Youth Advisory Council

Soraya J. is a freshman studying political science at Stanford University. First inspired by watching her Iranian family fight against gender injustice, she decided to help disadvantaged women in her community by starting a nonprofit that has collected more than 16,000 donations. She then engaged in policy action through internships and researched equitable workplace policies. Her children’s book, Girls Who Change the World, amplifies the stories of girls making a difference in diverse communities globally to empower the next generation of changemakers. She is excited to continue countering harmful stereotypes and championing equity through her work with The Representation Project.

Kate R. is a high school senior based in California. She has served as the co-editor-in-chief of GirlTalk Magazine, an intersectional feminist magazine run entirely by high school students, for three years. She is also the leader of the youth effort for the adoption of an Advanced Placement United States Women’s History Course—alongside educators Kristen Kelly and Serene Williams. To strengthen her advocacy work and uplift young women, Kate is overjoyed to be joining The Representation Project’s Youth Advisory Board!

Maegha R., a high school student based in California, co-founder of Girls4Sports, and Youth Advisory Council member for The Representation Project, has been advocating for gender equity in sports since the age of 13. Named a 2024 Prudential Emerging Visionary for her inspiring commitment to improving the lives of others, Maegha’s organization, Girls4Sports, creates safe spaces for girls in underserved communities to participate in athletics, promoting inclusivity and breaking down barriers to access.

Sienna C. (she/her) is a dedicated Youth Advisory Council member for The Representation Project. Originally from Mexico City, she moved to California in 2014 and is now in her final year of high school. Sienna is passionate about activism and plans to study International Relations in college, with the goal of making a meaningful impact on social justice issues globally.

John M. is a junior in high school from New York who loves sports but is currently recovering from injuries. His introduction to The Representation Project was when his Abuela Lupe hosted a screening of Miss Representation when he was fourteen to raise money for an Economic Empowerment Program for a non-profit that helps survivors of gender-based violence. He then had his video essay featured on a Representation Project panel. Outside of school, his hobbies are reading about new science and technology, learning about business and entrepreneurship, and rooting for all the Philadelphia sports teams.

Sarah P. (she/they) is a high-school junior from Maryland passionate about local organizing, youth engagement, and all forms of social justice, including intersectionality, environmental justice, and gender justice! In the past, she has worked with Each Mind, a mental health non-profit aimed at understanding mental health from a cross-cultural lens, and DemocraShe, where she engaged in conversations and led an intensive workshop about women empowerment, intersectionality, and resilience skills. She is currently involved in environmental advocacy on the national and local level and serves as the co-chair of the Policy Committee of the Heirs to Our Ocean U.S. Youth Action Council for the UN Ocean Decade and is currently working on the environmental education section of a Climate Action Plan recommendation for her school system. Outside of that, she organizes with Our Revolution Howard County and regularly testifies at school board meetings.

Shreya S. is a first-gen student at UofM studying political science. She hails from Texas, but now considers Michigan home. Shreya is incredibly passionate about political campaign management and is an aspiring outer space lawyer. She is very excited to contribute to The Representation Project!

Janvi S.N., a senior in high school, is a passionate leader, an aspiring Prosecutor, and a fierce advocate for intersectional social justice & educational equity. She is the Founder and President of Learn. Perform. Inspire (LPI), a non profit organization focused on promoting higher-order literacy skills in underserved communities. Janvi serves as the captain of her high school’s forensics team and has had the honor of representing her school at State and National level Speech & Debate tournaments. This year, Janvi organized and presented her first TEDx Empire Ranch Youth event with the theme of ‘Breaking Barriers’, collaborating with local youth organizations.

Serena G. is a 16-year-old high school senior from California. As an artist-advocate, she is dedicated to empowering youth and amplifying marginalized voices through writing, performance, leadership, and community engagement. She is a published poet, the current Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate, a member of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Youth Advisory Council, a member of the 2023-2024 U.S. Youth Advisory Council for the United Nations Ocean Decade, and a big sister and lead of Cinnamongirl. Serena is also the founder of EmpowHer Poets, a free afterschool program focused on uplifting the voices of girls of color and supporting their empowerment through poetry, songwriting, storytelling, and sisterhood.

Hayley L. is a second-year Political Science student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is an Opinion columnist for the Daily Bruin at UCLA. She also has experience as a law clerk working at Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLP, a reputable law firm in Sacramento, California. Some of her interests include tennis, volleyball, piano, singing, and songwriting. She looks forward to fighting sexism and promoting gender equity as a member of the Youth Advisory Board.

Love A. is a Sophomore at Cypress College majoring in Political Science and Communications. Love is an advocate for media as a tool for civic engagement and is interested in pursuing political media policy and ensuring diverse perspectives are heard and seen in political media. Love has worked to propose legislation to provide employment protections for minors working within social media, and serves on GLSEN’s National Student Council as well as a Policy Researcher on Diversify our Narratives Curriculum Council. Outside of her advocacy and organizing work, she plays volleyball, GeoGuessr, and reads dark academia books (her favorite is Babel). Love is excited to join the board and looks forward to contributing an intersectional youth perspective to the work being done.

Noelle H. is a senior in high school from California. She is also a Youth Council Member for both the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the LA County Office of Education, where she leads policy-oriented initiatives promoting women’s rights and student voice. In addition to her advocacy, Noelle is an accomplished baton twirler, representing Team USA in 2025 and serving as a Feature Twirler at her high school.

​​Penelope O. is a poet, human rights activist, presidential scholar, journalist, changemaker, policy leader, nonprofit founder, and executive director from Sacramento who is first year at UC Berkeley. Her work is centered around everything justice, with intersections on gender, climate, economic justice, gun safety, youth, immigration, racial justice, workers’ rights, voting, United Nations common goals framework, and empowering others to join the fight for change. Her biggest joy is working in the community with youth and children from communities who are unhoused, in chronic poverty, experienced gun violence, and refugees through bringing grassroots trauma-informed programming with her nonprofit All Access Arts.