Ariel Clarke, a first-generation Afro-Caribbean American with Jamaican roots, hails from Queens, New York. She recently graduated from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) with dual degrees in Criminology and Political Science with a Public Law Concentration in May 2023, and her MS in Criminology in May 2024. While on campus and in Queens, Ariel served as a community organizer, student leader, and a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) advocate, driven by a sincere passion for fostering justice and unity through the use of sociologically inclusive and restorative practices. Finding immense joy in elevating the interests of communities, she is ecstatic to be working with Growing Together as their CLI Program Manager, bridging gaps within her own communities and advocating for underrepresented populations on a broader scale. Ariel's diverse array of interests includes indulging in Slasher Horror films or the Scooby-Doo franchise, immersing herself in the world of art, reading comics or novels that captivate her, gardening, exploring new destinations, and savoring cuisines.