Hub Heroes: January 2016

For the month of January, we are proud to highlight the community contributions of Joanna Iturbe, Ashima Saigal, and Ryan Ozimek. Thanks to Joanna, Ashima, Ryan for all you do!

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Joanna Iturbe
Two truths and one lie about Joanna

1. I was once at a party with Rick Linklater, Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong
2. I am the youngest of 10 children
3. I have 16 great nieces and nephews

Why is community important to you? What motivates you to contribute?

You get out of the community what you put into it, that’s why I believe it’s so important to contribute. Not only are you able to get and give support and answers, but you end up building an incredibly valuable network of colleagues and even friends!

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Ashima Saigal

Two truths and one lie about Ashima

1. At the age of 18, I climbed the Himalayan mountains to see an ice shiv-ling (depending on how randy you want to be, you could say to see an ice penis, because that’s what it is) which was a life changing event
2. I sang backup for Young MC
3. I have started teaching mindfulness to children in our local public schools

Why is community important to you? What motivates you to contribute?

I’ve always been involved in a community of one sort or another, whether it was one that helping others or ones that helped me. My currently community involves women of color and helping us to find our place in our broader community. This community keeps me sane and provides me a safe place to speak and be heard when it comes to issues of institutional racism. We support each other beyond our monthly potluck meetings and we open our doors to new women every month. This support and love encourages me to attend each and every meeting. I can’t imagine missing a dinner with these amazing women. When I feel heard and cared for, then I find myself motivated to contribute.

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Ryan Ozimek

Two truths and one lie about Ryan

1. My favorite burrito shop is La Taqueria in San Francisco’s Mission district
2. I used to play the trumpet…poorly
3. I have more airline miles than Ryan Bingham in the movie “Up in the Air”

Why is community important to you? What motivates you to contribute?

Never before has there been such a tremendous opportunity for new technology to connect our world together to solve tough problems. The challenges we face require a diversity of views and talents to solve them, and a critical component to us making this happen is to form strong communities that allow for the free exchange of knowledge. Our community gives me a chance help in our world efforts to push the needle towards social justice and empower the disenfranchised. Having a chance to be part of something bigger than myself, and seeing the direct impact of that contribution on an organization’s success is fantastic.

Also, any event that includes burritos motivates me to contribute. So there’s that, too.

 

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