Youth Ambassadors

My name is Jayden Jones, and I'm currently a senior at Highland High School. I'm thoroughly active in my community, which has been represented through my volunteer work at my local hospital, active participation in my city's IMPACT volunteer program, and hands-on experience working with actively practicing therapists and psychologists. My determination to make an impact has been fostered as a result of my various experiences within my community, and as someone who's eager to help raise awareness, I plan to use my platform to push for the advocacy and removal of the stigma that surrounds mental health amongst teens.

Daniela Sarabia is a senior at Highland High School in Palmdale, California. She is actively involved in her school, by being in her school’s student government, organizing school-wide events and creating a fun and inclusive school environment. Daniela has also been captain of her school’s dance team for two years, embracing and spreading her love for dancing and performing. She is also vice president of her city’s youth and government organization. She has a strong passion for being active in politics and providing her peers with a place to speak on issues that are important to know. Daniela wants to increase awareness for the various issues affecting youth today. 

Lydia Pochueva is currently a junior at Campolindo High School in Moraga, and she has a tenacious passion for invoking change. Whether it’s working to reform administration-to-student communication, holding meetings to acknowledge incidents of bias in her community, or promoting positivity through leadership positions in sports, extracurriculars, and school, she is determined to make an impact. She is a proud three-year ASB leadership member, while also holding leadership on the state and delegation level for Youth and Government, and uses both platforms to fuel her desire to advocate for social and financial equity. She hopes to apply her passion and problem solving skills to Our Minds United as well as other advocacy endeavors in the future.

My name is Valerie Cruz Gaona and I'm a junior at Culver City High School. As Vice president of Interact club at Culver High and a Youth Advisory Council member, I work to plan various events with the goal of giving back to the Los Angeles Community in need. Co-manager of Track & Field and Vice President of Hablemos club have allowed me to keep school spirit  as I contributed to a welcoming and efficient environment for students. Interning at the Culver City Chamber of Commerce has provided me insight on business economics management, which is what I hope to study. Being an avid member of Culver City's Youth & Government program as well as the Superintendent's Advisory Council, I hope to become more civically involved and well-versed in voicing my opinions on systemic issues.

Chloe is a senior at Stevenson in Monterey, California, where she promotes inclusion in her school’s community as a part of the DEI committee. She is also co-head of the AAPI affinity group and founder of the Korean Culture Club, where she pushes for diversity and cultural awareness. Beyond her passion for diversity, Chloe is a big advocate for youth mental health and healthcare. Currently, she is an Auxilary volunteer at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP), a member of the Montage Health Healthcare’s academy, and a 3-year youth ambassador of the AIM Idea Labs, where she conducts research on the emerging youth mental health crises.

Brooke Leigh is a sophomore in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, where she volunteers weekly through many different clubs. Her passion is all things neuroscience and psychology related, influentially spreading mental health awareness around her. Outside of school, Brooke can be found on the basketball court or reading a good book at the library

Brandon Cruz is a senior at Highland High School in Palmdale, CA. He is active in his school's student government and in his local government where he volunteers as an intern for a local senatorial candidate. Through his position in his school’s government, Brandon meets with local high school leadership every month to discuss important issues affecting students. Brandon is the attorney captain and co-captain of Highland’s Mock Trial team, as well as the president of his local YMCA’s Youth and Government delegation. Through Y&G, Brandon has become an advocate for youth involvement and representation in his community. He is passionate about youth mental health and believes every student has a right to understand their own feelings. He hopes to use his platforms in his community to spread mental health awareness and de-stygmatize the subject so that other teens may have a place to be heard. In his free time, Brandon likes to read, play video games, and write short stories. 

Kaylee Miranda is a senior at Highland High School in Palmdale, CA. He is active in his school's student culture through being the president of Best Buddies. She is involved in mental health advocacy and education through being the Vice President of Vital Tenes on her school's campus. She also volunteers at Antelope Valley Medical Center where she has engaged with patients struggling with mental health first hand. She hopes to increase mental health resources across California through her involvement in Our Minds United

Abigail Tesfaye is a dedicated sophomore at South Pasadena High School who strives to invoke change all throughout California's educational systems through strategic bill drafting and advocacy. Her leadership as one of this year's California Forum Chief Clerks in Youth and Government where her passion for law and politics bloomed, along with her role as a global youth ambassador working with a non-profit in rural Ethiopia. She has also participated in a national judicial competition. Her mission as a Youth Ambassador is to reveal the transformative power of mental health for California students through "Our Minds United".

​Panashe Mafukeni is a senior at Quartz Hill High School in Lancaster, CA, where he often involves himself in a variety of clubs in his area. He is highly passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental and truly displaying that there are areas where everyone feels seen and heard. Outside of supporting the push for mental health recognition, Panashe enjoys hanging out with friends and traveling.

​Hey everyone I'm Justin Pouncey, I'm a senior at Culver City High School. As Vice president of Associated Student Body (ASB) at Culver High and a Youth Advisory Council member, I will work to plan events with ASB to give back to our campus and community as a whole. Being the ASB Vice President will allow me to keep up with students needs and concerns while also maintaining school spirit as I create a welcoming and safe atmosphere for students. While working with various clubs on campus and being Co-prez of the Mental Health Awareness Club I will be taking the time to spread the importance of mental health around my campus.

​Julia Sanchez is a committed Mental Health Ambassador with extensive experience in youth advocacy and leadership. She is actively involved as a member of Youth and Government at the YMCA, where she helps shape community policies and foster civic engagement. As Secretary of the Vital Teens Medical Club, Julia contributes to advancing health education among teens. In her role as Vice President of the Best Buddies Special Education Club, they advocate for inclusion and support individuals with special needs. Additionally, Julia gains valuable experience as an intern with a Senate candidate, contributing to political advocacy and policy development.

Ryan Mendez is a driven activist in the mental health space who hopes to use his experiences as a tool to drive vast cultural change. While currently a senior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, he’s previously attended every high school in his district. Seeing the best and worst of what our educational system has become, he shares his story in hopes of a better future. He’s a member of the Palos Verdes Student Board and his local YMCA Youth & Government delegation, where he advocates upper administration for recognition of our most glaring issues. He’s part of the sage committee at school, where he reaches out alongside his team to students to spread the word about mental health, and he's a panelist for his old therapy program at schools across LA, preaching the importance of psychotherapy to students in need.

My name is Sofia Abrego. I'm a Junior at Highland Highchool. I have two year of mock trial experience and two years of yearbook experience. My passion stand in law and medical an I hope to be a immigration lawyer when I'm older, Mental health is a big thing for me because of family experiences, youth mental health needs a lot of work and I hope to help with tha, and to help bring more light on the youth mental health issue and to bring more awareness to the issue.

Marwa is a junior at Marina High School (in Marina, CA), where she is the president and founder of the mental health and psychology clubs. Due to her work in a variety of mental health projects/organizations, Marwa strongly believes in the value of young people being at the forefront of the mental health movement. Outside of mental health advocacy, Marwa works as a math instructor at a Mathnasium, goes on runs or walks in nature, and reads books of all kinds.

Hi everyone my name is Zoey, I'm a 10th grader at SOAR highschool from the Antelope valley and i'm so excited to be a part of this amazing opportunity. I'm really looking forward to using my role as vice president for the AV youth and government delegation to help boost mental health advocacy in addition to this program. I love listening to new music, trying new drinks, and getting donuts from Dunkin. My favorite season is fall because of all the delicious pumpkin flavored snacks and drinks plus I love spooky season.

​Hana Tehrani is a senior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, passionate about advocating for youth mental health. She is the Activities Director of Peninsula’s Sage Committee in which she organizes events discussing mental health challenges and available student resources. Hana is a volunteer and mentor at Community Helpline, where she takes various calls and trains future volunteers to do the same. Beyond mental health advocacy, Hana is the managing editor of her school's Literary Magazine, President of the Middle Eastern Society, and camp counselor at RHUMC Kid Zone. When she’s not running between activities, you can find her cuddled up on the couch with her support system (her cats Tommy and Esme).

Saisha Pal, a Dougherty Valley High School sophomore in San Ramon, passionately advocates for youth mental health policy implementation. With a strong background in mental health research under Mariana Jimenez at AIM Youth Mental Health and as the founder and president of her school's AIM Youth Ambassadors club, Saisha has been at the core of promoting mental health change. Beyond this, she serves as a Girl Scout Board Member for the NorCal council, representing over 40,000 voices and leading a Gold Award project on self-advocacy.

Hello, I'm Alexandra Huerta Romo and I'm currently a sophomore at Highland High School in Palmdale, California. First and foremost, I'm thrilled to be a Youth Ambassador for the Our Minds United Organization! I'm interested in the organization's legal and political aspect as I'm a part of my school's Mock Trial alongside interning for a senatorial political campaign. I'm also involved in my class senate and many other extracurriculars on campus in which I share my ideas and contribute to my community. I'm looking forward to advocating for Mental Health education as it is one of my greatest concerns.

My name is Aicha Payne and I am a senior at Highland High School. I am excited to be a part of Our Minds United, taking a step towards a difference in the field of mental health as it is something I am very passionate about. I am involved in other extracurriculars at my school such as swimming, ASB, Link Crew, Best Buddies, and Vital Teens. Outside of school l enjoy cooking and drawing. I am so excited to be a part of Our Minds United this year!

 My name is Brandon Yun and I am a junior at Culver City High School. I pursue my passion for helping others in many ways, but the thing I enjoy doing the most is giving my time to local children's hospitals. Through my experience as a human right's activist, I have seen how the smallest fracture from one's past can leave a lasting impact on them throughout their life. As someone who just cares about people's wellbeing, I hope to work with OMU to break the negative connotation around mental health in our society.

My name is Arianny Zambrano Garcia I am currently a freshman at Highland High School in Palmdale CA. I believe that mental health is of such importance in today's generation and I am delighted to work with Our Minds United as a youth ambassador. With my acquired leadership qualities as well as my enjoyment of helping others I would love to use my skills to better Our Minds United and make a difference in others lives. I am also looking forward to learning and growing here in my time at Our Minds United.

Giada Rice is a junior at Palisades Charter Highschool. She is thrilled to work with Our Minds
United as a youth ambassador to help make mental health resources more accessible for K-12
students. She is interested in public policy and she has helped work on grassroot political
campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys debate, swimming, playing lacrosse, and hangout with
friends.

Karina Yue is a freshman at California School of the Arts- SGV in Duarte, California in the creative writing conservatory. She is an activism intern at TurnUp, treasurer of the Rotary Club, and a fellow of the California Coalition for Youth. She holds leadership at the delegation level for her city’s Youth and Government and has been involved in many grassroots campaigns. She is passionate about public policy and uses her platform to raise awareness on youth issues and advocate for positive change.