Nuricel Aguilera: A trailblazer in education and social empowerment

Nuricel Villalonga Aguilera’s journey into the realm of entrepreneurship and social change is a testament to her commitment to promoting equal opportunities and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Her life, shaped by personal struggles against a lack of opportunities and gender bias, fueled her determination to create a fairer and more inclusive world. In 2013, Nuricel Aguilera founded a new NGO aimed at opening a social school - Alpha Lumen Institute. Under her leadership as director, this initiative works to nurture gifted individuals, transforming them into community leaders who could drive positive change locally and globally.

Rudayna Abdo, the founder and CEO of Thaki, has transformed her personal experiences as a daughter of Palestinian refugees into a mission to empower refugee and vulnerable children through technology and education. Driven by the injustices of war and displacement, Abdo leveraged her world-class education from MIT and McGill University and her successful career in urban planning to create Thaki in 2015.

Mago Hasfa’s personal mission is deeply rooted in the belief that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, should have access to quality education and the tools needed to reach their full potential. This mission led to her founding the Read to Learn Foundation, where she holds the Literary Specialist position and leverages storytelling as a powerful tool for promoting inclusivity and diversity through the authorship of children’s storybooks.

In 2013, Salinee Hurley founded SunSawang, a social enterprise that brings solar-powered products and services to rural Thailand. Under Hurley’s leadership as CEO, SunSawang empowers local communities by hiring and training village technicians and salespeople to deliver and maintain solar products, thereby enhancing income opportunities and living conditions.

Robyn McLean, co-founder and CEO of Hello Period, transformed her personal struggle with unreliable period care into a pioneering mission for sustainable menstruation products. Founded in 2017, Hello Period aims to offer high-quality reusable period products while normalizing conversations around menstruation and breaking societal taboos. “There’s too much stigma around periods - which is crazy given half the world will menstruate for around 40 years of their lives,” McLean told us.

Victoria Orozco’s entrepreneurial journey began in rural Argentina, a region often constrained by limited access to opportunities. Recognizing the widespread lack of resources and capacity to develop inclusive economic policies in similar regions across Latin America, Orozco founded and is now the executive director of Punto Labs, a consulting firm committed to supporting governments and decision makers in fostering inclusive economic growth.

Project Cities is excited to announce the release of its summer and fall 2023 project summary reports for the Town of Miami, the Town of Gilbert, the City of Chandler,

Project Cities was recently featured on the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative (AWII) blog, highlighting its rural water decision-making workshop hosted in the Verde Valley this past spring. "Innovative, community-driven solutions

"As a young person in today’s world, what often keeps me going is my unrelenting belief that a better world is possible. As we left the Klein Center, I was reminded that a better world is not only possible, it is already happening."

We are pleased to announce the Save-the-Date for The Updates in Amyloidosis CME Conference 2025 organized by the Amyloidosis Steering Committee led by Sandesh Dev, MD, Arizona State University, which

Read on for an interview with Caitlin Otten, Assistant Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.

The Sustainable Cities Network is excited to announce that its long-time thought partner and collaborator, Dr. Nalini Chhetri, has been selected as a recipient of the ASU Faculty Women’s Association