| Hanna is currently attending Woodrow Wilson HS, in the Law Magnet Program, with a dual interest in both Business Administration and Government. Her vision for the future of LA entails a progressive, and civically engaged city, whose youth play a major component in policy implementation, and whose marginalized groups finally have a permanent voice at the table! As an LA City Youth Council member Hanna plans to take her passions for activism and representation to amplify the voices of youth in her community and act as a vessel between her and her community members, to ensure she shares resources, opportunities, and information with the youth in her neighborhood, as she engages youth and grows as a leader. Hanna is a proud Angeleno, and loves her community of Lincoln Heights, in East LA. Hanna is a proud Bezos Scholar, an active member in the LAUSD Superintendent Student Advisory Council, she is a leadership team member of DemocraSHE a national nonprofit organization, a member of her schools Local School Leadership Council, and president of her Class and her school’s Women Empowerment in Politics club, and more! In her near future Hanna hopes to launch her own non-profit focused on empowering youth in financial literacy, and further in her career running for congress! A fun fact about Hanna, is that she actively competes in Speech and Debate! |
| Jesus resides in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a major in Political Science and a minor in Sociology. His vision for the future of the City of Los Angeles is for the city to become a beacon of youth representation. As a Youth Councilmember, Jesus looks forward to learning how LA City departments operate and how they address issues such as affordable housing, clean environment, and social justice reform. Jesus work for an organization called Study Smart Tutors where he helps students comprehend and complete their classwork and homework during school and after school hours. His goal is to one day be an employee of the City of Los Angeles and make his district a better place. One fact about Jesus is that he likes watching Premier League soccer matches and his favorite team is Manchester City. |
| Jerry is a junior at North Hollywood High School with passions for environmental science, public policy, and government. He envisions a future LA where youth are provided with a plethora of resources and opportunities to mitigate the impacts of environmental racism and educational inequity. In achieving these goals, Jerry strives to foster communities of collaboration, compassion, and action. In school, Jerry is the Environmental Leadership Club Founding President, Speech and Debate Team Captain, and Associated Student Body Secretary. Outside of school, Jerry formerly served in the LA Zoo Teen Council for Conservation. In his free time, Jerry loves singing and acting! |
| Liubov is a senior at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, resides in Studio City and plans to study political science and environmental policy in college. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, she envisions LA embracing a more sustainable future, seeing it as a prime opportunity for the city to make long-term sustainable changes. She’s the founder and president of the Climate Action Team on her school campus, Editor-in-Chief of The Student Voice paper and President of the Model UN Club. She aspires to work in government or NGOs to make concrete yet widespread changes that advance the sustainability of cities. Fun fact: Liubov has lived in 4 different countries! |
| Te'yana is currently a student dual majoring in Management Engineering at Pitzer College. Her vision for the future of Los Angeles is to see technology bridge the gap for underserved communities, and most of all, providing equal opportunities in housing, and economic development. She hopes to contribute to the city's efforts by advocating for policies that enhance housing development and improve youth engagement. Te'yana is an active member of AltaMed Youth Champions, LA Tech and BSU. Fun fact: Te'yana is vegan and enjoys experimenting with creative plant-based recipes! |
| Yana is currently a junior at Cleveland High School in the SFV. In her vision for L.A, she imagines a city where the neurodivergent community and low-income families are empowered. She is passionate about Model United Nations and ASB in school and aspires to become an engineer someday. Fun Fact: She enjoys long distance running! |
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| Jack is currently a senior at Oakwood School and plans to study history, international relations, and language in college. He is the co-captain of his school’s Mock Trial and Model UN teams, in addition to working as a volunteer at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Jack previously served a term as the Youth Representative on the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council. His vision for Los Angeles is a city that is safe, affordable, vibrant, and diverse. Specifically, Jack hopes to shine a light on the youth perspective in his city and to be a part in helping to tackle issues such as affordable housing that affect kids and their families throughout Los Angeles. A fun fact about Jack is that he is a big LA Rams fan! |
| Aaron attends University High School Charter and plans on studying political science. He would love to see a greener and more sustainable Los Angeles in the future with more access to equitable public transportation and would love to get more youth involved in politics and to increase civic engagement in all. At school, Aaron is in in student government and serves as class president, ASB, the executive director of their ambassador program, the environmental club president, the speech captain for our speech and debate team and the student site council chairman. Outside of school Aaron is the Vice President of his delegation in youth and government and has been a peer advocate for the One love organization for the last 3 years. Aaron's plans for the future are to pursue politics as he loves to connect with people. Having the opportunity to make real changes and being the voice for so many people is Aaron's biggest goal. His fun fact is that he used to be in the circus! |
| Jennifer Mi is a college sophomore majoring in Political Science and Communications at UCLA, located in Westwood (District 5). Growing up in California’s foster care system, Jennifer developed a strong passion for public policy and civic engagement, which has shaped her commitment to serving the community. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, she aims to advocate for policies that promote class and racial equity, with a vision of creating a more supportive Los Angeles for underserved youth and all residents. Her goal is to work closely with political leaders to drive meaningful change on local, state, and national levels. Jennifer is also a member of the UCLA Club Swim team and a fun fact about her is that she enjoys competing in triathlons! |
| Alec is currently a senior at Chaminade College Preparatory and plans to major in physics and political science next year. His vision for Los Angeles is a city where everyone, regardless of the conditions they were born into, has the chance to live up to their full potential if they're willing to put in the effort. Alec is deeply involved in his school community as president of the Science Bowl team, vice president of the school's Armenian society, and vice president of operations of the school's robotics team. He's also a pretrial attorney on his school's Mock Trial team, applying constitutional law to complex cases, and a campaign intern for CD2 candidate Adrin Nazarian. Alec hopes to use his education in physics to help solve the mysteries of the universe and run for Congress later on in his life. Fun fact: Alec is studying to be on Jeopardy one day! |
| Jaima attends Van Nuys High School and is interested in studying political science in college with a minor in economics. Her vision for the future of the City of Los Angeles is to improve the daily lives of residents by making LA cleaner and more accessible through public transport. She hopes to not only gain a better understanding of how LA city council works but also help voice the concerns of her peers in pressing issues. She currently resides in District 6, specifically in Panorama City. Jaima works with LAUSD on multiple student councils. Her future goals are to become a lawyer and then work my way up to being a representative of California in Congress. A fun fact about Jaima is that she has pet a baby tiger before. |
| Megan Teresa is currently a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School. She hopes to study public policy or international affairs in college! Her vision for the future of Los Angeles is a city where all people have the resources and opportunities to have the best quality of life and reach their full potential. She is the vice chair for the LA Metro Youth Council, a writer and editor for her school's newspaper, and was a student at the LA Conservancy's summer intensive program! She is super passionate about improving public transportation and public spaces. My fun fact is that Halloween is her favorite holiday. |
| Melissa attended UCSD and her major was Political Science: American Politics. Her vision is funding for youth programs and outreach. She hopes to volunteer at many events and gain a broader perspectives on local government programs. She lives in Lake View Terrace, CD 7. She works for the law firm Kantor and Kantor and hopes to go to law school in 2024-2025. Her fun fact is that she loves to crochet! |
| Kaaria resides in South Central LA and attends Alexander Hamilton High School. She would like to major in Theater Arts and Biology. Her vision of Los Angeles is streets clean from prostitution, homelessness, and drugs as well as access to better school supplies and facilities. She hopes to gain more knowledge of her city and district and find better solutions to problems like homelessness and littering. Kaaria is a member of the United Black Students of California (1st VP), Black Student Union (1st VP), Magnet Student Advisory Council, Girls Build, Student Deserve ( Leader), and Associated Student Body. She wants to be proud of where she landed but also love the journey that took me there. Her fun fact is that she is not too fond of the sound of bones cracking. |
| Makaela Brown is 17 years old, and attends Chadwick School. Community work has always been a great passion of hers and in her work she strives to broaden the opportunities that youth in her community have access to. She has been a part of a nonprofit organization for two years called Democrashe, where she serves on the leadership team educating young girls on the civic process and developing the skills to succeed as young leaders. She works with her community's coalition to organize campaigns and gather data to support larger causes in her area, for example, homelessness. She also lead her school's Black Student Union and Student Diversity Council spaces. She firmly believes it is crucial to give back and support the communities that have transformed her into the person she is today. In high school, she has taken on various leadership roles, fueled by her desires to tackle worldwide inequalities. A fun fact about Makaela is that she has traveled to more than half of the continents. |
| Flor is a current high school senior attending Santee Education Complex. She wants to study Software Engineering or become a Mathematics teacher. Her vision for the future of the City of LA includes cleaner streets and buildings, more educational/activity opportunities in communities (extracurricular outside of school for children), and more security provided in the streets. As a LA City Youth Council member, Flor hopes to achieve making her voice be heard and opening a program for students with activities and fund existing ones. Flor resides in South Central LA (Downtown Los Angeles). She worked with Los Angeles Metro and created an AI Assistant to provide users with more safety recommendations while taking the bus, She is a member of Santee GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance), Santee M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan), Mathletes, Robotics & Rubik's cube member, and a Senior Ambassador supporting my classmates with college applications. Her dream is to open a non-profit designed to teach people interested in robotics, computer or coding more about it and have hands-on opportunities that can be useful in the future. One fun fact about Flor is that she has 15 goldfishes, two turtles, and a rescued pigeon. |
| Ivan resides in South Central and attends Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School and is interested in pursuing Urban Planning. His vision for the future of the City of Los Angeles is having historically undeserved communities opportunities to work alongside city planners to create a community inclusive, equitable, and specialized to that community. Ivan's goal as a member of the LA City Youth Council is to push for more inclusive urban planning that reflects the needs of residents such as improving pedestrian safety and creating more green spaces. He is a member of his school's Yearbook Club and Nuclear Free Schools Club. Ivan aspires to pursue a career in Urban Planning and prioritize working with the voices of marginalized communities, ensuring residents are actively involved in shaping their environments. One fun fact about Ivan is that he has been playing the drums for a year. |
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| Lincoln Bang is a junior at Geffen Academy at UCLA, focusing on political economics and government. He has served as an elected student council member since 9th grade and is the founding president of the S.H.O.E.S. Club, which has donated over 1,000 shoes to underprivileged communities. Lincoln is also a Youth Council Representative with Para Los Niños, advocating for digital equity, and is involved with the YMCA as a Region Youth Advisory Council member. An accomplished TaeKwonDo practitioner, he will soon be a 4th-degree black belt and is a certified state and international referee. Additionally, Lincoln is a varsity basketball player and the praise team leader at his church, where he sings and plays guitar. His vision for the future of Los Angeles includes a focus on civic engagement, public safety, and equitable access to education. |
| Amaris is currently a high-spirited senior at Culver City High School who plans on majoring in African American Studies in undergrad. Their vision of Los Angeles is shaped by radical love and hope for their city's youth, and it includes more educational equity and less policing. As a LA City Youth Council member, Amaris is excited to bring this future to fruition through learning about city government and creating projects around their Black and brown community. As an ACLU Youth Liberty Squad leader, Bold Vision Youth Council member, and Los Angeles Uprising Fellow, Amaris works every single day to create a more just and nondiscriminatory Los Angeles for herself and her fellow young Angelenos. They are excited to continue down this path of non-profit work as they grow older, and they plan to pursue a PhD in African American Studies to become a Black Studies professor as well. In their free time, Amaris loves frozen yogurt trips after school—cookies and cream flavor of course—and spending time playing Minecraft with their younger sister! |
| Misha Keyvanfar is currently a Junior at Palisades Charter High School and is dedicated to combating anti-semitism and all forms of bigotry and hatred. Misha envisions a Los Angeles where people are seen and respected for their unique stories and contributions, with equal access to information, education, and justice. She is a first generation American whose parents fled their countries to the USA for religious and political freedom. This has informed her of the importance of democracy, and highlighted the many obstacles immigrants face. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, Misha is eager to connect and share experiences, to combat anti-semitism, uplift communities, and ultimately promote the welfare of Los Angeles youth. Currently, Misha is the president of the Jewish Student Coalition at her school, and is a rep at her school’s “Student Union Council.” She has spoken on LAUSD panels and at the California Commission Against Hate. She is also a certified Peer Mediator through the Western Justice Center, a Youth and Government Delegate, a Mock Trial Attorney, and volunteers with newly arrived immigrants in L.A.. Misha’s aspiration is to be of service, whether as a pro-bono lawyer or working for a non-profit or government agency dedicated to human rights. |
| Adya is a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School and is interested in International Relations and Politics! Adya's vision for the future of the City of Los Angeles would be a place where there is more accessibility of opportunities in lower-income regions, and we can practice more sustainable methods. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, she hopes to be able to increase equality in terms of education, accessibility, social services, justice, and opportunities across the various districts. She is a part of Speech and Debate, Model UN, and her school's Global Youth Politics Club! She also co-founded TennisTogetherLA, an organization that increases accessibility of tennis by providing free clinics and opportunities to underprivileged youth in Southern California. Her future goals and dreams would be to one day live in New York City and just be happy, content, and grateful for what she has and with her life in general! One fun fact about Adya is that she loves music and going to concerts! |
| Olivia is currently a senior at Granada Hills Charter HS and plans to study public health in college. Her vision for the future of LA is one built around an environment of support, passion, and advocacy to champion youth mental health awareness through educational resources, workshops, and interviews. Together with fellow youth leaders from diverse backgrounds, Olivia strives to inspire others to speak up for themselves and their communities. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, representing CD12, she hopes to enhance the YDD’s Earn Learn Play platform by allocating increased resources and funding to the health and wellbeing section, in partnership with the Wellness Handbook she created. Olivia is the President & Secretary General of her high-school’s student-run MUN conference serving 500+ students in the San Fernando Valley, co-founder of the international nonprofits Once Upon A Teen and The Teen Wellness Alliance, and a Student Advisory Council Member for Reagan EDU. Fun fact: In her free time, Olivia has folded hundreds of origami pieces, while listening to true crime podcasts! |
| Heydy is currently attending USC majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in Latinx News Media, residing in D13. She is passionate about youth-development, education policy, urban planning and budget allocation. She is a senator for her school’s undergraduate student government, and columnist at the Daily Trojan. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, she aims to work on the housing crisis by working against gentrification by providing equitable solutions and housing stability to low-income families. In all, working towards her vision for the future of Los Angeles that ensures every Angeleno has stable housing and resources. In the future, Heydy envisions herself as a criminal defense attorney and working her way into becoming a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. Fun Fact: Heydy used to own an art business selling her art work! |
| Thomas is a freshman at the University of California Irvine, currently undeclared, but he has an interest in engineering, software engineering, music, and political sciences. Thomas envisions a City of Los Angeles where the Youth has a louder voice and utilities to support his upbringing. He wants to make a change for the better in the City of Los Angeles, in the areas of local development and giving the neighbors nearby a stronger voice, environmental sustainability, educating the youth of Los Angeles, and providing equality to all. Thomas' heart and are truly in Echo Park. He especially loved Echo Park Lake and sitting on the benches after getting food from the Friday farmers market, watching the beautiful water from the water fountain blow in the air across all the green nature. He is a part of the Silverlake Conservatory Jazz Club as a Jazz Violinist and enjoy playing with them and going there. He is a big fan of the Latin side of Jazz (to anyone who listens to KJazz 88.1) Thomas was a part of the Echo Park Neighborhood Council as CIO. He is unsure of his future goals but want to explore. He wants to spread positivity and become better every day at it. One fun fact about Amaris is that he changes his hair A LOT! |
| Lucas currently attends La Salle High School and is interested in local government, criminal law, and the variety of Asian cultures. Lucas envisions the future of Los Angeles to be one that emphasizes and truly believes in a welcoming community, one that recognizes and celebrates the vast cultural backgrounds that exist here. During his time on the LA City Youth Council, he hopes to educate fellow teenagers about the importance of local governance and encourage them to participate in it as well. Within his school, he is the Overall Captain of both his Speech and Debate program, Mock Trial team, and the President of Asian Student Association. Outside of the classroom, He has interned with Democracy Summer School under Congresswoman Judy Chu and Union Station Homeless Services. His future is far from set, but he wants to either become a defense attorney or work in city government. One fun fact about Lucas is that he is Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese! |
| Sallette is currently attending UCLA, majoring in Education and Social Transformation. Her vision for the future of Los Angeles is to see a city where education, mental health resources, and social equity are prioritized, especially for underserved communities. Sallette is passionate about creating a future where young people have access to the support they need to thrive. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, representing Council District 14, she hopes to amplify the voices of her community, advocate for meaningful change, and foster a district that values youth leadership and inclusion. Sallette was born and raised in Boyle Heights and is actively involved in a variety of organizations dedicated to social justice and education. She serves as a Peer Advisor at UCLA’s Center for Community College Partnerships, helping students from community colleges successfully transition to four-year universities. Her future goals include becoming a community college academic counselor, driven by her desire to support students in navigating educational systems and helping students achieve their personal goals and reach their full potential. Fun fact: Sallette has met Clayton Kershaw from the LA Dodgers on the set of a Nickelodeon show and they share a birthday! |
| Jade Rich is currently a high school senior at Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy. She believes that the youth of LA should not be limited by their surroundings and they deserve equal opportunities towards higher education across the country, not just limited to California. Being apart of the LA City Youth Council, she hopes to learn more about city planning and public works, specifically learning how to address housing needs, public transportation, and safety issues on a large scale. She resides in the community of San Pedro, but also volunteers to provide the Long Beach community with free holiday circus shows, performing aerial arts through the JZ Lightshow. She plans to become an actuary and eventually have her own financial management firm. Fun fact: Jade loves baking! |
| Josiah Hankerson is a proud student at Verbum Dei Jesuit High School, in the neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles. He aspires to major in Political Science with a focus on Education Policy and African American Studies, with a vision of ensuring that every student in Los Angeles, regardless of age, income, or background, has access to quality extracurricular activities. These activities should be designed to identify and expand students' interests, ultimately preparing them for their future careers. As a member of the LA City Youth Council, He is excited to work towards expanding extracurricular opportunities, increasing youth engagement in civics, and enhancing public speaking and writing skills through education. |