Abdurrahman (Rocky) Yamani, Advot Alum

Rocky's journey with Advot began in 2018, when he first arrived at East LA Rising’s community center along with his siblings. Rocky quickly emerged as a natural leader, setting a positive example for them and everyone around him.

Advot's workshops offered Rocky the tools to amplify his voice and channel his creativity into impactful activism. "Growing up, one of the most difficult things for me was understanding why communication is so important," Rocky shared. “Advot helped me unravel the complexities of effective communication, teaching me to express myself more clearly and listen more attentively to others.”

Whether it was through performing original raps with puppets or writing poignant poems about George Floyd and the impact of COVID, Rocky became a role model, demonstrating to his peers how to speak out about injustice. Under his leadership, his cohort navigated the shift to virtual learning with resilience, using their art to address the social upheavals around them.

“Through Advot, I was able to learn how to better practice communicating as well as how to better receive communication from family, friends, coworkers, and others.”

His voice is his power: As a fourth-year student at the University of California Santa Barbara, double majoring in political science and religious studies, Rocky continues to use his voice to lead and advocate for his community. He remains engaged as a member of a rugby team and through his internship with Global Recruiters Network (GRN).