Noah Petashi was born and raised in Japan, where they worked for over eight years as a disability advocate, helping shape national policy. Noah was appointed by the Japanese government to a committee responsible for developing anti-discrimination policy in education and employment for people with disabilities.

After relocating to the U.S., Noah earned a Master of Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. They’ve worked as a guest teacher and created workshops to help high school students prepare for college life.

Deeply committed to social justice, Noah currently serves as a board member of the Illinois Statewide Independent Living Council, appointed by the Governor. They are passionate about helping youth achieve their goals.