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Empowering Future Leaders: Shani Gzifa's Journey with the Civic Leadership Institute

Shani Gzifa went from collecting recycling after school in Environmental Club to meeting with the Department of Agriculture on soil initiatives in a little over a month.


Gzifa became interested in the environment sort of by accident. Wiith limited access to after school programs and clubs at her school, she wanted to find a way to get involved and took to the club without knowing it would lead her to even more opportunities. 

When Gzifa joined the CLI, she was looking to continue her interest in the environment, “I was thinking, ‘What can I do that combines my interests together? I proposed the idea to do something with soil because the sponsor for my club was saying a lot of soil is contaminated, not just in Maryland but around the world and it’s not talked about. So I thought, ‘Let me do my project on that.”


Gzifa’s experience in the CLI got off to a great start, “I would say the brainstorming part was really fun because I got to work with Rose. But it was fun to collaborate with other people.” And with the support of her community, she was able to tackle the difficult task of researching and understanding soil development 

Start with a compelling hook or anecdote that captures the essence of the student’s experience or the impact of the Civic Leadership Institute (CLI). Introduce the student by name and briefly mention their background and what led them to the CLI. “I would say it was tougher when we went home and had to do it on our own, but I was able to get through it.”


And her efforts didn’t go unnoticed, “Ashley set up a Zoom meeting with us with these two ladies from the department of agriculture and they said they would be interested in helping us do the soil workshop. To have people bring in soil from their local parks or streets or even just their front yard to do contamination testing on it.” The meeting has led to talks of a possibility of holding a community event that teaches about the importance of good quality soil in our environments.


And despite these big opportunities, Gzifa says she never felt unsure of her place as one of the youngest participants in the CLI, “I didn’t feel like I wasn’t supposed to be there. And to be in an environment where - I don’t have that many opportunities at school - I had the opportunity to speak in front of people and to share my ideas while also learning from people that are older than me felt really good.”  

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