Astou Thiane

Astou Thiane was born in Dakar, Senegal, immigrated to the United States at the age of seven and was raised in Harlem, New York. She learned about her immigration status as a High School student and struggled to access higher education due to limitations based on this status. Astou received DACA status, which granted her the ability to work, allowing her to finance her education without any state, federal, or private aid. These experiences have fueled her unwavering commitment to serving low-income communities of color. She became an educator and work for the next 6 years as a teacher and a school leader. Astou leads policy efforts at ImmSchools, an immigrant-led non-profit organization that works to transform schools into safe and welcoming spaces for undocumented students and families.