On September 13th, Young Invincibles’ New York office launched its tenth cohort of the Young Advocates Program, our semester-long paid policy and advocacy fellowship, where young New Yorkers learn how to build campaigns for change on their campuses and across New York State. 

Damien Andrade (he/him) 

Senior, CUNY Brooklyn College

Damien is an active student activist now involved with the Young Advocates Program, a program under Young Invincibles that focuses on empowering youth to engage in civic and healthcare reform. With strong skills in community organizing and public speaking, Damien has participated in protests advocating for social justice and working-class reforms. 

In addition to their activism, he serves on their local community board, where he is dedicated to representing and uplifting the voices of their community. Their commitment to civic duty and social change fuels their passion for advocating for the next generation of leaders. 

Savannah Autobee (she/her) 

Junior, University of Mount Saint Vincent

Savannah is a 21-year-old junior at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, majoring in Public Policy with a minor in History. She is passionate about understanding society’s development through a philosophical lens and is deeply interested in law and policy. Her volunteer work has included supporting homeless communities and assisting special needs students.

Savannah joined YI to learn how to advocate for policies that benefit her peers and young adults more broadly. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction, listening to music, and exploring new places. 

Olami Ayebusiwa (she/her/they/them)

Sophomore, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Olami is a sophomore at John Jay College of Criminal Justice studying Political Science with a minor in Law. Originally from Aurora, Colorado, they moved to NYC to attend her current college. In their free time, she likes to hang out with her friends, go out and explore the city, and play Sims 4. 

Olami applied to the Young Advocates Program to learn more about being an active member of their society and bring more renowned change to the world around them. In the future, the Young Advocates Program will allow her to be in more significant places, advocate for policy change and free education, and start the road to becoming a lawyer who supports those who are being taken advantaged of.

Sara Ayoub (she/her) 

Senior, CUNY Hunter College

Sara is a dedicated 21-year-old senior at CUNY Hunter College, majoring in Political Science and minors in Arabic Studies. With a passion for law, her experience spans internships at the Criminal Court of New York and work with prominent organizations like NYLAG and Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, where she has focused on mass tort cases advocating for underrepresented communities. Recently, her research has explored democratic backsliding and the disparities faced by Arab Americans in the post-9/11 era. Outside of her academic and legal pursuits, Sara enjoys reading and painting. 

She is committed to using the skills gained from the Young Advocates program to serve low-income communities and deepen her understanding of how to uplift those in need through the legal profession.

Stephane Duviella (he/him) 

Junior, CUNY City College 

Stephane Duviella is a student at CUNY City College (CCNY) majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Studies. Since 2017, Stephane has dedicated himself to being part of organizations that help create change on a local and state level. In 2017, Stephane joined the Student Leadership Academy at Hostos Community College, where he participated in events such as The Model United Nations DC, and the Model Senate Project. His dedication to service earned him a place in The Ernesto Malave Leadership Academy (MLA). Within this program, Stephane has had the opportunity to participate in engaging workshops and advocate for CUNY initiatives such as funding for student support services. He is also a NASPA-certified peer mentor. 

After graduating from CCNY, Stephane will continue to George Washington University, where he will pursue a career as a US Diplomat. Stephane has joined YI as a continuation of helping to advocate for students across NYC and services that will be instrumental in helping them in their courses of study and personal lives. Stephane hopes that through YI he will better understand what goes into creating legislation in NYC. 

Sophia Gallo (she/her) 

Sophomore, SUNY Albany 

Sophia Gallo is from New Paltz, NY. She is a sophomore at the University of Albany, majoring in Public Policy and double minoring in Sociology and Philosophy. She is studying to understand the effects the implementations of policies have on various aspects of society and finding effective solutions to specific problems within it. Sophia has a history of advocating for mental and physical health needs through creating lessons about healthy relationships for her middle and high school hometown. She found a passion for this due to its utility as a means to expand access to emotional self-defense techniques and create an academic environment incompatible with abuse. She has a creative interest in photography and modeling, as she is the creative director of her school’s University Photo Services. One of Sophia’s long-term passions consists of working in local government and advocating for the voices of those who are underrepresented, such as renters, homeless individuals, and those affected by food insecurity. The other path she has in mind is working directly with at-risk youth subjected to various factors that could adversely affect their future. 

By becoming a Young Advocate, Sophia hopes to expand her knowledge of legislative processes and further develop her advocacy skills within the program to help positively impact the lives of her community.

Soléne Joseph (they/them) 

Junior, SUNY Purchase College 

Solène is a community organizer hailing from Connecticut. They are an undergraduate student pursuing majors in Global Studies and Gender Studies. Solène has primarily been involved in community outreach with a focus on serving the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities alike. 

They endeavor to grow their arsenal of tools and resources to better curate, support, and facilitate community development, both domestically and abroad. Solène’s involvement with Young Invincibles is rooted in their goal to expound on their understanding of policy and its relationship to communal development of all facets. 

Zaakirah Rahman (she/her) 

Graduate Student, Teachers College at Columbia University 

Zaakirah is a second-year Master’s student studying Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University. As a product of the New York City school system, she witnessed firsthand the strengths and shortcomings she hopes to ensure that education fulfills its true purpose of serving as an equalizer, to help close the opportunity gaps evident in schools. She is currently a research assistant at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, where she is working on a project of the role community colleges play in preparing students for a more sustainable & equitable future. 

Her goal is to advocate for students, families, and educators and fight for their needs and how to navigate bureaucratic processes that come about, the knowledge that Zaakirah hopes to gain from her experience with YI.

Sabrina Sarwar (she/her) 

Senior, St. John’s University 

Sabrina is a senior at St. John’s University majoring in Biomedical Science, with aspirations to pursue emergency medicine and provide care to those in need around the world. Her diverse background includes leadership and teaching roles to hands-on experience as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Growing up in and working closely with marginalized BIPOC communities has led her to advocate for health equity and expanding access to care for people of all ages.

Sabrina joined Young Invincibles to deepen her understanding of public advocacy and develop effective solutions to the challenges impacting underserved populations. She seeks to combine her medical expertise and pedagogical skills with healthcare policy, focusing on health equity, access to care for disadvantaged communities, and improving education access. As she continues her studies in medicine, bioethics, and geopolitics, she hopes to drive healthcare policy changes that address the disparities while promoting more equitable health outcomes and implement this knowledge in the future.

Afifa Sultana (she/her) 

Senior, CUNY City Tech 

Afifa Sultana is a student at New York City College of Technology majoring in Human Services. Her goal is to become a mental health or career counselor. After graduating from City Tech, she intends to pursue a master’s degree in social work to open up a broad range of opportunities for herself. 

As someone passionate about empowering young voices and driving meaningful change in her society, she is also curious to understand more about how the campaign works as a valuable experience for her in the future. Afifa is participating in the Young Advocates program because she aims to equip young adults with skills in policy and advocacy, focusing on issues like college affordability and access to essential resources.

Nina Williamson (she/her)

Senior, SUNY Albany 

Nina Williamson is a Senior at the University at Albany, SUNY. She has a double major in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Africana Studies. She has vast volunteer experience ranging from elementary schools to public libraries, food banks, literacy efforts, and more. She currently serves in the nonprofit sector, ensuring the social progression and all-around advancement of people of color.  

She is passionate about all matters pertaining to race, culture, and the issues that affect black (and brown) communities. Her objective is to utilize her voice and abilities to center and serve communities, often overlooked and marginalized. Nina joined the Young Advocates Program hoping to become more informed and active in the realm of advocacy and policy.