Yarisa Diaz earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Education Studies from Brandeis University. During her time at Brandeis, she served as a Peer Mentor and a member of the MLK Fellowship Advisory Board where she actively fostered community and organized events for first-generation students. After graduation, Yarisa spent two years as a Helpline Training Coordinator at Samaritans, Inc., where she developed and delivered training for volunteers who’d be providing critical support on the Suicide Prevention Hotline, and was a member of the Racial Equity Committee. She also worked at Young Voices, where she focused on creating partnerships and supporting youth-led coalition work while developing youth-centered programming that focused on understanding equity and developing leadership skills. With expertise in program development and volunteer training, Yarisa is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that empower the BIPOC community.