Fatimata Cham
Published Poet, Human Rights Advocate, and Founder of Climate 4 Sisterhood
Fatimata Cham is a dedicated human rights advocate and published poet from the Bronx, New York. At 22, she is a first-generation Gambian and Senegalese college graduate, holding a Bachelor's degree in Government and Law and Women and Gender Studies from Lafayette College. Fatimata's journey is guided by the belief in lifting others as she climbs, a principle instilled in her by her college counselor. As a poet, she finds strength in words, transforming even her most challenging experiences into poetry and activism. Her work reflects a commitment to illuminating the path for others, whether through her involvement in initiatives like the Lafayette Racial Justice Fundraiser, which raised $20,000 for Black Lives Matter, or founding the Climate 4 Sisterhood project. Fatimata's leadership and advocacy have earned her accolades, including the 2023 George Wharton Pepper Prize and the 2022 Truman Scholarship. She recently shared her story alongside Malala Yousafzai in Apple TV's Dear... Season 2, highlighting her passion for creating a just and equitable world.
Award Winning Student and Scholar
2023 George Wharton Pepper Prize – Awarded by Lafayette College for the senior who most closely represents the Lafayette ideal.2022 Truman Scholar – A prestigious national scholarship awarded for leadership potential and commitment to public service.2019 Coca-Cola Scholar – A scholarship awarded to high-achieving high school seniors who demonstrate leadership and community service.
DEI Advocate
& Professional
Bloomberg LPBlack Professionals Community Recruitment Committee MemberDiversity Recruiting Coordinator
Founder and Program Director
Lafayette Racial Justice Fundraiser – Collaborated with 20 student organizations to raise $20,000 in two weeks for Black Lives Matter.Dear Laf Campaign – Worked on initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, including advocating for an increased minimum wage.Climate 4 Sisterhood – A project focused on amplifying the voices of women from developing countries who are disproportionately affected by climate change.Girl Up Lafayette – A club at Lafayette College aimed at empowering young women and promoting gender equity.
Connecting Environmental Activism and Gender Advocacy with
Climate 4 Sisterhood
Biography
Published Poet and Human Rights Advocate, Fatimata Cham is originally from the Bronx, New York. Cham is 22 years old and is a first generation Gambian college graduate. She recieved her Bachelor's in Government and Law and Women and Gender studies at Lafayette College.In her time at Lafayette, she was the 2023 George Wharton Pepper Prize winner, 2023 Lafayette College commencement speaker, and was apart of various clubs and initiatives on campus targeted towards building an equitable and inclusive environment for all students.She is also a 2022 Truman Scholar, 2019 Coca-Cola scholar, founder of Climate4Sisterhood, and former Girl Up teen advisor to the United Nations Foundation.Fatimata is passionate about advocating for her community and does so through her writing and frontline community work. In high school Fatimata published a short book of poetry titled Perfectly Imperfect. She uses the intersection between poetry and activism to talk about issues related to environmental injustice, gender inequity, racism, islamophobia, and a plethora of issues she is passionate about. Recently, She was casted in Dear... Season 2 on Apple TV alongside Malala Yousafzai to talk about her climate activism work.Fatimata hopes to build a more just and equitable world through her work and uplifting those around her.
Exploring the intersections of climate change, racial injustice, and gender inequality through poetry, writing, and activism. Her work amplifies marginalized voices, providing a platform for those often unheard to share their stories and advocate for social change.
Press and Writings
The Experiences of a
Black And Muslim Girl
Living in America
Fatimata Cham ’19 Visits the United Nations
Fatimata Cham - Office of Advising & Curricular Programs
First in Family: Bronx teen is the first in her family to attend college, fights for gender equality
‘I Can’t Focus on Abortion Access if My People Are Dying’
Fatimata Cham: On Race, Religion, Poetry, and Where They Collide
‘Hope Is the Sound of Your Own Voice’
Fatimata Cham Social Impact Honoree
“Young Activists” Label Can Be a Burden for Youth Organizers
Student Activist Spotlight: Fatimata Cham ’23 speaks on activism through community, poetry and family
Fatimata Cham ’23 cast on Apple TV+’s ‘Dear…’
Fatimata Cham ’23 discusses activism, ‘Dear…’ experience with WFMZ-TV
Fatimata Cham ’23 awarded Truman Scholarship
Fatimata Cham ’23 selected as 2022 GLOW Global Fellow
Fatimata Cham ’23 helps young women ‘center their voices’
Fatimata Cham ’23 wins Pepper Prize
Rock stars of 2023
What do criminals look like? A Poem, by Fatimata Cham
Panel Welcomes Truman Scholar Fatimata Cham as Summer Intern
The Road To Activism
Best of the Bronx: A bright future for one student who empowers young women
Girl Up summit inspires young women to change the world
Lafayette College student passionate about social justice is having her words shared by a Nobel Peace Prize winner
Podcast Appearences
Hopeful, Not Helpless Episode 18 - Uplifting Communities and Leading by Example
Checking In with Fatimata Cham
Talks
"My Africa"
In this emotional and passionate speech delivered on the streets of New York, Fatimata Cham speaks on the significance of collectivism in Africa and beyond. With poetic intensity, she shares the pain experienced by her family and the people back home, shining a light on the harsh realities of corruption and injustice. Through her heartfelt words, Cham calls for unity, resilience, and a collective effort to fight for a more just and equitable future for all.
"Hope"
In this inspiring video, Fatimata Cham recites her poem "Hope" for the Brookings Institute and at the 2020 American leadership in advancing the sustainable development goals,
A joint Brookings-UN Foundation event. Cham weaves a powerful narrative on resilience, the immigrant experience, and the enduring strength of hope, echoing Emily Dickinson’s timeless sentiment: 'Hope is a thing with feathers.'"
"Black Children"
In this powerful spoken word poetry piece, Fatimata Cham sheds light on the challenges that Black children face from an early age, navigating a world where their identity is often defined for them. With the poignant statement, 'Black Child is inked on my forehead the moment I step into a room,' Cham explores the weight of societal expectations, racial bias, and the resilience it takes to rise above these struggles.
Girl Up Leadership Summit Keynote Speaker
In this talk at the 2019 Girl Up Leadership Summit, Fatimata Cham shares her personal journey and the passion that drives her advocacy work. Girl Up, a nonprofit organization focused on global issues affecting girls, provided a platform for Cham to inspire others by reflecting on her experiences and the importance of standing up for girls' rights worldwide. Her story highlights the power of resilience and the need for continued advocacy to create meaningful change.
Women Empowering Nations Panel
In this panel hosted by Women Empowering Nations (WEN) and sponsored by Cantu Beauty, the transformative impact of the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Global Cohort is highlighted. This initiative provided over 100 hours of brand development, career, and leadership training for Black young women globally. From 1,500 applicants in 2022, 50 young women from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the UK, France, and the US were selected for a four-month, paid fellowship in the beauty industry. The fellowship culminated with a capstone project and a life-changing travel seminar to Accra, Ghana, where the fellows developed multicultural business pitches, networked with Cantu executives, and forged lasting bonds within the African diaspora.
DeSales University Keynote Speaker
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Fatimata Cham delivered a powerful keynote address at DeSales University. Invited by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Cham shared her journey to advocacy, which began in high school when she discovered the importance of storytelling to shine a light on inequities in her community. She spoke about the significance of 'showing up' for her community and using her voice to combat gender inequality, racism, and climate issues. Cham encouraged young activists to realize the impact of their voices, no matter the size of their platform, reminding the audience, 'You never know the people you are touching through the process.'
Lafayette College Keynote Speaker Graduation Commencement 2023
Fatimata Cham delivered the keynote speech at Lafayette College’s graduation ceremony, having been awarded the prestigious George Wharton Pepper Prize—becoming the second Black woman in the school’s history to receive this honor. In her inspiring address, Cham emphasized the importance of lifting others as you climb and centering your voice in all spaces. Drawing from her personal experiences, she encouraged graduates to use their platforms to create change and empower their communities.
Let's Stay in Touch!
Join Fatimata Cham in her mission to create a more just and equitable world. Explore her portfolio, learn about her advocacy work, and connect with her for collaborations that drive meaningful social impact.