Cluj, July 2025 – Alexandra Rîcă is one of the courageous and inspiring participants in the Roma Leadership Program, a regional initiative that supports young Roma professionals in developing the skills, confidence, and networks they need to become change-makers within their communities and beyond.
A graduate of the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Alexandra majored in Communication and Public Relations. But her journey to leadership began long before university—shaped by lived experience, intersectional identity, and a deep desire for justice.
“I joined the Roma Leadership Program because I wanted to turn my personal struggles—growing up as a queer Roma girl in poverty and silence—into strength for others. I saw how many in our community feel unseen or ashamed of who they are, and I want to help create spaces where they feel safe, heard, and proud. Joining this program was also an act of liberation and a way of reclaiming my roots.” Alexandra shares
For Alexandra, leadership is about transforming vulnerability into courage, and personal pain into collective purpose.
“The first module helped me see that leadership isn’t just about speaking loudly, it’s about knowing your story, embracing your identity, and using it to uplift others.”
As the Roma Leadership Program continues, Alexandra looks forward to what lies ahead:
“I’m excited to build real connections with others in the program, to learn practical tools that can support my community, and to grow into the kind of leader I needed when I was younger.”
Through her participation in RLP, Alexandra embodies the program’s mission: to nurture leaders who lead with authenticity, empathy, and purpose—leaders who are not only the voice of their generation, but also builders of spaces where all Roma, especially those at the margins, can stand tall and thrive.
The Roma Leadership Program is an initiative powered by Roma Education Fund, the Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, Roma for Democracy, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture, and the Roma Foundation for Europe, designed to empower young Roma professionals from across Europe through mentorship, training, and applied advocacy experience.