Author: Luwam Yohanes

Luwam Yohanes is a first-generation Eritrean-American, global public health innovator, and immigrant and disability advocate. She was born in Massachusetts, raised in North Carolina, and now resides in Washington, D.C. As Program Associate at Aspen Global Innovators Group, she currently works on four key programs, where her experience working with changemaker fellowships has reinforced her belief in the value of leaders who bring diverse lived experiences to design and implement solutions to complex community health challenges. Before joining Aspen, Luwam worked as a Program Specialist at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, providing programmatic support to CDC-funded programs that focused on advancing the lives of people with developmental and other disabilities. Her prior experience as a Registered Behavioral Technician at Easterseals UCP exposed her to working directly with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This opportunity sparked her passion for improving public health outcomes for individuals with disabilities and exploring the intersection of global health and disability studies. As a GHC fellow, Luwam is “eager to leverage this experience to further my understanding of the interconnected challenges in global health, promote cross-cultural collaboration, and contribute to solutions that promote inclusivity, resilience, and well-being.”