Mitali is a first year medical student, going into her second year at WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

“I want to join this program because the threat of nuclear weapons is deeply personal to me. My mother escaped terrorism during the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, an experience that shaped my understanding of violence, displacement, and the lasting trauma of conflict. Her story fuels my passion for peace and justice. I believe learning about nuclear abolition is essential for building a safer future. This opportunity to engage with global leaders and visit Hiroshima—where the human cost of nuclear warfare is undeniable—will deepen my commitment to advocacy and help me grow as a leader for peace and nonviolence.”

Erika is a recent graduate with a Masters of Public Policy from Oregon State University, where she dedicated her entire graduate career to researching nuclear waste policy and its intersection with environmental justice, public health, and the global energy transition.

“A central part of my graduate work was conducting research on the Hanford Site in Washington State, one of the most hazardous nuclear waste sites in the United States. This research deepened my understanding of how the nuclear weapons complex has left a legacy of environmental degradation, public mistrust, and ongoing harm, especially for Indigenous and rural communities living near contaminated lands. It also reinforced my commitment to policies that prioritize long-term safety, equity, and transparency.”

Tamisa is a Yakama tribal member, food gatherer, Yakama Nation Tribal School graduate 2025, Language Teacher studies; accepted to Heritage University.

“I studied the Hanford issues in history class this year, I listened to my mother who's the cultural specialist for the Yakama Nation-Environmental Restoration/Waste Management Program and I have been on a National Park Service B Reactor school tour and to the Hanford Journeys put on by the ER/WM Program. I believe in speaking up for the air, cultural resources (animals, sacred sites/foods/medicines), land, and water. I want to gain first-hand knowledge of the impacts to other communities, especially Japan.”

Jessie is a 3rd year medical student at Pacific Northwest University, currently doing clinical rotations in Anchorage, Alaska.

“I grew up in the Mennonite faith, a tradition rooted in simple living, the importance of community, and pacifism. For me, nonviolent action has become the lens through which I approach everything I do. Following an interest in peace building, I spent a semester in undergrad studying in Palestine and Israel. It was the face to face story sharing in the affected land that really led to a deepened conviction that nonviolence can be the only way forward. Now as a 3rd year medical student continuing to advocate for peace, justice, and the preservation of life I see nuclear weapons in direct opposition with everything that I care about and am working for.”

Natasha is a 24 years old current student at Everett Community College studying Criminal Justice.

“I grew up in the Marshall Islands and graduated from Majuro Cooperative School, where I developed a deep connection to the history and ongoing struggles of my people. My family's story is directly tied to the legacy of nuclear testing in the Pacific. Both my parents are Marshallese. My Father is part Japanese and is from Bikini Atoll, one of the areas most devastated by U.S. nuclear weapons tests. Even today, we live with the painful consequences, chronic health issues, generational trauma, and the harsh reality of being permanently displaced from our ancestral homeland. These lived experiences have shaped my identity and solidified my purpose. I have committed myself to speaking out for those who still live in the long shadow cast by nuclear bombs.”

Tatiwyat is graduating from the Northwest School, and has been accepted into Whitman College on Pre-med track.

“I am Wanapum, and I grew up in Priest Rapids Village, where my culture, spirituality, and ancestral teachings have shaped every part of who I am. Since I was young, I’ve carried stories of my ancestors, the land, and the values we uphold. Our traditional territory extended far beyond the village where we now live seasonal camps and sacred sites once marked our deep relationship to place. That relationship was forever altered by the Manhattan Project, which was built on our homelands. The Hanford Site, just upriver, produced the plutonium used in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, devastating not only Japan but also the health, environment, and spiritual balance of our own community.”