CO-FOUNDER & CO-LEAD

Sarah Merghani is one of the co-founders and co-leads of The Nest and a fourth-year BSc Specialized Honours Global Health student at York University, specializing in health promotion and disease prevention. Her interests sit at the intersection of climate change, emotional well-being, and community-based approaches to care. At The Nest, Sarah supports facilitation, program design, and community engagement, helping create spaces where students can slow down, reflect, and build supportive connections around climate emotions. Her work is grounded in equity, collective care, and the belief that sustainable climate action begins with listening, shared ownership, and community resilience.

CO-LEAD

Mahnoosh Jalilzadeh (she/they) is a psychology student and artist whose work lives at the intersection of nature, creativity, and healing. Passionate about eco-psychology and trauma-informed somatic practices, she explores how our inner ecosystems reflect the rhythms of the Earth. When she’s not reading nature-centered books like Braiding Sweetgrassor sketching new artistic ideas, she’s often out in green spaces, hiking, meditating, and reconnecting to the land. Mahnoosh believes in the profound interconnectedness between people and the planet, that healing ourselves is a way of healing the Earth and she hopes to help create spaces where people and nature can thrive together.

FACILITATOR

Hello everyone! I’m Nelson, a 4th year student within the Global Geography program. I have always found joy in understanding the natural world which is why you can often find me either hiking, gardening, and later taking its inspiration to write with. My goal in life is to one day repay this debt of appreciation by aiding in bringing notable difference to the fight against environmental and climate degradation. As a facilitator at Nest my goal here is to help fellow students understand and work through their emotions on these matters through grounded and collaborative discussion and activity. I hope that providing a safe space to openly express these feelings can help others overcome their climate anxieties and sharpen them into tools for change!Description goes here

FACILITATOR

Hello! I'm Ofelia, one of the facilitators at Nest. I'm so excited to foster a community with the Nest and all the fellow students at York during the events. I hope I can provide everyone with a safe and welcoming space to unwind, have fun and reflect on the climate crisis. Currently working on my undergraduate degree in Global Geography, I have a huge passion for learning and researching about the environment. One of my favourite topics is bears and conservation work to protect them. Super excited to chat and hang out with everyone.

CO-DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE OUTREACH

Sahaana Ragavan (she/her) is a psychology student interested in bridging the gap between knowledge and compassionate care. She enjoys learning about different perspectives, and is passionate about helping people build stronger connections with each other, the environment, and themselves. Her focus lies in climate action, mental health support, and community care. When she’s not studying for classes, or with her friends, she loves getting lost; she finds getting lost sparks her creativity and calms her down.  If she is ever lost-lost, please guide her towards Maloca Community Garden;  a beautiful hidden gem and safe space. 

CO-DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE OUTREACH

Lorena Tan Luo (she/her) is a 2nd year Honours of Health Studies student. She is interested in the impact that climate change has on mental health and how it drives the development of health policies in different countries. She is eager to dive deeper and explore different perspectives through conversation and research. Lorena is also passionate about building community support and believes that collective action is essential in achieving global wellness. 

CREATIVE OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Hi! My name is Rachel Kikulwe and I am an education and visual arts major and the creative coordinator of the Nest Club. Im passionate about the arts, nature and community! 

CREATIVE OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Hello, my name is Shreya Pandrala and I'm a final year psychology major! I am also a student at the York-Seneca Rehabilitation Services Certificate program and mainly work within disability counselling. My aim in life is to eventually become a psychotherapist or psychological associate and help meet the mental health needs of others. As someone who cares deeply about mental health, I was drawn to The Nest because I'm well-aware that the growing climate crisis can have a large, negative impact on youth populations. My role at The Nest involves participating in outreach to help engage our followers and extend our reach to the student body at large. By doing so, I hope to serve our students at York by uplifting and inspiring them to take steps towards climate action!

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Ali Sheikh Rabiei, last year of Computer Science, always curious and asking "WHY!" no matter how many times I hear "just because". I want to learn more and get a better understanding of the environment I live in. I love going into nature, especially remote places, reading books and playing video games. As social media director at The Nest, my goal is to help people become more aware of the beauty of nature and the environment they live in and inspire them to take action, to protect it, and make it even better! As a wise man once said, "Heal the world and make it a better place for you and me, and the entire human race.”

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Hariska Kumar is a BSc Honours Psychology student at York University and a Social Media Coordinator for The Nest Initiative, where she strives to create engaging content that reflects the organization’s mission of compassion, resilience, and community care. She is deeply passionate about mental health and climate action, where she believes that caring for the environment and holding space for our emotions are deeply intertwined, because our feelings matter, and they are powerful starting points for healing, connection, and meaningful solutions. Through The Nest, she hopes to help students feel less alone in their climate anxiety, build a sense of belonging, and empower others to turn concern into compassionate, collective action.

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Alexander Lam-Gaudet is a first-year Environmental Arts and Justice student at York University. He loves reading, making art, volunteering, and being outside.

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Tayva Galanty is a Social Media Coordinator at The Nest Initiative and a third-year Communications and Media student at York University's Glendon campus. She is deeply passionate about sustainable textiles and ethical fashion advocacy, as well as creating a safe, inclusive space that supports students who carry the mental weight of the environmental challenges occurring in the world today.

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Hello Nestlings and fellows! My name is Yusra Maswood and I'm very excited to be a part of something impactful for mental wellness and environment. Some things about me, I love animals and currently own 5 pets! I love to go hiking, spend time by the lakes, observe wildlife, sketch and work on a book I'm currently writing inspired by human nature and nature itself! I would describe myself as a philanthropist as I am passionate about supporting others wellbeing and growth. I am interested in observing how nature can ground, promote growth and foster connectedness. Protecting, restoring and healing for ourselves, those around us and the environment are one of the many, if not most important actions that align with my core values, that I hope to achieve for myself and others at The Nest.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Hi I’m Claudia, I’m a third- year Honours Sustainable Environmental Management student and the Director of Finance at The Nest. My interests lie between helping others understand the emotional impacts of climate change within different communities and environments and making sure there is a healthy way to support and express how all the changes can make one feel. At The Nest, my role is to ensure budgeting and financial planning, reporting, and record keeping. I strongly believe in giving back to the environment as a way to show gratitude for all that we have been given. 

PROGRAM EVALUATION

Mikhak (Ghazal) Haghgozar is a Biomedical Science student at York University and a Digital Media & Program Evaluation Assistant with The Nest. She supports the team through website development, digital content creation, and program evaluation, including data entry and analysis to help assess the impact of Nest initiatives. Mikhak is especially interested in the intersection of health, communication, and community engagement, and is passionate about using digital tools to support meaningful, accessible climate-wellbeing work.