the dream
team
Laura Peña
Founder
Laura Peña is a Dominican-American speaker, filmmaker, storyteller, entrepreneur, creative producer, motion designer, traveler, proud Latina, and supporter of girls. She is on a mission to support the next generation of leaders–teenage girls from around the world. And she is going about this as if our future depends on these girls, because it does.
After traveling to 5 continents and interviewing 100+ girls for her Youtube docu-series of Stories for Girls told by Girls, a question sparked in Laura’s heart: What do girls need from all of us to get to where they want to be in life? Listening to girls from all over the world inspired Laura to found She is the Universe, a non-profit and global movement for girls’ empowerment.
As an international workshop leader and speaker, Laura has shared her story at TEDx, Creative Mornings, and schools globally. Learn more
Sara Surani
co-founder
Sara Surani is a Pakistani-American who loves listening and learning about stories of people from all over the world. She loves working with youth to find beauty and power in their own stories and to using that power to create an impact in their communities.
Sara graduated from Harvard University and is also the is a co-founder of a health education program in South Texas focused on educating over 20,000 young children about healthy living. For the past few years Sara has been working in remote communities in the Amazon jungle and helping start the first public holistic education school in Peru.
She is also a Fulbright Fellow, Schwarzman Scholar, and Rotarian (Paul Harris Fellow.)
Laura K Rose
Board member
Laura Rose is a passionate youth empowerment and cultural exchange specialist who has dedicated her life to the creation of young global leaders through her work in cultural exchange, purpose work, mentoring, public speaking, and philanthropy. She is a Co-Creator of Purpose Earth dedicated to launching, funding and mentoring grassroots projects that provide creative solutions to some of our greatest challenges. She’s also Co-founder and CEO of Greenheart International, a nonprofit organization that has facilitated the cultural exchange experiences of more than 170,000 participants from 85 countries worldwide, while supporting fair trade artisans from developing nations through its fair trade division, Greenheart Shop.
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In 1995 she co-founded Fundación por El Futuro in Spain devoted to the creation of environmental and educational programs for American and Spanish youth, and has been a key supporter of the growth and mission of the Casita Verde, an educational eco-center in Ibiza which showcases sustainable living and alternative energies and is visited by thousands of students and adults each year.
Laura recently served on the executive committee for the Council on Standards for International Education and Travel, and was Vice Chair for the board of the Alliance for International Exchange based in Washington, DC.
She was recently invited to become a member of Evolutionary Leaders, an illustrious group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines who come together in synergy to support a global shift in consciousness, and is a board member of Empowerment Collective dedicated to the eradication of modern-day slavery by giving marginalized women in Nepal & India, the skills they need to ensure self-sufficiency and dignity. Laura also serves on the board of Unity Earth, a global network whose mission is to accelerate the realization of unity and peace on Earth.
As an experienced public speaker, she has facilitated public speaking workshops for youth, and been a panelist and keynote speaker in numerous forums. She’s worked closely with members of the U.S. Department of State, community leaders and international representatives to further the causes of public diplomacy and mutual understanding.
interns
PAOLA PALACIOS / Venezuela - Chile
Intern 2022 / Social Media
MARIA JULIA VALE / Brazil
Intern 2022 / Community Building
LARISSA MOREIRA / Brazil
Intern 2022 / Educational Programming
We are an international team of volunteers working from our own corners of the world to make make this happen!
We are in Australia, Dominican Republic, Peru, the US, and more!
past interns and collaboratos
Detiny esmeralda mejia / Dominican Rep
Intern 2021 / Circle Leader
Ann Marie Peña
Teen Advisor
elina passant / Australia
Intern 2020
Sammie vance / usa
World Changers advisor
Lilly Platt / netherlands
World Changers advisor
FABIANA PEREIRA / Bolivia
Intern 2022 / Fundraising
“I stand on the sacrifices of a million women before me thinking what can I do to make this mountain taller so the women after me can see farther”