Meet our 2025 California Youth Advisory Board

 

Ashley Perez (she/they/ella)

Ashley is a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis and Sacramento City College, where she studied Asian American Studies and Chicana/o studies. Being a first generation, non-traditional, system-impacted Latina, her lived experiences influenced her passion for community liberation through holistic care and advocacy efforts. Residing in South Sacramento, she is involved as an advisory member of the Meadowview Neighborhood Farmers Markets, where she connects with her local community to amplify climate and food justice. She is also an incoming Health Justice Fellow for the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, supporting youth programming. Currently, she works as a Program Advisor for the Student Recruitment and Retention Center, where she guides student activists with culturally restorative, holistic student initiated programming.

A recent participant of the Fall 2024 Young Advocates programs, she aims to continue her work with Young Invincibles under the advisory board by sharing knowledge and experiences to fellow young adults. Through the advisory board, this would be an investment to enhance her advocacy and community building skill sets, while amplifying the future generations to be agents of change.

 

 

Dalea (she/her)

Dalea is a full-time undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego, working to build up her experience in public service. Born and raised in San Diego, the experiences she’s lived has pushed her to explore all the opportunities she can to help her communities. She previously worked with Young Invincibles as a Young Advocate fellow, where she learned countless skills in power-building and community organizing. Returning as a Youth Advisory Board member, she hopes to continue building a strong young adult network across California!

 

 

 

 

Elisabeth Montes(she/her)

Elisabeth was born and raised in Sacramento, California. She recently graduated from Sacramento State with a M.A in Public Policy and Administration. She also holds both an A.A and B.A in Sociology. These degrees combined have fueled her passion to promote access, diversity, and equity for disadvantaged communities in the political sphere. She previously worked as a Young Advocate for Young Invincibles where she helped amplify and empower the voices of young adults. She aspires to continue this path and give a voice to the voiceless.

 

 

 

 

Estrella Salazar (she/her)

Estrella is a first-generation sophomore at the University of Southern California, majoring in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change. A proud East Los Angeles native with deep Mexican roots, Estrella is dedicated to advocating for her community and fighting against educational inequities. She is an active member of her community, serving as an alumna of United Students at InnerCity Struggle, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the achievement gap through student justice and equity.
Estrella has honed her advocacy skills through impactful internships, including working with Senator Laphonza Butler of California at the Young Leaders Academy and as a Young Advocate for Young Invincibles in the Fall 2024 cohort. She is passionate about advancing policies that uplift young people, especially in underserved communities. As she prepares to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy, Estrella remains focused on creating pathways for youth empowerment and social change.
Estrella believes in the power of young people to drive meaningful change, and is committed to ensuring that their voices are heard in spaces where decisions are made. Joining the Young Invincibles Advisory Board is a natural next step in her advocacy journey, offering her the opportunity to further develop her leadership skills while continuing to fight for a more just and equitable future for all.

 

 

 

Jackie Grim (she/her)

Jackie is an alumna of the University of California, Irvine who majored in Criminology, Law, and Society. She was a previous Young Invincibles Advocate for Fall 2024. Currently, Jackie is exploring different avenues of advocacy and community building. She currently volunteers with Norfside Long Beach, an organization that focuses on homelessness within the northside portion of Long Beach, CA. She also volunteers with various organizations to advocate for improved literacy programs within our correctional institutions. This year, she plans to launch a book club centered on literature around abolition and liberation. She aims to create a space that inspires people to learn and foster empathy for others’ situations, reminding everyone that no one chooses their circumstances when institutions have repeatedly worked against them.

Leading with empathy and compassion, Jackie is determined to reform and redefine the criminal justice system, abolish prisons, and create pathways to help formerly incarcerated folks reintegrate into society.

She believes that joining the Young Invincibles Advisory Board will enhance her skill set and help her pursue her career goals in advocacy and policy. As an advocate for others, she encourages younger generations to raise their awareness, engage actively rather than performatively, and nurture hope for a more equitable future.

 

 

Juliana Driown (she/her)

Juliana recently earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development, with a minor in Sociology, from the University of California, Davis. She is now launching her career in Public Health as a fellow with the California Department of Public Health’s Pathways Fellowship. Her previous internship experience with Young Invincibles (Fall 2024) and the California Department of Public Health Pathways Internship (Spring 2024) has provided her with a strong foundation in policy, advocacy, and community organizing. This enables her to bridge the gap between community health and health policy, driving impactful change in the public health sector to more effectively fulfill the needs of young adults in California.

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Lliguicota-Lema (he/him)

Henry is a first-generation, Latino college graduate and a proud recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers (SHPE) scholarships. Demonstrating resilience and dedication, Henry began his career as a Systems Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, building on Procter & Gamble and Northrop Grumman internships. Beyond his accomplishments in engineering, Henry is a passionate mental health advocate and speaker. His personal experiences with childhood domestic violence and mental illness inspired his mission to empower and support others facing similar challenges. As a California Youth Advisory Board Member, Henry is eager to deepen his advocacy and organizing skills as he continues to impact his community.