Meet the 2022 ONS Youth Leadership Council Cohort

Amina M.

My name is Amina Mack, I’m 17 years old. I’m a nonbinary lesbian who uses they/them pronouns. I joined YLC to make my voice be heard. Ever since I’ve lived in the projects I noticed the huge difference between here and a regular apartment complex. The unfairness and dirtiness, I want to see a change. I hope to see my community become a better place.

Andrew S.

I’m Andrew. I just graduated from high school, going to be a college student. I’m going to study accounting and try new activities. I like to protest against things I don’t like.

Ashley B.

I joined YLC to make a bond with people who want to help their neighborhoods just as much as I do. I’m happy to say I have met so many nice people at YLC, from the YLC leaders to my coworker. The YLC leaders are just as determined as we are. They make sure we are okay minded and physically in-and-outside the work place. I love that at least once a week, we get to talk to our assigned YLC leader.

Ashley V.

I’m Ashley. I like to enjoy life and to explore the city. I joined YLC because I care for my community and want to fix some of the issues in my community.

Bryant D.

I’m a laid back guy who loves to explore new places. I joined the YLC because I come from a place where I believe community outreach needs more help and support from large government organizations such as the YLC. I’m looking forward to giving back to my community since the people in my community have made it such a memorable place for me, especially those who work at the Jacob A. Riis settlement center.

Dashawn K.

I’m Dashawn and I love to play basketball.I’ve been playing basketball since age 2 and haven’t stopped since. I’m on my own journey to my basketball career and I just hope it goes well. Besides that I just want my family to live a nice life and I want to be able to provide for the ones I love and care for.

Dayviyana M.

Hi, my name is Dayviyana and I’m 16. I joined the YLC to help my community be represented in projects/laws. I love music and I eventually wanna be a nurse or just become someone that can return back to my community, be a role model and help those in need; whether it be family, friends or strangers who need it the most. I also love adventures and traveling with friends, and I constantly change my hair.

Fahmida I.

I am a young woman with an aspiration to restore human rights and development in my community. This is why I joined the ONS Youth Leadership Council—it allows me to express my ideas and concerns for my neighborhood and its inhabitants. The team and I are working together to formulate courses of action to reform various civic issues in New York City.

I tremendously look up to Martin Luther King Jr., and likewise, I have a dream that one day everyone human will be respected despite their social identity or any other factor.

Jada

Gowanus

My name is Jada. I’m from Brooklyn and I’m from Gowanus houses. I joined the YLC because I love to see positive change being made in our communities.

Jariel L.

Queensbridge

Why did I join the YLC? Well first off, people like me all over NYC suffer from a lack of representation. Being a Dominican/Chinese American who was raised by a single mother of 6, I’ve experienced a lot of things that I would question and just ask the simple phrase of why? The YLC gives the youth the access to be educated on these topics and learn the opportunities we do have. It also gives us a voice, a place where we can communicate issues in our communities. It doesn’t stop there, the YLC covers the expenses and gives the platform to enforce the resolution to these conflicts. Being a first generation American I feel as if I was held at a disadvantage in certain things like school because although my mom speaks English, her first language is Spanish so sometimes the help I needed wasn’t available. Independence was something I gained at an early age. Living in Queensbridge projects I feel as if I was marginalized and not given opportunities or just couldn’t afford them. I wanna stand for the motivation of my people, bring opportunities and make dynamic change in the mentality of minorities and the community we live in.

Jasmin L.

Queensbridge

My name is Jasmin L., I am 18 years old, and I live in Queensbridge. I am a shy, creative, and funny person. Some things about me is that I like to travel, spend time with my family/friends, go shopping, watch plenty of shows and movies, and I like to try new things. The reason why I joined the YLC is because I feel like this gives me an opportunity to use my voice for issues I would like to solve in my own as well as other neighborhoods.

Karla J.

Hi, my name is Karla Jimenez. I am about to turn 17 years old and I’m a rising senior. I am Dominican and I was raised in Brooklyn, NY all my life. I have a huge family, I am the aunt to 4 nephews and 1 niece. I am very goal-driven, I’m never sitting down I always find something to do to improve my self. In the future I aspire to be a Forensic Psychologist. Some fun facts about me is that I’m strong not just physically strong but also mentally and spiritually. I know how to carry my self extremely well and I’m very outgoing and friendly.

Kayla J.

Hello my name is Kayla, and I’m a young woman in my twenties. I graduated from my high school in 2019 and while I didn’t get a chance to go to my graduation, I still celebrated my monumental achievement considering my mother never got the chance to. I’m currently in school to become a pharmacy technician and working on graduating from the program and beginning my adult journey further.

Kelsy D.

Wagner

As a resident at NYCHA Wagner, i’ve lived within this community for about 10 years. There are so many things we can change to create a safe and loving environment for other NYCHA residents and visitors.

Kennedy H.

My name is Kennedy and I’m a senior in high school. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. Growing up I’ve always been an outgoing old soul. I enjoy writing, spending time with my family, and taking pictures.

Keonna B.

Some important things that you can know about me is that I just graduated from high school and I got two diplomas: one for high school and one for arts. In addition another thing is that I’m very shy at first but once you get to know me I am funny, smart, kind and hardworking and an organized freak. Another thing you should know about me is that I like to work and branch my self and do many different things that involve with helping the community.

Kiahra M.

My name is Kiahra and I love to take landscape photos, watch scary movies and listen to music. As someone who loves taking landscape photos, I love spaces where it’s clean, safe and beautiful— which is why I joined the YLC. To keep my community area clean and safe, to make it beautiful for me and others to picture.

Lalanie H.

Hello my name is Lalanie. I’m 16 years old and I am a member of YLC. I joined the YLC because it’s an opportunity to get my voice out there on the things I feel like impact my community and what change I feel needs to be made. I’m looking forward to seeing all the great work we would accomplish but most importantly I’m looking forward to graduating June 2023!!

Lashawn W.

I am a quiet person. I’m usually quiet when I meet people. But once I get to know you, I open up. My favorite things to do in my past time is play basketball and spend time with my friends. A reason I wanted join YLC it’s because I wanted to help make change. And help my community for the better.

Malcolm G.

My name is Malcolm G. I am from the Bronx—born and raised. I joined the YLC because I care about making a difference in my community and I believe that all starts with the youth in it! I enjoy theatre, skateboarding, playing video games, and anything related to the arts, superheroes or geek culture!

Melky R.

I joined to see what change I could possibly make with my mindset. I have really enjoyed the photography lesson and learning more about the cameras. I am looking forward to more photography as it’s really one of my favorite hobbies. I’m also looking forward to the merchandise program.

Nefer-Auset B.

I am a life-long artist who, for the last few years, has become interested in various groups dedicated to enacting change in the city that I call home. Working with people from all walks of life and all ages is as educational as it is fascinating. Outside of the sessions, I am usually listening to music, writing or drawing.

Niaeame H.-S.

I’m 19 years old. I’m a college student and I’m studying criminal justice. I want to be a detective for missing and murdered girls. I’m very into journaling.

Rebecca G.

My name’s Rebecca, I’m 15 and I’m a junior in high school. I joined YLC because I wanted to join a group/environment that allowed my voice to be heard in my community and would also allow me to make decisions that would actually be reflected in my neighborhood.

Sean F.

I love sports and my favorite is basketball. The reason for this is because I’m more talented in that sport. I make music although I know I gotta push further and actually find my own sound. Thats what I’m working on. I like to be outside and chill with my friends but I mostly stay home, in the house, playing the game. I like to have fun. I like to learn stuff I never knew. I also like to go out places.

Rebecca G.

Hey! My Name is Shania A. I am 22 years old. I am the oldest of 7 children, and yes, we all came from the same parents. Fun fact about me is I may not look it, but I am a HUGE game nerd, especially when it comes to card/ board games. I am currently in school for Nursing and will soon be a Certified LPN!

Sharaya S

My name is Sharaya S. I’m 21 years old and glad to be a 2022 YLC member. I enjoy arts and crafts, recycling outfits and re-designing them. I enjoy helping others because knowing the feeling of happiness and joy is blissful and I would love for everyone to feel it and experience it too. I look forward to making changes and strengthening the relationship between the people of my communities as well as those in NYC. I’ve joined the YLC to help contribute production and positive changes to my community and those all over NYC. I’ve enjoyed meeting my peers, collaborating ideas and opinions, learning and understanding more about mental health, physical space, safety, gun violence, and economics. I look forward to meeting about our action agenda and our goals within the timeline and seeing the impact it can have in the future. My hobbies include dancing, cleaning, dressing up, making clothes out of old outfits, and spreading love and joy all over because there’s too much hate in the world.💖💖

Suvana C.

Red Hook

I’m Suvana C.! I’m an Afro-Latina from Red Hook! I’m proudly non-binary and an advocator for lgbt, women and for POC’s rights! I joined YLC to make a difference in my community and others. I want to be the change that in the world cause it all starts somewhere!

Talia B.

Hi, my name is Talia B. and I joined the YLC program because I wanted to make a change in my community and get to meet and learn about others all around New York. So far I’ve definitely enjoyed speaking to the other kids during each session. Outside of work I also do nails for myself and others as a side job.

Taylor R.

Hi, my name is Taylor and I’m here to talk to you guys about why I joined YLC. I joined YLC because I wanted to learn more about the world and how we can make it a better place.

Trackamason E.

I am Trackamason E., a first generation Haitian American born in Jersey. I’ve spent most of my life in New York City, a place where generations of youth are experiencing more and more drug and domestic violence, as well as drug abuse. For this reason I’ve decided to join YLC. I enjoy listening to slow songs, reading dramatic action manga, and challenging myself.

Trevis B.

So far in the YLC I have enjoyed the multiple conversations that we’ve had and it’s really made a lot of us comfortable with each other. My favorite hobby is basketball and playing games with my friends until 4 in the morning. A fun fact about me is that I used to draw and I was kinda good at it. I stopped though and I lost my touch.

Zaymian T.

I’m a gay, mixed man who lives in New York. Because of my environment and circumstances, I was forced to mature well before my peers—however I didn’t let this cripple me or my ambitions to allowing others like me to not experience what I have. Though I may be hard-headed, I still enjoy simple joys outside of my advocacy. Playing video games with my friends, reading love stories, watching horror movies. I’m more than one thing and I am a work in progress.