Areianaz Eghbali, 2024 Edmonds Fellow
My name is Areianaz (Ara) Eghbali, and I was honored to serve as the 2024-25 Fundraising Strategy and Sustainability Edmonds Fellow with HRE USA. I recently graduated from UC Berkeley, where I studied Psychology, Public Policy, and Journalism, and focused on youth advocacy, education equity, and community health during my time as an undergrad.
As a Fellow, I supported the development of fundraising strategies, conducted donor and foundation research, and contributed to efforts aimed at sustaining and expanding access to human rights education. The experience deepened my understanding of how nonprofits can advance justice not only through direct advocacy, but also through long-term organizational sustainability.
The Edmonds Fellowship shaped the way I think about systems change. It strengthened my commitment to working at the intersection of education, health, and human rights, and gave me both the skills and confidence to continue that work beyond the fellowship. Since then, I’ve contributed to public health research, designed student-centered programming, and supported initiatives grounded in equity and youth leadership.
I’ll soon be starting a full-time role in healthcare technology, with plans to continue deepening my work at the intersection of health, education, and justice. The Edmonds Fellowship continues to shape the lens I bring to all my work – one grounded in justice, collaboration, and the belief that human rights education is essential for building a more equitable world.
Kara Anderson, 2023 Edmonds Fellow
Hello, I’m Kara Anderson from Lansing, Michigan. I worked on the Training As Action Series as a 2023 Edmonds Fellow and a 2024 Fellow Supervisor and Research Scholar. Working with HRE USA allowed me to gain hands-on experience in the human rights field—building my confidence as a human rights advocate and equipping me with lifelong skills and connections. These helped me greatly this past year as I applied for law school, and this fall I will be attending the University of Michigan Law School as a part of the Class of 2028. I plan to use the law to continue advocating for human rights locally and around the world.
Hallie McRae, 2022 Edmonds Fellow
My name is Hallie McRae, a 2022 Kirby Edmonds Fellow Alum who worked on the Community Engagement and Development project. During my fellowship, I worked alongside my mentors Kristi Rudelius-Palmer and Kristina Eberbach to strengthen connections with HRE’s nationwide member base, fundraise for future generations of fellows, and highlight the crucial work of HRE USA and those who comprise the network. This fellowship was a stepping stone for integrating my passions for human rights advocacy, youth activism, and widespread human rights education into a national nonprofit setting. My time learning under Kristi and Kristina was truly grounds for the continuation of my passion for HRE on a bigger scale, and the mentorship I received from them impacts me to this day— so much so that I have continued my journey with HRE USA as a Steering Committee member and an Edmonds Fellowship Supervisor for the past two years. I graduated from UC Berkeley last year with a degree in Political Science, Human Rights, and Public Policy, and since then, I have worked on a successful political campaign and worked at a Preschool while studying for the LSAT exam, hoping to pursue a journey as a human rights lawyer. I will be continuing with HRE USA while returning to my advocacy roots as a Youth Advocacy Assistant for Human Rights Watch Student Task Force in Los Angeles this year.
Veronica Bido, 2022 Edmonds Fellow
Hi, I’m Veronica Bido, and I was a Kirby Edmonds Summer Fellow in 2022, based in Baltimore, Maryland. With my co-intern, we focused on strengthening HRE USA’s outreach and communications strategy—interviewing members across the country and developing storytelling tools to support grassroots organizers. The fellowship grounded me in the belief that human rights education isn’t just theory—it’s a tool for movement-building, helping young people understand their power, challenge systems, and imagine new possibilities. It taught me the importance of making advocacy accessible and culturally relevant. I’m currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina, working at the intersection of entrepreneurship and social impact.
Natalie Roach, 2022 Edmonds Fellow
During my 2022 Edmonds Fellowship, I supported efforts to assess and strengthen the HRE-USA Regional Representative community by cultivating key data on needs and priorities of current serving regional representatives and developing a plan for continued, sustainable opportunities for collaboration, learning and fellowship. Through this experience, I got to know human rights advocates across the country and gained an understanding of the human rights education landscape in different regions. It was wonderful to have such supportive mentors and advocates that I looked up to and learned from. I carry my Edmonds Fellowship experience with me wherever I go, whether that’s working on equitable access to public spaces in New York City or improving climate justice outcomes in the D.C. region.
Julie Rinker, 2022 Summer Intern
My name is Julie Rinker, and I interned with Human Rights educators during Summer 2022. During this time, I reviewed the resources provided in the K-12 Human Rights Educators’ library to improve the teacher interfacing experience. In the years since my internship, I have enjoyed opportunities to learn from other teachers who are finding creative ways to demand dignity and rights for all of their students. I am currently studying special education and advocating for the end of the death penalty. In the future I would like to continue working to incorporate human rights education into reading interventions for 13-23 year old students.
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