About: Nijmie Dzurinko
Profile:
Nijmie Dzurinko is the executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union. She began with PSU in 1999 as the lead organizer for the Bartram chapter and one year later became PSU’s assistant director. After leaving in 2003 to work on international human rights issues, she returned in 2006 to revive the organization. Nijmie was raised in Western Pennsylvania by her steelworker grandparents. She began her activism when she wrote an essay at the age of nine reflecting on the role of unions in improving workers’ lives for which she received a $50 prize and a speaking engagement at a local state park. She went on to become a youth organizer, challenging racism at her school and engaging her peers in opposing the first Gulf War. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with honors in 1997. She went on to volunteer with the Americorps national service program, where she assisted teens from North Philadelphia to build community gardens under the mentorship of Iris Brown and tutored young people in an after school program at Norris Square Neighborhood Project. In 2006, Nijmie received her Masters in Urban Studies from Temple University, where she received the prestigious University Fellowship. Nijmie has conducted popular education, strategy, and anti-oppression trainings for a number of groups and organizations including Fellowship Farm. She co-founded the Media Mobilizing Project in 2006. Nijmie has been living in West Philadelphia for sixteen years.
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