SUMAYA ALI (SHE/HER)

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF!

I have 9 sisters and one brother so I’m used to lots of noise and chaos. I would consider myself an extrovert because I get a lot of energy from people.

WHAT ARE YOUR SUN, MOON, AND RISING SIGNS? WHICH ONE DO YOU RELATE TO THE MOST AND WHY?

Sun: Aquarius

Moon: Virgo

Rising: Scorpio

Definitely my sun and rising. I’m very much an air sign in the sense that I like to go with the flow and rarely have concrete plans. I also hate making decisions, it’s very hard for me. But my Scorpio rising also really comes out when people first meet me, I can be a lot.

CURATE YOUR PERFECT MUSIC FESTIVAL! WHO WOULD YOUR ARTISTS BE?

It would be a 2-day festival on either a river (so you can tube) or on a secluded beach. Everyone would have to camp there and it’d only be open to femmes and NB people. Frank Ocean, Ari Lennox, Noname, OSHUN, Mereba, Lauryn Hill, Sza, Megan the Stallion, Rico Nasty, and Tierra Whack. Frank Ocean is the only man who could come but he’d have to leave right after his set.

WHAT ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT YOU ARE MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND WHY?

Health and wellness, because I would consider myself a healer and think wellbeing is basically the only important thing. I’m passionate about environmental justice from a non-white perspective—I want to make recreation and the outdoors more accessible to POC, queer people, disabled folx. I think the outdoors and nature has been detached from us by white people which sucks.

WHAT’S A HOBBY OUTSIDE OF WORK AND SCHOOL THAT YOU LOVE OR WANT TO GET INTO?

I want to get into making more art. I love looking for deals and I’m very good at it, whether it’s digging at thrift shops or finding cheap flights. I hate to pay full price for something.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG TO RELAX TO?

“White Ferrari” by Frank Ocean

IF YOU COULD ONLY FIT FIVE THINGS IN A BACKPACK, WHAT FIVE THINGS WOULD YOU TAKE?

A lighter, something to listen to music, snacks, lipgloss, weed

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION?

Right now it’s traveling through Central and South America in a camper van. But also Thailand.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SNACK?

Everything bagels

WHAT IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE? HOW DO YOU GIVE LOVE, AND HOW DO YOU BEST RECEIVE IT?

Acts of service and quality time. Definitely give and receive love through acts of service.

WHAT’S A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU GIVE OR HAVE RECEIVED THAT HAS IMPACTED YOU/HAS UPLIFTED YOU?

When people show you who they are, believe them and when you know better, do better.

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In light of people wanting to support Black folks during the uprising, we wanted to highlight that Blackness is nuanced and encompasses a vast array of experiences. Blackness isn’t a monolith. We hope to honor the uniqueness of each Black staff member here at Minnesota Youth Collective through this series of portraits and interviews. We’re beyond grateful to experience the magic they bring to our organization.