Changeworker of the Week #7: Ariana Alexander-Sefre, Social Innovator & Founder of SPOKE

For Ariana Alexander-Sefre, mental health isn’t a siloed issue : it’s deeply interconnected with music, culture, belonging, and justice. Through her work at SPOKE, an award-winning platform for culturally rooted mental health support, she amplifies young and marginalised voices by blending storytelling, creative expression, and systemic advocacy.

Her most recent body of work, “The Future Sounds Like This,” bridges inner healing and systemic imagination encouraging us to use our precious energy not only to survive, but to envision and co-create new systems through sound.

Through the #MyPieceForChange campaign, we invite people to share their unique contributions to collective transformation. This series exists to honor their stories, amplify their voices, and connect them with a wider community of like-minded peers. Today, we’re honored to introduce our latest Changeworker of the Week: Ariana Alexander-Sefre, whom we had the pleasure of interviewing for this special spotlight.

What’s your piece for change? 

I work at the intersection of music, mental health, and social change, creating initiatives that make mental health support more accessible and culturally relevant. Through SPOKE, a multi-award-winning platform, I’ve worked to amplify young and marginalised voices, blending creativity with mental health support and systemic advocacy. My most recent work is around the theme of a recent newsletter edition, "The Future Sounds Like This", where I blend advocacy with inner healing, aiming to inspire people to use our precious energy to imagine better systems and futures, using music as a guide. I am now working on a suite of offerings around this same theme.

What inspired you to begin this work or stay committed to it?

Much of my work has been shaped by seeing how traditional systems repeatedly fail the very people who need support most. From losing people I know to suicide, to listening to young men tell me that therapy or mindfulness “wasn’t for them,” I began to feel tenacious to build something that truly speaks their language. What keeps me going is witnessing moments of connection, when music, storytelling, or community suddenly makes someone feel less alone.

What’s one hope or vision you hold for the future?

That we are no longer confined by fear, and our souls are truly liberated. This may sound abstract, but I would argue that we exist in a constant state of tension and fear regarding our personal well-being, the state of the earth, and our very existence. Added to this systemic and spiritual call for change, I also hope that mental health care is no longer clinical, stigmatised, or out of reach, but integrated into everyday life, through culture, schools, communities, and policy. My hope is to see artists and local leaders equipped to be true community healers and visionaries, sparking collective resilience and belonging.

What support or connection are you currently looking for?

I’m looking to connect with partners and collaborators who believe in reimagining mental health, particularly those in health systems, philanthropy, and the music industry. Individuals seeking to contribute to the development of culturally rooted solutions that effectively reach underserved communities worldwide, and contribute to strengthening the relations between communities.

What’s one thing about your field or topic you wish more people knew, considered, or acted on?

That our mental health is systemic, not individual; we are intrinsically connected to everything around us, from our relationships, to the environment, policies in our district, to access to certain foods or culture. While therapy and apps can help, they will always fall short if we ignore the structural drivers: inequality, racism, poverty, violence, that shape people’s mental wellbeing and therefore their entire lives. We need to stop placing the burden on individuals to “fix themselves” and start building systems that nurture collective care.

Where can people learn more about your work or connect with you?

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• SPOKE Website
• Newsletter: We The Sound (exploring music, healing and social change)

The Parayma community is rooted in authentic, supportive relationships. 

If Ariana’s story resonates with you, reach out, share reflections, or co-create new possibilities together.

🌿 Thank you, Ariana, for sharing your #PieceForChange and for championing a future where healing is creative, collective, and deeply rooted in culture.

Stay tuned for next week’s Changeworker feature, and if you’d like to be highlighted, join the campaign and tick the box to express your interest.