Isra Hirsi
Isra Hirsi (born February 22, 2003) is an American environmental activist. She co-founded and served as the co-executive director of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike.[1] In 2020, she was named in the Fortune's 40 Under 40 Government and Politics list.[2] She is the daughter of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
Isra Hirsi | |
---|---|
Born | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | February 22, 2003
Education | Barnard College (entered Fall 2021) |
Known for | Environmental activism |
Movement | Youth Climate Strike |
Parent(s) | Ilhan Omar Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi |
Relatives | Sahra Noor (aunt) |
Awards | Brower Youth Award (2019) |
Early life and activism
Hirsi was born on 22 February 2003 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is the daughter of Somali American U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar[3][4][5] and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. At the age of 12, she was one of the participants protesting for justice for Jamar Clark at the Mall of America.[5] Hirsi attended Minneapolis South High School,[6] from which she graduated in 2021. She became involved in climate activism after joining her high school's environmental club in her freshman year.[5][7]
Hirsi coordinated the organization of hundreds of student-led strikes across the United States on March 15 and May 3, 2019.[4] She co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike,[5] the American arm of a global youth climate change movement, in January 2019.[8][9][10] She acts as the co-executive director of this group.[5][11] In 2019, she won a Brower Youth Award.[12] That same year, Hirsi received the Voice of the Future Award.[7] In 2020, Hirsi was placed on BET's "Future 40" list.[13]
Hirsi attends Barnard College of Columbia University as of fall 2021.[14]
Hirsi endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[15]
Authored articles
- Fernands, Maddy; Hirsi, Isra; Coleman, Haven; Villaseñor, Alexandria (March 7, 2019). "Adults won't take climate change seriously. So we, the youth, are forced to strike". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- Hirsi, Isra (March 25, 2019). "The climate movement needs more people like me". Grist.
References
- Hatzipanagos, Rachel. "The missing message in Gen Z's climate activism". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "40 under 40 Government and Politics: Isra Hirsi". Fortune. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- "Isra Hirsi". Brower Youth Awards. September 4, 2019. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- "Isra Hirsi". The International Congress Of Youth Voices. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Ettachfini, Leila (September 18, 2019). "Isra Hirsi is 16, Unbothered, and Saving the Planet". Vice News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Walsh, Jim (September 13, 2019). "'It helps a lot with climate grief': Student organizers gear up for next week's Minnesota Youth Climate Strike". MinnPost. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Vogel, Emily (October 23, 2019). "16-Year-Old Climate and Racial Justice Advocate Isra Hirsi to Be Honored as Voice of the Future (Video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Cassel, Emily (September 25, 2019). "Isra Hirsi: The Climate Activist". City Pages. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Holthaus, Eric (March 13, 2019). "Ilhan Omar's 16-year-old daughter is co-leading the Youth Climate Strike". Grist. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- "Unscripted And Unstoppable: Youth Climate Activist Isra Hirsi". Teva Footwear. October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Burton, Nylah (October 23, 2020). "Isra Hirsi Wants You To Join The Climate Strike On September 20". Essence. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- "6 Exceptional Young, Female Activists Recognized for Environmental Leadership". Sustainable Brands. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- "Bet Digital Celebrates Black Excellence with New Original Editorial Series". Chicago Defender. February 7, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Keene, Houston (May 20, 2021). "Ilhan Omar's daughter, a prominent climate activist, adds communist hammer and sickle to Twitter bio". Fox News. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- Sanders, Bernie (December 7, 2019). Isra Hirsi of U.S. Youth Climate Strike Endorses Bernie Sanders for President. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.