Student Ambassador Program
Facing Race has initiated its first Student Ambassador Program that partners with nearby universities and colleges to increase awareness, student’s knowledge and awareness of the intersections of racial justice movement and get first hand access to some of the best leaders and organizers in the field. The program also helps Facing Race engage with the local academic community. This is an incredible learning experience and opportunity to partner with one of the nation's largest racial equity orgs/support the movement for justice, networking, knowledge-building,
We're proud to announce the selection of Wake Forest University students Cahner Smith and Hadassah Evans as our inaugural student ambassadors.
Our 2026 Student Ambassadors
Cahner Smith
Cahner Smith is a senior at Wake Forest University studying Politics & International Affairs, with minors in African American Studies and Schools, Education & Society. She is a Teach for America Ignite Fellow and serves as the Educational Development Chair for her chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, among other campus engagements. Cahner is passionate about education equity, and her work has centered on civil rights and expanding opportunity for underserved students. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master's in education policy before attending law school.
What does "Rooted in Resistance, Powered by Solidarity" mean to you?
To me, the conference theme means that people of color have always sought to dismantle systems that take away from the equitable opportunities we are entitled to as Americans. Time and time again, these systems have challenged us, but still, we rise above. This is only accomplished through solidarity. By working together to dismantle the systems that hold us back, we are able to rise, create change, and work toward equity and equal opportunities for all.
Hadassah Evans
Hadassah Evans (she/her/hers) is a proud North Carolinian, originally hailing from High Point, NC. Currently residing in Winston-Salem, NC, Evans actively attends Wake Forest University as a pre-law undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Sociology with a concentration in Crime and Criminal Justice and African American Studies. She strives to bridge the gap between systemic legal frameworks and marginalized communities through actionable advocacy and strategic storytelling. In her inaugural year as a Student Ambassador for Race Forward, Evans leverages her background as the Arts & Culture Section Editor for WFU's Old Gold & Black newspaper, community organizing with the University's identity spaces, and her previous experiences in the intersection of policy and social work all over the world to amplify conversations surrounding equity. Evans additionally serves on the board of the City of High Point Southside Neighborhood Association, actively championing grassroots local community engagement. In her free time, she can be found at your local thrift store or record shop with her family, friends, or two dogs.
What does "Rooted in Resistance, Powered by Solidarity" mean to you?
The beauty of such a powerful statement is the versatility in which it can be interpreted. For me, "rooted in solidarity" means to recognize that the traumas endured by oppressed peoples, regardless of race, sexuality, and gender, should never be used to pigeonhole us into cycles of past pain. Instead, it means staring directly into the face of adversity, especially in a modern-day landscape, and using our collective platforms to reclaim our narratives. Solidarity means leveraging strategic storytelling to bridge our lived experiences, amplify underrepresented voices, and transform shared struggle into liberation for all.