, traveling, and skincare! A fun fact about me is that I’m studying to become an EMT!
Co-President
Hala Faisal
I’m a rising senior from Bahrain and the Outreach & Partnerships Lead at ProjectLightShade. I joined to push for sun safety in overlooked communities and connect with like-minded changemakers. I love short hair and big ideas. Fun fact: I despise oranges—don’t ask me why, I just do.
Co-President
Amrutha Paruchuri
Hi, I'm a senior from Pennsylvania. I joined because I care about sun safety and helping people learn more about their skin. Fun fact: I love traveling and exploring new places.
Co-President
Syavra Polury
I'm a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio with a passion for health education, equity, and community impact. I joined to make a difference through education and empowerment. Fun fact: I played the guitar for five years!
Co-President
Aliah Gombio
I am a senior at Jackson Reed High School. I play various instruments such as guitar, ukulele, and xylo. I also sing and dance/performing artist. Also, I joined because I wanted to support black communities and gain experience from this project. A fun fact about me is I’m not scared of worms, rodents, and cockroaches, but I'm scared of frogs.
Co-President
Clarisse Uwase
Im from Rwanda, im in grade 11th. My interest are reading, coding, writing poetry, and also learning how to play the guitar. I decided to join because I want to understand and protect my skin and also help other understand their skin as well, one fun fact about me is that I sometimes sing( I grew up loving singing, listening to music, it’s just something I do when I’m bored or feeling down to cheer myself up!)
Co-President
Aarah Patel
I’m Aarah and I am in 11th grade. I am from long valley and love baking and playing tennis. My role is volunteer coordinator and I joined as I am interested in the dermatology field. A fun fact is that I have never broken any bones.
Skin Health Awareness Engineer
Alisha Chatterjee
Hi, my name is Alisha Chatterjee, and I am a senior from New Jersey. I am a part of my school’s Design clubs and create event decorations for my town’s senior center. I joined ProjectLightShade to promote sun skincare for melanin skin tones. Finally, a fun fact about me is that I tried my first pickle at 16!
Outreach and Partnerships Lead
Isabelle Arusiuka
I'm a senior from Alief, Texas, passionate about environmental advocacy and community leadership. I serve as a community outreach lead for ProjectLightShade to help raise awareness and empower youth. I joined to amplify underrepresented voices and spark change. Fun fact: I love musicals
Outreach and Partnerships Lead
Zara Gill
I am a rising senior from California with interests in art, graphic design, travel, and photography. I joined to help raise awareness about the importance of sunscreen and sun safety through impactful visuals. Fun fact: I collect postcards from every place I visit.