Aaliyah Berry
Aaliyah Berry is from Aurora, Colorado and attended Gateway High School and now is an undergraduate at University of Denver, studying Public Policy with a minor in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies. Aaliyah joined the Young Advocates program to explore her passion with advocacy and policy. She has had the opportunity to be a part of advocacy groups at school and has a passion for higher education and problems impacting BIPOC. Aaliyah has experience with planning events for low income students of color and is hoping to use her skills and knowledge to change up the policy scene.
Erin Olesiewicz
Erin Olesiewicz is currently based out of Denver, CO, but has lived in Wilmington, DE, Phoenix, AZ, and Boulder, CO, and considers herself a byproduct of all of these cities. She obtained an honors degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in Environmental Studies and hopes to work in government policy promoting Environmental Justice initiatives. Erin currently works in the Social Work field for a non-profit afterschool program, engaging with children in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood. She joined Young Invincibles to strengthen her leadership and advocacy skills in community engagement for policy change.
Gaby Garcia
Gaby Garcia earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado Denver. She is currently working as a mentor at The Uplift Fellowship and Latinas First Foundation. With her background as a victim advocate and youth activist, Gaby is deeply committed to advocating for education, youth success, women’s rights, and equality. She has gained over 7 years of experience in empowering individuals and fostering positive change in marginalized communities. Gaby is passionate about creating opportunities for marginalized groups and strives to make a meaningful impact through advocacy and mentorship initiatives.
Giselle Arroyo
Giselle is a committed advocate for youth, collective liberation, and social movements that are interconnected, such as Indigenous sovereignty, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, healing justice, outdoor equity, and environmental justice. She’s invested in breaking systems rooted in colonialism and patriarchy that put our communities at risk. Above all, she’s a proud mother, raising two members of our newest generation. She has a deep appreciation and connection to our natural world and in their free time enjoys hiking, climbing, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Giselle founded the Youth Unity Rising Summit which will take place in September 2024. She’s a volunteer with Denver Public Schools on the Community Planning and Advisory Committee to advocate for youth, parents, educators, equity, the arts, and sustainability. She currently works in youth programming as one of Spirit of the Sun’s youth program coordinators. She is passionate about empowering historically underserved communities while working on reconnecting with her own Indigenous heritage.
Jakye Nunley
Jakye Nunley is one of many students passionate about students. Jakye is deeply passionate about higher education reform, emphasizing making higher education more accessible to low-income and marginalized scholars. Jakye serves as the Health Deputy in the Colorado State University Student government. It is imperative that somebody is doing good work on behalf of students- and Jakye is happy to be working with so many peers everywhere who are passionate about the betterment of our world.
Jessie Jennett (She/Her)
Jessie Jennett is a 25 year old raised in Lakewood, Colorado the occupied homeland of 48 contemporary Native Nations. She currently serves as a Student Case Manager, supporting students in navigating campus and community resources at Front Range Community College. Jessie started her undergraduate experience at the University of Denver and then transferred to the Metropolitan State University of Denver where she obtained a Interdisciplinary B.A. in Global Development & Public Policy with an emphasis on women in leadership. She also has a certificate in Horticulture from FRCC and loves to garden with her family in her free time. Additionally, she is a dedicated soror and regional leader in Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., an organization that prioritizes scholarship, service, sisterhood, leadership & multiculturalism. She is passionate about equitable access to quality education and improving the representation of young people and marginalized communities within governing roles.
Katrina Zamudio
Katrina Zamudio is a 31 year old with a BS in Geological and Environmental Sciences and an MS in Geophysics. During the pandemic she decided to pursue nonprofit work in the realms of education and youth development. Katrina was born and raised in Denver and joined the Young Advocates Program to learn more about organizing and advocacy and what legislation is affecting her community. She hopes to use these skills to continue to push forward social and restorative justice through the lens of equity and decolonization.
Lexie Allen
I’m a recent undergrad graduate with my B.S. in Psychology, with plans to obtain my Masters in Community Psychology. My core values reside in Restorative Justice, and Critical Race Theory when looking at reforming and rebuilding broken systems.
I have a passion for research, with an emphasis on topics regarding race and discrimination. My current research involved: Perceptions of safety in particular Perceptions of Police on Campus, The Impact of Politically Charged News on Psychological and Physiological Stress, and Sense of Belonging, Caring and Respectful Interactions, Racial Identity, Cultural Congruity, and Social Academic Engagement.
I see myself using public policy and psychological skills to dismantle systems and laws, so people can not only survive but thrive! My Ancestors paved the way for me to be here, and I will be seen.
Mia Henderson
Mia Henderson is a fourth-year student at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Sociology and Ethnic Studies, planning on graduating in May 2024. Born and raised in Colorado, she grew up working alongside activists fighting for social justice initiatives at the Colorado Capitol and beyond. After her upcoming graduation she plans on attending law school in order to use legal knowledge as a tool of enacting Environmental and Climate Justice alongside grassroots movements. She is passionate about exploiting her privilege in the name of enacting justice and liberation for all, and is very excited to be working alongside her cohort of Young Advocates and the YI RM team to support fellow young adults across the state.
Miguel Garcia
I joined the Young Advocates Program to gain leadership and advocacy skills to help advocate for my community and better the lives of people as a result. I hope to learn about policy advocacy, community engagement, and how to engage with people in power. Being a young person means our belief in the ability to influence legislators and policy can seem impossible. However, in this program I hope to learn how to change that. I hope to learn how young people like myself should advocate for our communities when it comes to issues such as healthcare and higher education costs. I believe it is important for young people to have access to healthcare and higher education without the fear of debt. I want to be a part of a generation that makes real lasting change in society. I hope to learn how to advocate for these issues, and create a more equitable and inclusive society for everyone.
Joseph Mitchell
Joseph Mitchell is a 25 year old Littleton resident who hails from Arvada Colorado. After receiving a bachelors in Information Technology from Grand Canyon University: Joseph moved back home. He has found his purpose in helping others. Joining the Young Advocates Program allows him to find ways to plug into issues affecting his community. Living here his whole life Jeffco is the place he calls home.
Maryori Guzman
Maryori “MJ” Guzman is a proud immigrant millennial living and working in rural Colorado. Born in Honduras and raised in Houston, TX, MJ began dedicating herself to advocacy and social justice causes early on due to the challenges that come with being labeled “undocumented”. MJ joined YI because she understands the vital role that educating people plays in policy building and she is passionate about bringing marginalized voices together for long-lasting impact through political action. MJ holds a General Studies associate’s from Lee College and is currently a student at UC-Denver where she is majoring in Communications with a minor in Political Science. In her spare time, you can catch her reading, hiking, hanging out with family and friends, or creating content on TikTok.
Rhiannon Mills
Rhiannon Mills is a 32-year-old Colorado resident. She is a proud single mother, raising her daughter while completing a degree in Outdoor Education and Wilderness Therapy. She attends Red Rocks Community College, where she takes part in a work-study that focuses on equity and inclusion for students facing financial barriers affording necessary gear and equipment. Rhiannon joined Young Invincibles to strengthen her voice and reclaim her narrative. Her goal is to represent and advocate for others while striving to bridge the gap in divided communities. When she finds time for herself, Rhiannon enjoys Geocaching, exploring nature with her daughter, and listening to spooky podcasts. Attending school in Jeffco has enhanced her well-being, both physically and mentally. She feels attuned to nature in a way she says she hasn’t before, and she’s built a stronger connection between her mind and body. Being so near to the wilderness is what sets Jeffco apart from Denver. There is a peaceful feeling up here, and it’s amazing to be wrapped up in.