This week, Grassroots welcomes two new program managers to our team, thanks to our strong partnership with Global Health Corps. While we are sad that our current fellows Ru and Sahaan are finishing up their fellowships, we could not be more thrilled to have Alex and Limbani join the TGP fam!
Keeping with tradition, we did a quick Q&A with both of them.
Read on to learn more about Alex and Limbani!
Alexandra McAuliffe was born in New York City but grew up just outside of the city in Fairfield, CT. She studied Sociology and Latin American Studies at the College of William & Mary in Virginia before joining Teach for America, an organization within AmeriCorps. Teach for America sent Alex to teach for three years in Philadelphia. Alex’s interest in public health work stemmed from her undergraduate studies, and she applied to the Global Health Crops in attempt to return to the field.
Where is your favorite place that you’ve ever traveled?
Santiago, Chile – I studied abroad there for 5 months 🙂
Here at Grassroots, we address everyone by nicknames because it’s more fun for the kids, and quite frankly for us as well! What is your Grassroots nickname going to be?
I’ve gone by Alex, Ali, A-town, and Big-Al, so any of the above.
We’re all about praising and celebrating each other for a job well done. We call these “shout-outs.” If you could give a shout-out to anyone right now, who would it be and why?
I’d give a shout-out to my co-fellow Limbani, who is taking the time to genuinely get to know me and build a friendship! I’d also give a shoutout to my friends and family who encouraged me to combine my interests in education and public health by working with an organization like TGP.
What are you most excited about this upcoming year?
I’m most excited about the chance to continue working with students, but getting to focus and make an impact on a different component of their well-being and education.
Who is your biggest role model and why?
My older sister is my biggest role model because she has a special talent for uniting people across their boundaries and differences, building strong relationships, and creating inclusive communities with everyone she meets.
What is your favorite sport & what is your favorite sports team?
My favorite sport to watch is soccer, but if we’re being honest, I don’t follow any soccer teams, and only really root for the Yankees.
Fun/Random/Interesting fact about yourself.
I’m extremely gullible and will fall for practical jokes and believe almost any fib or lie that you (cruelly!) choose to tell me for laughs.
What is your favorite candy/snack food?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (candy) Goldfish (snack food).
If you were stranded on a desert island & could only bring 3 people with you, who would they be & why?
One would have to be my dad, because he is one of the most adaptable people I have ever met in times of crisis, and shows a lot of strength, leadership, and resiliency. Another would be Angie Thomas. She is the author of the book I am currently reading (“The Hate You Give”) and I need to see how it ends, so I would bring her to narrate the rest of the book! Lastly, I would bring one of my professors from college, who focuses on both community building and public health, all through a sociology lens, because this combines all of the fields I am most interested in and I imagine I could pick his brain endlessly.
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Limbani Kamanga was born and raised in Malawi. His home district of Nkhata Bay is located on the shores of the breathtaking Lake Malawi. He holds a BA in International Relations, which he obtained from the College of Wooster in Ohio.
Where is your favorite place that you’ve ever traveled?
My favorite place is Miami, Florida. I have never been to a place with such an electric atmosphere.
Here at Grassroots, we address everyone by nicknames because it’s more fun for the kids, and quite frankly for us as well! What is your Grassroots nickname going to be?
I will have to go with Tobi, which is a short form for Tobiyasi.
We’re all about praising and celebrating each other for a job well done. We call these “shout-outs.” If you could give a shout-out to anyone right now, who would it be and why?
Let me take this opportunity to give a big shout out to Lusekelo Simwela. He’s been a great friend over the past 3 years that I have known him. To many more crazy experiences.
What are you most excited about this upcoming year?
I am excited about the skills, experiences, and connections that I will make. Most importantly, I look forward to leaving a positive mark, one way or another, at TGP.
Who is your biggest role model and why?
This will be a bit odd. I will go with Niklas Bendtner – a Danish footballer. He doesn’t possess any special talent and he receives so much ridicule from football fans, but he has great belief in his abilities and keeps going.
What is your favorite sport & what is your favorite sports team?
Soccer is my favorite sport and my favorite teams are the Malawi national team, Nyasa Big Bullets (they compete in the Malawi national league), Arsenal (in the English Premier League), and I am looking forward to adding DC United to the mix.
Fun/Random/Interesting fact about yourself.
Despite hailing from a lakeshore district and taking a swimming class in college, I can’t swim.
What is your favorite candy/snack food?
Potato crisps.
If you were stranded on a desert island & could only bring 3 people with you, who would they be & why?
I would bring my friend Lusekelo, who I mentioned earlier because he defines adaptation. He is a man who knows how to get things done with minimum resources. I would also bring another good friend named Norman Chamusa. With him, we would make a makeshift soccer ball and play some “keepy-uppy” to pass time and kick out boredom. Lastly, I would bring along my cousin Gibson because you always need family around in stranded situations.