My name is delilah aviles I am a formerly unhoused youth from East Oakland, California. I work in solidarity with Youth Spirit Artworks: Tiny House Empowerment Village – the very program that housed me. My role is curriculum, training and engagement administrator. I am curious on how to curate youth-led learning experiences centering decolonial education, offerings tools, and entry points we can strategically utilize to make change. 

My organizing focuses on understanding the intersections between land/space/housing justice, race, age and play in efforts to dismantle systems of oppression and transform them into a system and movement of self and communal reflection and liberation led by those directly impacted with lived experience. The work I do centers equity and reparations for all oppressed people and life forms, and why decentralizing power, anthropocentrism and whiteness is critical for the transformation of our world from a climate crisis to a Afro-Indigenous Renaissance. 

I believe it is our responsibility to advocate for sharing power, space and decision making for the sake of all life’s quality, expectancy and trajectory towards evolution.

DaeJanae Day is an undergraduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore class of 2018, and she has a major in sociology (B.S.). The reason why she likes this work and advocating for this issue is because she has personally experienced homelessness during her college career, and she has seen the struggle of her peers to survive and thrive because of the larger obstacles in the community.

Her aspiration is to be a politician in any position (council member, delegate, governor, etc.) so she can make a change on a bigger scale and end homelessness nationwide!

Hello, my name is Kalyn Garcia and I am from Los Angeles, California. I am fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning ASL. I am currently a clinical case manager working in permanent supportive housing (PSH) in Los Angeles County. I work primarily with seniors with severe mental health concerns and those who have been chronically homeless (quite some years). 

I am working toward becoming a licensed therapist in the state of California. I have previous experience in youth group homes, as a research assistant for Dr. Jennifer Maguire on California State University students on food and housing insecurity, and my own personal life. 

I would love to become a licensed therapist and go to law school. My goal is to work in policy, and my passion is to minimize food insecurity in BIPOC communities, with special attention to food deserts.

Hello! My name is Johnathan Hemphill, and I represent both Chicago, Illinois, and Tacoma, Washington. I'm deeply passionate about addressing issues like homelessness, poverty, youth homelessness, social justice and supporting the well-being of the African American community, society and the world as a whole. I bring extensive experience in social movement organizing, advancing social and racial equity, developing institutional policies, advocacy, and applying systems thinking and analysis.

Some of the roles I’ve held include serving as the former president of the King County YHDP Youth Action Board, co-chair of the governing committee for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority and tri-chair of Washington state’s Poor People’s Campaign. Currently, I work as the strategic communications and engagement specialist for the Washington state Department of Commerce’s Office of Homeless Youth. I also serve on the steering committee of the Washington Economic Justice Alliance, and I’m the founder of Rasta Kholna LLC – a startup in progress that focuses on human service consultation led by lived experience, AI-enhanced e-learning and an innovative outreach project.

I hold values like integrity, empathy, open-mindedness, humility, ambition and perseverance at my core. In my free time, I enjoy writing, self-improvement, change management, social design and engineering, studying political history, and exploring philosophical and metaphysical topics.

Hello! My name is Zoryna and I am representing Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska. I am passionate about making change in the lives of young people facing homelessness, incarcerated young people and parents ages 14-24. I have lots of experience in advocacy, youth engagement, public speaking, creative arts, cultural competence and interpersonal communication. In addition to being a mother to my 3-year old-son, Exodus, I currently serve as an active member of the Youth Alaska Action Board on Housing and Homelessness. 

I am also the former outreach committee chair of the Anchorage youth task force, a former voting chair on the Anchorage homeless prevention and response system council and a former youth champion with Covenant House Alaska. Some of my values include altruism, commitment, integrity, accountability and transparency. Some of my interests and hobbies include watching anime, poetry, karaoke, listening to music, dancing, sharpie canvas art and video gaming!

Hello! My name is Maygan Martinez and I am from Salt Lake City, Utah. I am passionate about making changes for youth experiencing homelessness, DEI in our government and advocacy. I have expertise in working with youth experiencing homelessness, working with youth aging out of foster care, POC leadership and lived expert leadership. 

I currently serve as a YHDP Coordinator for the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform, I am a co-founder of 1999 Collective and the founder of the Salt Lake County Youth Action Board. I value deep thought and open conversations you can learn and grow from. Some of my personal interests and hobbies include roller skating, Legos and reading political philosophy.

Malik Rivers is a licensed social worker and the project associate with the Center for Capacity Building at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In this role, he supports the effectiveness of the center by providing administrative coordination and programmatic support to its core training and technical assistance activities, including the Center for Learning. Malik is a member of the National Council on Youth Homelessness – National Youth Homelessness Partnership, where he helps to inform national strategies to effectively prevent and end youth homelessness. 

Malik most recently held a position as a youth engagement specialist at Sasha Bruce REACH, a residential facility for committed and detained youth ages 13 to18 in Washington, D.C. Before joining the alliance, Malik interned with Veterans on the Rise, as a transitional housing case manager for veterans. He also interned with D.C. Public Schools as a high school social worker where he helped facilitate students’ educational, social and emotional growth. Additionally, Malik worked as the mentor program manager for a youth development nonprofit in D.C. Malik coordinated with mentors and mentees to ensure they had the opportunities and resources needed to enrich their relationships. Malik holds a B.A. in sociology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Social Work degree from Howard University.

Amara Pilar Santos was born and raised in San Francisco, California, a fact she takes great pride in. Being from San Francisco has given Amara not only a deep, nuanced understanding of the various social issues that exist in our society, but allowed her to create community with some of the most passionate and dedicated activists she has ever had the privilege to know. Amara has worked in various social-justice sectors, such as local government, philanthropic and grassroot organizations. 

From planning public health events for young girls and trans youth to address toxic relationships, crafting legal resolutions calling for defunding of the police to her local representatives, to calling for transnational solidarity amongst Black, Indigenous and immigrants of color, Amara’s lived experiences and personal knowledge guide her social justice work to be grounded in passion, empathy and radical change.

Hello! My name is Zaqanah Stephens, and I’m a proud New York native, born and raised in Brooklyn. I am deeply passionate about ending youth homelessness and advancing the lived expert workforce. My expertise spans the youth shelter system, direct services, DHS, youth peer advocacy, research and data analysis, cross-sector collaboration with federal and state governments, mental health support, and addressing gender-based violence. 

Currently, I serve as the Youth Persons with Lived Experience Chair and Youth Committee Co-Chair for the NYC Continuum of Care (CoC). Additionally, I work as a youth workforce development coordinator and previously held a role as a youth advocacy fellow with the Coalition for Homeless Youth. These roles reflect my commitment to creating sustainable solutions and advocating for systemic change. 

My core values include social justice, personal development and the belief that everyone deserves autonomy, safety, opportunity and a sense of joy. When I’m not working, I enjoy expressing my creativity through interior design, crafting, hair styling and even fencing!

Talofa! Dash (she/her) is an unapologetic queer individual born and raised on the beautiful island of Tutuila, American Samoa. She is a training and capacity building manager at Youth Collaboratory. She dedicates her life to serve and amplify authentic youth voices to lead youth services as well as decriminalizing stereotypes around homelessness. Dash spends her free time working alongside other national organizations sharing her unique experience living on Dgheyay Kaq! (Also known as Anchorage, Alaska) 

She was a part of Across Generations conversations with the Humanities Forum connecting other folks in the community and bridging generational gaps. Dash received her Youth Thrive certificate with Facing Foster Care in Alaska promoting youth well-being and healthy development for youth and young adults. Dash stays connected within her community as a board member for Covenant House Alaska, Pacific Community of Alaska and United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance Alaska (UTOPIA Alaska).

Hello! My Name is Daphnie Toussaint and I am representing Charlotte County, Florida. Some areas I am passionate about making change in include education, prevention and implementation. I have lots of expertise in problem-solving, communication, organizing outreach programs, homeless services and public housing.

Apart from weightlifting in my free time, I serve as the Charlotte County Youth Action Board chair as well as secretary of Lutheran Services Florida Youth Action Board. Some of many of my core values include respect, compassion and growth!

Hello! My name is Dane Valentine from Oklahoma City! Some of my passion areas include the improvement of informed care for disabled and substance-recovering youth, and “couch-surfing” youth. I have expertise in working in transitional aged youth care. Some of the current roles I hold include being on the OKC Youth Action Board, being part of the National Youth Advisory Council for National Network for Youth, and I am an adultism training facilitator.

Some of my core values include transparency, equity and compassion. Apart from doing advocacy since 2017, some other interests I have include music, poetry, writing and making short documentary style media.

Hello! My name is Lee Waldman and I’m from Ithaca, New York. Some of my passion areas include youth homelessness, LGBTQ+ rights and disability justice. I have lots of expertise in youth homelessness, coordinating quality improvement, youth action board sustainability, trans-affirming advocacy, and disability access.

I am a founding member of the Ithaca youth action board, and I currently serve as a youth representative on the Tompkins County continuum of cares governance board. Being community-oriented and open to collaboration are core values that I hold. Some of my interests include crocheting and antiquing. I also have an extensive collection of trinkets!