Ola Olsinova (she/her)

My politics and personal views are rooted in care and justice. I want people of Edinburgh to live in a city that belongs to them, living in comfortable housing that’s affordable, attending schools that cater to different needs and interests, and enjoy this beautiful place as their safe and welcoming home.
I work in sustainability, and I am an actor. I have worked in education and child care, elderly care, and hospitality where I got the chance to meet people with different needs and learn about the problems our city faces. I’m an active member of Living Rent, I sing in a community choir, and I am currently in rehearsals for ‘Gazan Women’ which discusses Palestinian experiences of the genocide.
With Living Rent, I experienced the frustration of meeting with councillors who were out of touch with community needs.
I was a co-chair for South East Edinburgh Greens for two years, where I campaigned on local issues including road closures and I helped organised a community event where we made wild flower seed packets.
At my workplace I am a mental health first aider and my background in sociology and psychology means that I cherish the opportunity to listen to people’s concerns and provide care and a safe place for them to express how they feel.
In 2022 I worked as a campaign assistant to a council candidate for Forth Ward which gave me an insight into the campaign journey. As an actor and a clown I feel comfortable with public speaking and I’m ready to make community voices heard.