COYN Member Youth Fellowships
COYN Youth Fellows are nominated young adults ages 18-24 that represent their local COYN member site. The fellowship is a two-month program where the Fellows focus on hearing from youth in their respective areas on what they want to see in their communities. The Fellows utilize the info they gather to make recommendations to best incorporate youth voice within the COYN work at large!
Current Class Fellows
Spring 2025
Ryan Burks
Fall 2024 FellowMy name is Ryan Burks and I’m from Riverside California but my worksite is in LA with VSEDC working at there teen tech center teaching kids coding and being a supportive youth leader. Some things that are very important to me are leading the youth in the right direction and making sure that the youth have the tools and the knowledge to grow themselves in all aspects of life.
Ryan Dollman
Fall 2024 FellowMy name is Ryan Dollman, I’m from San Diego and work as San Diego non-profit Youth Will’s 2025 California Opportunity Youth Network fellow. I’ve previously served under both San Diego Unified School District’s Environmental Literacy Taskforce and San Diego non-profit Our Time To Act, where I learned leadership through community and the value of a collaborative collective.
Jose Hernandez
Fall 2024 FellowHi my name is Jose Hernandez. I am a 3rd year college student pursuing a degree in social work in order to be the kind of person who knows exactly where to go based on the needs of people who I dream to one day help.
Lauren Kirkwood
Fall 2024 FellowHello, my name is Lauren Kirkwood, I am a university student from Los Angeles, currently working with Seen & Heard. I am very passionate about leadership and youth advocacy, having served on the Los Angeles City Youth Council.
Karen A. Nino Valente
Fall 2024 FellowHello, my name is Karen A. Nino Valente. I am from Los Angeles, California, and my worksite CRCD is also located in LA, where we help the youth with school or any resources they may need in life, as we only want the best for them in order to succeed. Throughout this experience with my worksite I’ve been able to help many youths around my age in many ways from helping with school work to outside work such as in their personal lives. I hope with this opportunity I’ll continue to help the people around me.
Aizada Zhexengaliyeva
Fall 2024 FellowMy name is Aiza, and I am an international student from Kazakhstan studying in the U.S. I volunteer at the Kiwanis Club in San Jose, supporting children and communities through community work and active leadership. I have experience in diverse fields, from teaching ESL to kids to organizing events for college students.
Previous Class Fellows
Fall 2024
Julian Arias
Fall 2024 FellowMy name is Julian Arias and I am a Psychology Major. Through the COYN Fellowship, I hope to take the knowledge of Youth Leadership and apply it to my future career of being a therapist.
Angelica Mejia
Fall 2024 FellowI’m from Los Angeles, CA. I attend Cal State University, Dominguez Hills and am majoring in audio engineering. My leadership experience has come from Grand Performances. I’ve learned many leadership skills and roles working in production at Grand Performances, which I’ve been able to take to my campus’ theater production crew. I’ve been put in positions where I’ve had the opportunity to teach and share learning opportunities, provide direction for further plans, and professional communication.
Teri Stephens
Fall 2024 FellowI’m 19-years old and I’m currently attending Mt. San Jacinto College and am part of the California Family Life Center in Hemet, CA. I’m an aspiring entrepreneur who is active in the CFLC’s Youth Council.
Eva Valadez
Fall 2024 FellowMy name is Eva Valadez. I’m from the San Fernando Valley. My leadership experience has ranged widely over the years, starting from a young age. I have served as captain of sports teams and president of various clubs, demonstrating my commitment to guiding and motivating others through leadership.
Zion Williamson
Fall 2024 FellowOriginally from Los Angeles, California, I’ve built leadership experience both on and off my school campus, excelling as a straight A,B student. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games and writing essays, which allow me to balance my competitive spirit with creative expression. Read my published article, “Defining Success.”
Spring 2024
Aleki Gamboa
Spring 2024 FellowMy name is Aleki and I’m working with OneFuture Coachella Valley. I’m helping redesign the YES (Youth Empowerment Solutions) curriculum and hopefully start a new leadership program for youth.
Angelique Russell
Spring 2024 FellowBorn in Inglewood, CA, into foster care, Angelique Russell first developed her love of storytelling from a young age and has interned with comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish’s non-profit known as the She Ready Foundation. Through She Ready, Angelique has demonstrated key leadership skills and worked with Circle of Confusion, a management and production company, Signature Tracks, a music production company that has composed for companies such as Bravo, TLC, and Netflix, and is also a 2022 Kids in the Spotlight alum, participating in the Script-to-Screen program, helping to write the KITS-produced short film “RUN”.
Angelina Sanchez
Spring 2024 FellowMy name is Angelina Sanchez and I am from San Jose, California. I am a fellow with the Youth Liberation Movement. In my work, I have supported YLM’s amazing efforts such as The Youth Housing Coalition, The Children’s Summit, and our own Amity Youth Summit. I have met an inspiring and positive youth community that uplifts and sees a great liberation in Youth’s future.
Tori Stephens
Spring 2024 FellowMy name is Tori Stephens, I’m 19 years old, I’m from Hemet, CA, working at the California Family Life Center, passionate about community service. As a youth leader, I’ve mentored, organized events, and helped build a supportive space for other young people.
Nicole Torres
Spring 2024 FellowHello! My name is Nicole Torres. I am first generation woman of color who is passionate about helping the community. I want to see my community grow and heal after so many years. I am passionate about giving my time and effort to make that possible within my community and many more like it.
Winter 2024
Ashley Cajina
Winter 2024 FellowAshley Cajina, a 22-year-old native of the Bay Area, is dedicated to serving her community. She currently facilitates presentations with the CA Youth Opioid Response team in Oakland, focusing on educating Bay Area youth about opioid use disorder through a harm reduction framework.
Aaron Carter
Winter 2024 FellowMy name is Aaron Carter. I am the first of 6 siblings, and my community, to graduate college. I was born and raised in the South Central section of Los Angeles, California. I believe youth leadership is an important component to becoming successful.
Samira Hassan
Winter 2024 FellowMy name is Samira Hassan. I’m from San Diego California. I’m an organizer with Youth Will. I’m currently working on helping young individuals get more involved within their community. We present youth with the resources that they need and create a space to vocalize their ideas and experiences.
Valeria Herrera Vasquez
Winter 2024 FellowValeria Herrera Vasquez is an international student from Lima, Peru. Currently studying Business Administration at San Jose City College. She is the President of SJCC’s Student Government. She has also been selected as a Student Leader in Residence by HACU and to be part of the Student Leadership Institute through College Opportunity. She works as student ambassador at her school and aspires to transfer to a four-year university.
Jamie Jacobs-Booker
Winter 2024 FellowI am from South Los Angeles and reside in Downey. Helping people is a passion of mine. I currently serve as an AmeriCorps Member and a volunteer teacher. I work with an organization that supports children and families. Many students that don’t have access to the right resources and supports so they can thrive due to systemic inequities that mainly impact students of color and those in low-income communities.
Adam Murakami
Winter 2024 FellowHello, my name is Adam Murakami. I’m from Los Angeles, CA and glad to be a part of such a great group of young aspiring leaders. The main highlight of my youth leadership
experience has been leading philanthropy events at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Angel Williams
Winter 2024 FellowAngel Williams is a member and intern of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. He is exposed to worksites that provide wraparound services for system-impacted and formerly incarcerated youth where he assists them with finding a career, helping with paperwork, do administrative work such as filing and up keeping databases as well as support in job search.
Fall 2023
Jennevie Contreras
Fall 2023 FellowJennevie Contreras works with the Los Angeles TAYportunity Program. She’s from Bell Gardens, California, and her mission is to inspire youths with a stronger sense of self-worth so they understand they hold the power to strive for success and fulfill their dreams..
John Morales-Castillo
Fall 2023 FellowJohn Morales-Castillo was born and raised in San Jose, California. He has a passion for traveling, learning, and giving back to his community in any way he can.
Steven Recinos
Fall 2023 FellowSteven Recinos, born in Palm Springs, is interning for OneFuture Coachella Valley located in the Coachella Valley. There, he demonstrates community leadership by helping fellow photographers through scouting locations, planning and organizing shoots, and teaching techniques to create wonderful images revolving around mental health. He also volunteers his time and photography services to the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City.
Fernanda Robles
Fall 2023 FellowFernanda Robles interns in San Jose, CA. She advocates for Opportunity Youth by attending. focus groups to provide her lived experience and insight to help combat the issues facing youth today.
Spring 2023
Olga Alvarez
Spring 2023 FellowOlga lives in Los Angeles, and is a member of WIOA program at Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD). Olga helps with the food distribution program at her local community center.
Eveny Felix
Spring 2023 FellowEveny works in Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, CA, and is the current president for the Fostering Knowledge Club at College of the Desert. I’m also a leadership member of OneFuture Coachella Valley’s Opportunity Youth and Young Adult Alignment Team.
Kevin Garcia
Spring 2023 FellowKevin Garcia is from Koreatown. Currently, Kevin is an intern with Anti Recidivism Coalition (ACR).
Tania Godinez
Spring 2023 FellowTania Godinez is from San Jose, CA, and supports undocumented students through the Almass program. Tania also helps immigrants find the path to citizenship through the Shine program.
James Jacobs
Spring 2023 FellowJames is from the city of Los Angeles, CA. James is currently involved with the TAYportunity GI Program.
Briana Nguyen
Spring 2023 FellowBriana is from Anaheim, CA, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Briana’s current involvement is Doing Good Works in Irvine. Briana’s previous experience includes involvement within the Youth Leadership Program at Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos, CA. She attended their 15th Annual Youth Leadership Conference in 2017, and attended other community events and weekly meetings with other youth leaders in the program.
Fall 2022
Oscar Rendon
Fall 2022 FellowOscar is from Aurora Colorado and enjoys investing his time building meaningful relationships through leadership opportunities and community involvement in San Diego County. Oscars has served as the 19-20 student body president at San Diego City College, outreach ambassador for the San Diego community college district, project coordinator for LGBTQ asylum seekers at the Border Butterflies Project funded by Familia Trans Queer Liberation Movement and techire for YouthWIll.
Evelyn Camarena
Fall 2022 FellowEvelyn was born in a small town in the state of Washington. She moved with her famil to California when she was 7-years-old. She loves living in California because it has great cultural diversity.
Jacob Virges
Fall 2022 FellowJacob is a passionate and dedicated Community Worker and Spoken Word Artist. Jacob uses his talents and time to bring more attention to youth voices as well as speak against the many injustices in the System. Jacob has worked with non-profits like One East Palo Alto, Live and Peace, and Jobtrain, to name a few. Jacob works to guide his peers and the people around him to discover their purpose and how their voice, along with action, can change the environment around them.
Brenda Guizar
Fall 2022 FellowBrenda was born and raised in Compton. Brenda works at Compton Youthbuild and has been involved in COYN’s Youth Policy Committee since 2021.
Alexandro Ortega
Fall 2022 FellowAlexandro is a young leader with the Youth Liberation Movement, and a first generation Mexican-American. Alexandro works to utilize his experience through personal hardships to provide a different perspective and great solutions that will impact his community in a positive way.
Summer 2022
Marcos Banuelos
Summer 2022 FellowA Public Relations Major at California State University, Long Beach, Marcos has dedicated
his time and talent to support events and organizations to increase resources and opportunities in his community.
Josh Delgado
Summer 2022 FellowCurrently enrolled in the Indio Youth Opportunity Center in Indio CA, Josh graduated from Amistad High School. He enjoys new experiences and helping others.
Jocelyn Gama
Summer 2022 FellowHailing from Oakland, California and born in Jalisco, Mexico, Jocelyn attends UC Berkeley where she majors in Legal Studies with a double minor in Education and Global Poverty and Practice. She remains committed to critical dialogues throughout the city, nation, and the world in order to advance the cause of justice.
Jesus Martin Gallegos
Summer 2022 FellowA recent UCSD graduate, Jesus-Martin serves as a Youth Commissioner for the City of San Diego where he advocates for youth services and better representation. Through his COYN fellowship, he works with the agency Youth Will and addresses youth justice, education, employment, and youth-driven focus and success.
Nominations for the Next Class of Fellows
Nominations are now being accepted for the Fall 2024 cohort fellows.
How To Nominate Your Fall 2024 Fellow
Each local COYN member will nominate one young adult ages 18-24 to be their local Spring ’24 COYN Fellow by September 13, 2024.
Each site will send a nominating email to Karen@newwaystowork.org, along with a participant one-page essay that details why youth leadership is important. Please place the applicant’s name and personal e-mail at the top of essay.
Fall 2024 Fellowship Duration
The Fellowship will run between October 1st- December 1st. Each Fellow will work at the local nominating site. Each member will have responsibility for supervision and direction of the Fellow.
Project Goals
The Fellow will support the site’s youth community outreach efforts, design of youth community input processes, assist in delivering a youth survey, and develop a project documenting youth leadership effort. Fellows will intern at their host location approximately 20 hours per week and are paid a predetermined stipend for their time.
For More Information
Laura C. Romero, PhD
lromero@brillantestrategies.com