Meet our 2024-2025 Youth Advisory Board
We are thrilled to announce the newest members of our Youth Advisory Board (YAB). These young people, hailing from 9 states across the United States, represent a diverse and qualified group of candidates selected from a pool of applicants in grades 9-12.
As members of the YAB, they will work alongside MCC to promote a more caring, just, and respectful society. They will receive support and guidance on expanding their current caring activities in schools with a chance of expanding these initiatives to other schools.
What unites the 29 members of the board is their commitment to MCC's mission to nurture caring and responsible individuals who are dedicated to promoting the common good. We invite you to get to know our new members below and to join us in celebrating their dedication to making a positive impact in the world.
Afya S.
Goes to school in: Burlington, Massachusetts
Why YAB? I am able to use my voice to help bring about change by collaborating with others to create a more inclusive and kind environment.
Something who inspires me is… My brothers are my inspiration because their hard work motivates me to be my best self.
What brings me joy? My family and friends make me happy because I love spending time with them, whether it’s late-night talks or midnight food runs.
Aspen J.
Goes to school in: West Roxbury, Massachusetts
Why YAB? I want to help make the world a kinder place.
Something who inspires me is… My Mother, for all that she has done to help Mother Nature!
What brings me joy? My rescue Angora Rabbit, Harold, and Tuxedo Cat, Hazel.
Callie S.
Goes to school in: Summit, New Jersey
Why YAB? Because we all need a caring-driven society to thrive
Something who inspires me is… My younger brother Devin because he truly cares about everyone around him and always strives to make others happy.
What brings me joy? In-person experiences that bring different types of people together through a shared passion, such as concerts and sporting events.
Carlotta G.
Goes to school in: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Why YAB? YAB has amplified my voice in my community and I hope to continue to create a greater change in my communities alongside other members.
Something who inspires me is… Hedy Lamarr whose pioneering work in technology formed the basis of Wi-Fi while being one of the top actresses during Hollywood’s Golden Age.
What brings me joy? Early mornings in July and August.
Caroline C.
Goes to school in: Irvine, California
Why YAB? To uplift youth voices and collectively make a great impact!
Something who inspires me is… Saranghoe. She lives my dream lifestyle and makes the most therapeutic youtube videos ever.
What brings me joy? Singing karaoke with friends and screaming my lungs out.
Cole P.
Goes to school in: Rowley, Massachusetts
Why YAB? I want to inspire youth to be kind
Something who inspires me is… My mom inspires me because she is hardworking and dedicated to making sure my sister and I have the best life’s we possibly can
What brings me joy? I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. One of my favorite hobbies is playing football. I like playing football because it allows a group of individuals to bind over a common task
Curran D.
Goes to school in: West Hartford, Connecticut
Why YAB? To help create a caring world for everyone
Something who inspires me is… My parents because they encourage and guide me through life's ups and downs
What brings me joy? My dog and family
David L.
Goes to school in: Portage, Michigan
Why YAB? To promote kindness and compassion; To spread laughter and love.
Something who inspires me is… My dad inspires me because of where he is from, and how far he has come. He also inspires me because of how he has done this, and the person that he is. My dad maintains a perfect temperament and can talk to anybody, which I admire.
What brings me joy? I like helping others and making a difference. Seeing other people smiling, regardless of the cause brings me joy. Working out doesn't hurt either.
Destry S.
Goes to school in: Los Alamitos, California
Why YAB? It’s important that a person’s citizenship is valued by universities.
Something who inspires me is… TheOdd1sOut (aka James Rallison) inspires me because he provides very valuable advice and promotes decency in his inclusive community of middle and high schoolers. I was a vulnerable kid when I first watched his videos and Mr. Rallison felt like the older brother I never had.
What brings me joy? Being with people I love.
Donella N.
Goes to school in: Gilroy, California
Why YAB? I want to create the change I hope to see.
Something who inspires me is… My parents inspire me in their ability to remain level minded in tough situations and bounce back from setbacks. They taught me to always bring my best to any occasion and to never be afraid to speak my mind.
What brings me joy? Being with my family and spending time with my dog, Femi always bring me joy.
Ella C.
Goes to school in: Spring, Texas
Why YAB? To effectively include lost/detached students in school community
Something who inspires me is… My dad inspires me because he is very creative and sees opportunities where others see a lost cause. I take a lot of inspiration from his trust that things will work out and that he can bring anything back from the brink of death (mostly in terms of businesses that are in the same field he works in, but I have also witnessed him somewhat reviving a lizard I found).
What brings me joy? Music, My friends, Spending time with Family, Food, Getting things done in an organized manner, Reading a good book.
Felicity L.
Goes to school in: Durham, North Carolina
Why YAB? Supporting students is vital for growth in overall worldwide kindness.
Something who inspires me is… My mom inspires me everyday by showing her generosity, thoughtfulness, and considerateness to others in our community.
What brings me joy? Being with the people I love, reading, dancing, and being outside!
Imani K.
Goes to school in: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Why YAB? To build a more positive future!
Something who inspires me is… Matilda Djerf inspires me because she built a business by herself, she is original, creative, artistic, and is an advocate for body positivity.
What brings me joy? Running, traveling, building lego flowers, baking cookies, taking moments for myself, making choices that make me happy.
Imran I.
Goes to school in: Greenwich, Connecticut
Why YAB? YAB enables me to make the world kinder.
Something who inspires me is… Anthony Bourdain. I've always loved food, so that's what drew me into his shows and books, but he seemed very kind and down to earth, always trying to help others. That inspires me.
What brings me joy? I'm happiest when I'm spending moments with friends and family. Even the less exciting moments with them, such as chilling on the sofa and watching a movie, are something that I truly cherish and that bring me joy.
Josue P.
Goes to school in: South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Why YAB? Empowering youth across the nation is what leads to change.
Something who inspires me is… My father is someone who inspires me because he is a very hardworking and loving individual, who takes care of many family members outside of our household.
What brings me joy? Making others laugh and listening to music brings me joy.
Madelyn Q.
Goes to school in: Katy, Texas
Why YAB? Serving my community and helping normalize a culture of wellbeing!
Something who inspires me is… My grandmothers. Both of them personify grace, courage, and strength in the lives they've lived and all they do. I strive to be like them and uphold their example!
What brings me joy? My family, sunsets/sunrises, sports, bread, curating the perfect playlist, and serving others.
Meera S.
Goes to school in: Oak Park, California
Why YAB? To create a lasting impact in my community.
Something who inspires me is… On a recent trip to Zambia this summer, my grandfather visited cities he had not seen for over 40 years. But his quick assimilation to the culture and understanding of the language made it seem as though he never left. To connect so deeply with individuals he had little to no contact with for years in a matter of a few minutes was not only amazing to watch, but inspiring. Wherever I go, and whoever I meet – I hope to grow roots and make a lasting impact, just as he did.
What brings me joy? Rather than confining myself to one answer, I find that my joy can be attributed to various aspects in my life. From late night Facetimes with my friends over the phone or one on one conversation with my parents, to mid-afternoon walks with my dog or dance classes that are so rigorous it's hard to breathe – I work to find joy in my experiences.
Merry W.
Goes to school in: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Why YAB? To spread kindness and empathy in big and small measures.
Something who inspires me is… My mom inspires me because of her dedication to working the same job for over 10 years!
What brings me joy? Swimming, going on nature walks, picnics with friends, drinking boba, playing video games with my brother!
Natalia P.
Goes to school in: La Cañada Flintridge, California
Why YAB? Treating others the way they want to be treated.
Something who inspires me is… My father; he is the hardest worker I know.
What brings me joy? Traveling, yoga, and the ocean.
Penelope T.
Goes to school in: New York, New York
Why YAB? I love making people smile and creating new friendships.
Something who inspires me is… My mom inspires me because she is patient with me and my siblings.
What brings me joy? Food, laughter, and music bring me the most joy.
Pritika K.
Goes to school in: Frisco, Texas
Why YAB? To foster more positivity in society through youth voices.
Something who inspires me is… My family inspires me everyday because they are my role models who display the virtues of kindness, compassion and empathy. They are the ones who have cultivated this passion within me to promote equity, justice and caring in society.
What brings me joy? Spending time with family, meditating, going on nature walks, traveling, doing passion projects, eating food, learning new things.
Riya J.
Goes to school in: Folsom, California
Why YAB? Reduce gender bias at schools. Less competitiveness, Cattiness. More kindness.
Something who inspires me is… Judy Hopps - from the movie Zootopia. She may be small, but she is fierce, optimistic, self-motivated, and wants to make the world a better place.
What brings me joy? Hanging out with friends and family, shopping, traveling.
Ryan Lo
Goes to school in: Oakland, California
Why YAB? To encourage and inspire young changemakers to stand up for what's right.
Something who inspires me is… My mom, as even after facing adversity as an Asian immigrant woman, she has taught us all to stand up for ourselves and to never shy away from doing what's right.
What brings me joy? Making my brother laugh.
Shayl K.
Goes to school in: Santa Monica, California
Why YAB? Promote social emotional learning and empathy development in schools nationwide.
Something who inspires me is… I love reading creative writing, and I am especially inspired by the works of South Asian authors like Jhumpa Lahiri and Faisal Mohyuddin.
What brings me joy? Spending time with friends, after-dinner walks with my parents and sister, and reading chamber music!
Siya M.
Goes to school in: Granite Bay, California
Why YAB? To contribute to education efforts and work with others!
Something who inspires me is… My mom- she shows me the importance of branching out and stepping outside of my comfort zone!
What brings me joy? Spending time with my friends and family, watching sunsets, & cheering on the 49ers!
Sophie L.
Goes to school in: Houston, Texas
Why YAB? No one deserves to grow up having never experienced kindness.
Something who inspires me is… My family friend since birth, because she has felt like an older sister when I needed it and because she is a rockstar in the field hockey and everything she does!
What brings me joy? When a curious child asks me a question, because it reminds me of how eager I was to learn everything about the world around me.
Sreeja S.
Goes to school in: Frisco, Texas
Why YAB? To empower youth to make meaningful, positive changes.
Something who inspires me is… Mother Teresa inspires me for her selfless acts of kindness and compassion.
What brings me joy? Turning ideas into actions that benefit others brings me joy.
Teresa F.
Goes to school in: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Why YAB? To show that young people don't just talk but act.
Something who inspires me is… My parents' stories of how we got here to the US from China inspire me to work hard like them to do the best I can for me and my family.
What brings me joy? Taking care of my school newspaper and editorial team. I'm incredibly proud of how we grew and expanded in our local and school community over the past year and am so excited to do many more new things this upcoming year.
Will C.
Goes to school in: Gill, Massachusetts
Why YAB? To expand my joy towards acts of kindness beyond my own communities.
Something who inspires me is… My great-grandma inspires me because she continued to play the trumpet and do the daily crossword puzzles even at the age of one hundred-two.
What brings me joy? Listening to and making music.
