Obama-Chesky Voyagers travel to every corner of the world

Voyagers are traveling to a total of 24 states and territories this summer. 

Healthcare, criminal justice reform, and education are some of the top public service issues Voyagers are focusing on in the United States.

Henry Stephens IV

Name: Henry Stephens IV

School: Duke University

Major: Sociology

Destination: Washington, D.C.

Henry is focused on reducing barriers to economic equality. As a volunteer with the Council Office of Racial Equity in Washington, D.C., he analyzes how proposed legislation may impact historically marginalized communities’ upward mobility across the district. Henry hopes this exposure to policymaking will shape his legal approach to advancing economic justice after law school.

Brielle Ward

Name: Brielle Ward

School: Howard University

Major: Sociology

Destinations: Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI

Brielle is passionate about combating climate change by increasing the use of renewable energy. This summer, she is attending conferences to learn about innovative sustainable practices, including the Aspen Ideas-Climate Festival in Chicago, Illinois. Brielle will also visit Detroit, Michigan to learn more about the first electrified road in the United States, which energizes electric vehicles without stopping. Brielle aims to apply these learnings with the businesses and entrepreneurs she hopes to work with as an environmental lawyer.

Voyagers are traveling to 14 countries in the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Mexico.

Healthcare, immigration/migration, and criminal justice reform are the most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling across the Americas. 

Ranee Brady

Name: Ranee Brady

School: Georgetown University

Major: International Politics

Destination: Brazil

Ranee is passionate about promoting access to information and knowledge to foster a more compassionate and secure world. This summer, she is volunteering with local and international news organizations in Brazil, supporting journalists who report from the field and nonprofit researchers who study approaches for providing accurate and fair information. As a student interested in diplomacy, teaching, and international journalism, Ranee’s goal is to learn about different approaches for providing accurate and fair information she can use throughout her career.

William Navarrete Moreno

Name: William Navarrete Moreno

School: University of Colorado, Denver

Major: Public Health

Destination: Guatemala

William is passionate about health equity and founded TheCHANGEproject to advance health equity through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing. This summer, he will be participating in a biomedical research course in rural Guatemala to gain hands-on experience in clinics and hospitals. He is also completing a research internship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he is studying how Medicare policy affects patient experience. William’s ultimate goal is to unite the fields of medicine and public health to create a more just and equitable healthcare system—one that places the needs of the communities it serves at its core.

Voyagers are traveling to 23 countries in Europe. The most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling in Europe include: advancing equal rights for all, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

Khris Gonzalez Pebe

Name: Khris Gonzalez Pebe

School: University of Southern California

Major: Public Policy

Destination: France

Khris is passionate about using data-driven solutions to address issues such as illicit trade, human trafficking, and counterterrorism. She visited France to attend a study abroad course focused on historical memory and the legacy of conflict. As part of a broader journey through multiple European countries, she is exploring how historical narratives, migration, and conflict crises shape identity and international relations in different regional contexts.

Nicholas Neuman

Name: Nicholas Neuman

School: Purdue University

Major: Agricultural Economics and Political Science

Destination: Austria and Ireland

Nicholas is focused on bridging the gaps in financing and capacity for rural communities , both domestically and internationally. This summer, he is conducting comparative research to explore how rural communities navigate economic growth and regional investment. He hopes to use these learnings to assist the financing and program management of rural development projects in the future.

Voyagers are visiting 11 countries in Africa this summer, including South Africa, Kenya, and Madagascar.

The most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling in Africa includes: advancing equal rights for all, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.

Jonathan Jean Charles

Name: Jonathan Jean Charles

School: University of Miami

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Global Health Studies

Destination: Rwanda and Malawi

Jonathan is focused on reducing noncommunicable diseases in low-income communities. This summer, he will support the sickle cell research of Dr. Patrick McGann, a 2023 Leaders USA alumni, and volunteer at community-based healthcare organizations in Rwanda and Malawi.  Jonathan aspires to become a culturally competent physician dedicated to health policy and patient-centered health care. 

Charity Fisher

Name: Charity Fisher

School: Clark Atlanta University

Major: Social Work

Destination: Tanzania

Charity is passionate about addressing mental health disparities and founded Homegrown the Collective, a nonprofit in her hometown designed to hold space for black youth to heal through community circles. She traveled to Tanzania this summer to volunteer at Unique Child Academy, an organization founded by Miriam Loivotoki Laiser (2024-2025 Leaders Africa) that empowers children and youth to unleash their full potential through inclusive and innovative learning techniques and methods. Charity hopes to apply these skills in her career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Voyagers are traveling to 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The most common public service issues Voyagers are focused on in the Asia-Pacific region includes: healthcare, advancing equal rights for all, and science, technology, and innovation.

Eke Djibril

Name: Eke Djibril

School: Howard University

Major: Health Science

Destination: Fiji and Palau Island

Eke is led by her passion to provide culturally sensitive health care to marginalized communities. This summer, she will visit Fiji and Palau Island to learn more about indigenous health practices and therapies. While on Palau Island, Eke will learn more about herbal medicine and complementary and alternative medicine from Christopher Kitalong, a 2023 Asia-Pacific Leader. After graduation, Eke hopes to go to medical school and work on improving health care outcomes for vulnerable populations worldwide by bridging western and integrative medicine.

Rani Basnet

Name: Rani Basnet

School: Middlebury College

Major: International Global Studies

Destination: Nepal

Rani is focused on building inclusive healthcare systems for marginalized communities. This summer, she is visiting Nepal to volunteer at community health clinics catering to disabled communities. Rani’s goal is to learn how these clinics operate, as oftentimes these clinics are the main support systems for the individuals they serve. She will utilize these lessons in her career as an advocate for healthcare professionals and patients from immigrant communities.