Meet Umar Amer of Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Umar Amer.

Hi Umar, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In the dictionary, leadership is defined as the capacity to lead or act in an instance of leading. This a broad generalization for a term that carries such weight.
I firmly believe that leadership and being a leader means possessing the ability to add all of the ideas together to make the best possible plan and knowing how to decipher the good and the bad out of an idea. An effective leader needs to be adaptable and know how to deal with different issues. I have seen effective leaders use this quality to engender others, just as I have on multiple occasions.
I have the ability to solve problems, lead through adversity, and be versatile. When I joined the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Teen Council in my first year of high school, I did not have these qualities because I was never put into a situation where I had to lead. When I tried, I learned the value of being a leader which requires not just taking control of a group and telling everyone what to do, but understanding the needs and requirements to achieve a certain goal.
I got to work. One of our goals in the club is to fundraise money to donate to patients at the hospital. In order to raise more money than last year and help as many children as we could, I worked with members to design pamphlets, flyers, and brochures. We handed these out at volunteer events or to visitors that came to the hospital. But I didn’t stop there, next we recorded a four episode docuseries and presented that at health clubs in highschools that our members were in like, HOSA, red cross, unicef, and more. The outcome has been sweeping: we have raised over $78,000 for children and that number has been increasing weekly. But, for me what makes my efforts most successful and motivates me to continue helping my community were the memorable conversations I had. I remember some of the visitors I had handed out flyers to and talked to told me about friends or family they knew personally who had been affected with cancer; they went on to tell me about how it’s so personal and hard on them that even looking up ways to donate or having conversations about it is hard for them mentally. By handing out flyers with statistics and really having long and meaningful conversations with these individuals, it was easier for them to open up about the stress of seeing a loved one be affected and get more involved in fundraising opportunities. Leadership is more than what the dictionary says it is. It is a combination of communication, compassion, empathy, and unconditional kindness.
Additionally, another way I am leading my community through empathy and communication is by being part of the at make science education more accessible and engaging. I provide input on upcoming exhibits, develop outreach events, and help create initiatives that foster curiosity and learning in underrepresented communities. Through this position, I actively listen to the needs and interests of my peers and local youth, ensuring that their voices are heard and reflected in the Science Center’s programming. I also assist in organizing community events, such as STEM workshops and science fairs, which aim to inspire the next generation of innovators. My role on the Teen Advisory Board allows me to bridge the gap between the Science Center and the community by promoting inclusive, hands-on learning experiences.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all—and I’m grateful for that.

Creating a docuseries, organizing outreach events, and fundraising over $78,000 didn’t happen overnight. It took countless hours, collaboration, and difficult moments where I questioned whether I was doing enough. But the stories I heard from people—how cancer had touched their lives and how hard it was to even talk about—grounded me in the “why” behind all the work.

The road has been anything but smooth, but it’s in those bumps that I found what makes leadership real: compassion, consistency, and connection. That lesson has carried into everything I do, whether it’s running inclusive STEM outreach with the Science Center or making sure my peers’ voices are reflected in community programming. I’ve learned that struggle is what sharpens leadership—it’s how you grow into someone others can rely on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud of the way I’ve been able to transform empathy into action—especially through my leadership on the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Teen Council. Raising over $78,000 for pediatric patients was a huge milestone, but what truly sticks with me are the individual conversations I had with people—strangers who opened up about their loved ones battling cancer, and how hard it was for them to even talk about it, let alone know how to help.

Being able to build that trust and guide them toward meaningful involvement showed me that leadership isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about showing up, listening, and making someone feel seen. That lesson has stuck with me across all the work I do—whether it’s planning inclusive science outreach or advocating for youth voices in decision-making spaces.

I’m proud of how I’ve grown into someone who doesn’t just lead with strategy, but with compassion.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Currently, I am all about creating long term change through policy work. As Mona Foundation President and 1 of 40 global youth ambassadors I work to improve access to girls education while also teaching club members about the education system in Arizona. This includes leading restaurant partnership fundraisers at locations like Chipotle, Somburrors, Black Rock, Krispy Kremes, etc to raise $3000 dollars for girls education. Every $10 can provide a girl in Mongolia, India, or Sri Lanka a year of free education and books. I also introduced an education workshop series. In this all 45 club members got to work in groups or partners, select a country Mona Foundation works with, and research the education policies, what Mona Foundation has done, and what we can still do, and present that to the entire school. This not only helped raise awareness and inform students, but also gave them public speaking opportunities to develop important leadership and communication skills.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sparkhope.us
• Instagram: @sparkhope.us
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/umar-amer-5991b6351