Rahmel grew up in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in economics. He interned at the Illinois Justice Project, where he conducted independent research about the interaction of mental health care and the Illinois criminal justice system. During college, Rahmel also interned at the Polk Bros. Foundation and the Chicago Academic Achievement Program. Rahmel spent two years as the community service chair for the University of Chicago’s Organization of Black Students, during which he raised funds to support medical relief for Haitians following Hurricane Matthew.