Anna turned a childhood marked by violence, loss, and houselessness into a powerful movement for dignity and inclusion. After caring for her younger sister and mother through hardship, she founded Down to Work, a global initiative creating education and employment opportunities for disabled youth. Anna partners with schools and businesses to design inclusive pathways, while also leading workshops and launching an international gallery that amplifies the creative voices of disabled teens. Her leadership ensures that marginalized youth are seen, celebrated, and equipped with the tools to thrive.

Through her work, Anna has connected over 100,000 disabled youth worldwide to job opportunities, internships, and mentorship programs. She has trained thousands in workplace readiness, authored disability-inclusive curricula for public schools, and built one of the world’s largest youth-led digital movements for disability rights, reaching more than 170,000 people. Offline, her partnerships with inclusive employers have secured 12,500 placements across five countries. Online, her platforms continue to inspire, advocate, and build belonging for young people too often excluded. From survival to global change, Anna proves that resilience can transform into a collective force for justice.