Telling Room Ambassador Askar Azeez is an Iraqi-born student at Bowdoin College pursuing a degree in Government & Legal Studies and a minor in Arabic. In addition to his studies, Askar works as an Arabic Teaching Assistant and a Research Assistant in the Sociology Department, where he supports faculty research on immigration policy. As a new ambassador, he is excited to support the organization that helped him grow as a writer and storyteller. Outside of school and work, Askar enjoys reading, soccer, coffee, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends. He hopes to continue learning from different people, cultures, and experiences while finding meaningful ways to contribute to his community and the world.

Telling Room Ambassador Ahmednoor Hassan is a first generation Somali-American. He is attending Bates College, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Computer Science. Ahmed was introduced to The Telling Room in 2021 during a school event and immediately recognized it as a space where he could share his voice through writing. After completing the Young Writers and Leaders program, he knew he wanted to continue nurturing his passion for storytelling and creative expression. Poetry has always been Ahmed’s most favorite form of writing. Its emotion, rhythm, and versatility have given him a meaningful outlet to express his perspectives and experiences in many creative ways. Beyond writing, Ahmed enjoys traveling and has visited more than 20 countries. He is also deeply passionate about performing his work and connecting with audiences through spoken word.

Telling Room Ambassador Didon Heri is a student at the University of Southern Maine studying Social and Behavioral Sciences with minors in Leadership Studies and Regulatory Ethics. She first became involved with The Telling Room after her eighth-grade ESL teacher, Kirsten McWilliams, encouraged her to apply after recognizing her interest in poetry and storytelling. Since then, she has participated in programs such as Theory U for Youth and the Listening School, experiences that deepened her belief in the power of storytelling, leadership, and creating spaces where every voice is valued. Outside of school, Didon works in healthcare and serves as a board member for The Source School, a Maine nonprofit dedicated to youth leadership and community building. She is passionate about helping people feel heard, building meaningful connections, and learning from the experiences of others. Through her work, studies, and community involvement, she hopes to create opportunities for young people to develop confidence, share their stories, and become leaders in their own communities.

Telling Room Ambassador Sophia Kapita lives up to the meaning of her name—wisdom—by constantly seeking knowledge wherever she goes. She is currently studying politics at the University of Maine Orono, with goals and dreams to rule the world one day. Outside of school, Sophia has a passion for advocacy and volunteering. Whether she is helping community members fill out paperwork, or helping children at the Youth Center decide if pink and green belong together. In her free time, she loves reading (shocker!) diving into classical poetry, history, short stories, and anything that makes her mind explode. Ironically, she used to find reading absolutely horrid until she joined The Telling Room’s summer program in 2020. There, her relationship with language completely transformed. The program allowed her writing to embrace both the culture she left behind and the one she is adapting to. Through it all, Sophia has grown as a person, a writer, a reader, and most importantly, a proud Telling Room alumna.

Telling Room Ambassador Makili Matty is a coffee and outdoor enthusiast from Kittery, Maine, who is currently studying English and Physics at Colby College. Makili first got involved in The Telling Room during a residency in fifth grade, and since then has done several programs including SWARM and Second Story. Makili hopes to be a teacher later in life and is super excited to have the opportunity to work at The Telling Room! Makili is passionate about environmental science and art, and in his free time you can find him surfing, skiing, climbing, backpacking, block printing, or writing poetry.