Our Team

Senior Leadership

Kristin McGuire

President & CEO
Read More

Dy Brown

Executive Vice President
Read More

Heidi Gider

Vice President, Advancement
Read More

Aurora Harris

Vice President, State Strategy and Partnerships
Read More

Diana Lupe

Vice President, Operations and Finance
Read More

Operations, Development, & Human Resources

Erin Evans

Finance and Grants Manager
Read More

Miranda James

HR Coordinator
Read More

Jasmine Morrisey

Human Resources Manager
Read More

Jeffrey Mezick

ACA Connector Manager
Read More

Anusha Moudgal

Development Coordinator
Read More

Naomi Mortensen

Development Manager
Read More

National Policy & Research

Dr. Lynneah Brown

Director of Policy Research
Read More

Keyri Canales

Navigator & Outreach Coordinator
Read More

Krystal Milam

National Policy and Advocacy Director
Read More

Alexander Lundrigan

Policy and Advocacy Manager
Read More

Marilyn Cabrera

Federal Policy & Advocacy Manager
Read More

Communications

Stanley Augustin

Content Strategy Program Manager
Read More

Emma Bittner

Media Manager
Read More

Karen Fragoso

Digital Communications Coordinator
Read More

Dontae Freeman

Digital Communications Manager
Read More

Samer Hassan

Storytelling & Engagement Manager
Read More

Kate Londen

Communications Director
Read More

YI California

Katrina Linden

Western Regional Director
Read More

Carly Lopez

Engagement Coordinator
Read More

YI Colorado

Cameron DeTello

Rocky Mountain Organizing Manager
Read More

Melanie Kesner

Rocky Mountain Regional Director
Read More

YI Illinois

Troy Alim

Midwest Engagement Manager
Read More

Jorge Arteaga

Midwest Advocacy Manager
Read More

Erick Deshaun Dorris

Midwest Regional Director
Read More

YI New York

Lisa Nishimura

Engagement Coordinator
Read More

Sean Miller

Northeast Regional Director
Read More

YI Texas

Mariah Adeeko

Southern Organizing Coordinator
Read More

Sarah Cinco

Policy and Research Coordinator
Read More

Kasey Corpus

Policy & Advocacy Manager Health Care
Read More

Travis Evans

Southern Regional Director
Read More

Elias Ramirez

Elias Ramirez
Read More

Get In Touch

Reach out - we would love to hear from you!

Kristin McGuire

President & CEO
She/Her/Hers

Kristin McGuire is President and CEO of Young Invincibles, a national nonprofit driving policy change by amplifying the voices and economic power of young adults. McGuire took the helm of the organization in August 2021, at a time when the nation was confronting the lasting effects of a global pandemic and responding to a historic racial justice uprising. Since stepping into leadership, she has transformed YI’s reach and impact, building a diverse, intergenerational team and steering groundbreaking initiatives that put young people at the center of national debates on economic opportunity, health care, and education.

A former community organizer and campaign strategist, McGuire brings more than 15 years of experience shifting power toward historically excluded communities. Prior to taking the helm as Executive Director, Kristin worked as YI’s California State Director where she played a central role in the passage of state-level reforms such as the College Student Hunger Relief Act (2016), the California Student Borrower Bill of Rights (2019), and the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act (2019), policies now used as national models.

Under Kristin’s leadership, YI has expanded leadership development programs, launched award-winning public health campaigns like Gen Vaxxed (2023 Anthem Award), and helped organize the national coalition that led to historic executive action on student debt relief.

In recognition of her leadership, McGuire was honored in 2023 with Southern California Public Radio’s Guardians of Democracy Award, alongside Senator Adam Schiff and Weingart Foundation President Miguel Santana. She is also a frequent speaker at high-profile forums including the Aspen Institute, the Milken Global Conference, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference.
McGuire made history in 2020 as the first African American elected to the Charter Oak Unified School District Governing Board in Covina, California, and now serves as Board President. She also serves as Board President of the YWCA San Gabriel Valley and is a longtime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

McGuire credits her resilience to the women who came before her, especially her mother, who integrated an Alabama school district at just seven years old. A first-generation college student and proud product of California’s public university system, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a military veteran, and their daughter Kaitlyn, whom she calls her greatest motivator.
Kristin has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, NBC News, Newsweek, Business Insider, and other national outlets. She is widely recognized for her talent in bridging policy, narrative, and movement building, turning lived experience into lasting change.

Dy Brown

Executive Vice President
She/Her/Hers

Dyonicia “Dy” Brown is a nonprofit executive and connector who is currently the Executive Vice President at Young Invincibles. Her expertise encompasses non-profit management, partnerships, program creation & implementation, community outreach, employee experience, and organizational engagement. Prior to her promotion, she served as the Sr. Director of Regional Strategy, where she was instrumental in partnering with the management team to create sustainable virtual programming, regional employment growth and implementing organizational culture, and staff engagement initiatives. She pioneered the launch of Mental Health Mondays for the company.

Dy has also served in numerous leadership capacities including National Executive Director for Jack and Jill of America, Inc. with over 250 chapters nationwide and has worked in multiple roles in DC government. Her background is embedded in a commitment to civic engagement, philanthropy, celebrating the arts, and encouraging purposeful travel. Ms. Brown received an MSA in Organizational Development from Trinity University and BBA in Marketing from Howard University. She currently serves on Step Afrika!’s Board of Directors and Coalition for the Homeless’ Board of Advisors . Dy is a Sephora Equity Advisor, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a lifetime member of Leadership Greater Washington.

Dy originally hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and continues to keep strong ties with that community. You can find her in the evenings and weekends cheering on her beloved New Orleans Saints, container gardening, and watching movies.

Heidi Gider

Vice President, Advancement
She/Her

Experienced, articulate, and highly motivated, Heidi has worked in all areas of resource development and nonprofit management. She directs YI’s fundraising and manages relationships with our philanthropic partners. Heidi previously held the position of Director of Development at numerous local and national nonprofit organizations, including Alliance for Justice. She is a long-time champion of individual rights, equitable access, and social justice, and currently serves on the DC Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law. She has chosen to work with organizations that help her pursue her personal and professional goal: advocating for the underserved. Heidi also worked at the National Women’s Health Network as their Director of Advancement, Equal Rights Advocates in San Francisco, as well as the Society for Women’s Health Research and the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, where she served as their first Director of Development. She previously served on the board of Responsive Law and Metro-DC PFLAG. She is a Senior Consultant with The Rainmakers Group, a DC-based firm, providing development services to small-to-mid-size nonprofit organizations. Through the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Golden Gate Chapter Mentor Program, she advised a fellow, and more recently, through the AFP Women’s Impact Initiative. She has been active in Washington Women Leaders; Development Executives Roundtable (DER); and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN), both in DC and San Francisco. An adept and enthusiastic public speaker, she has presented at the Bridge Conference, Center for Nonprofit Success, Direct Marketing Association, and Merrill Lynch. Heidi is a graduate of Bard College and studied abroad as part of St. Clare’s Oxford Liberal Arts Semester programme. She is a Notary Public in DC.

Aurora Harris

Vice President, State Strategy and Partnerships
She/Her

Aurora Harris is a community organizer and policy advocacy strategist. Her movement work focuses on storytelling, cultural organizing, and youth leadership development. She’s the Vice President, State Strategy and Partnerships at Young Invincibles (YI), where she is responsible for developing the regional strategy for YI’s five regions and the expansion of regional and state offices in alignment with the organization’s young adult advocacy program.

Prior to working at Young Invincibles, Aurora served as Executive Director of the Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI). During her tenure, she formalized collaborative partnerships and increased the diversity of board leadership, volunteers, and clients served while simultaneously solidifying LHI’s sustainability for years to come. Aurora also served as Community Outreach Manager for the Preservation Society of Charleston, where she convened the City’s first coalition of African American preservationist and established the City of Charleston’s Modern Civil Rights Era Historic Marker Trail.

Aurora is part of New Leaders Council Class of 2017 and she currently sits on the City of Houston’s first ever Mayoral LGBTQ Advisory board. Aurora received her B.A. in English and African-American Studies from the College of Charleston. She has roots in the Gullah Geechee culture of the Southeast and enjoys reading, volunteering, and cooking.

Diana Lupe

Vice President, Operations and Finance
She/Her

Diana is passionate about serving others and has over 15 years of nonprofit experience in Finance, Human Resources and Operations. She has worked most recently for Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area, Make-A-Wish of Greater VA and Peter Paul. Her recent successes include creating budget forecasting processes to position the organization for growth; establishing robust internal controls resulting in clean audits; and implementing employee engagement initiatives.

Originally from upstate New York, Diana earned her undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany before moving to Virginia. She graduated with her Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason.

Outside of work, Diana enjoys spending time creating memories with her family. In her spare time, you can find Diana reading, running, or doing DIY home improvement projects.

Erin Evans

Finance and Grants Manager
She/Her

Erin is the Finance and Grants Manager for Young Invincibles, and is based in Washington DC. She has over 10 years of progressive experience in operations, team management, and finance, in both the non-profit and for profit sectors. Prior to joining YI, she was the Director of Operations for the National Women’s Health Network, a small non-profit that focused on advocating for women’s health, across their life continuum. She finds a lot of satisfaction in helping organizations run well, improving systems and policies, and ensuring people across departments have what they need to focus and succeed at their jobs. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Erin received her Bachelor of Arts in history and art history from the University of California, Los Angeles. She loves going back home to California whenever she can, wandering through art museums, reading, spending time with her partner and their two cats, Ursula and Calliope, and traveling the world.

Miranda James

HR Coordinator
She/Her

As the HR Coordinator at Young Invincibles, I am passionate about creating an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their roles. With a background in human resources and organizational operations, I bring experience in recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, and process development to support a strong and inclusive workplace culture.

At YI, I’m proud to contribute to an organization that amplifies the voices of young adults and works to expand economic opportunity for our generation. My role allows me to support the incredible people driving this mission by coordinating seamless onboarding experiences and implementing HR processes that prioritize transparency, equity, and professional growth. I’m committed to building systems that not only meet the needs of staff but also reflect the values of empowerment and community engagement that YI stands for.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, discovering new dining experiences, binging a good tv show, and unwinding with a good podcast, especially those that dive into culture, current events, and storytelling.

Jasmine Morrisey

Human Resources Manager
She/Her

Jasmine is a Senior, Certified Human Resources professional with over 9 years of progressive HR experience across non-profit, government contracting, technology, healthcare, and consulting industries! She has a passion for developing and implementing people strategies that create a safe and happy workplace for employees and promote organizational goals and objectives. Jasmine earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Morgan State University and her Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Towson University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, planning events, and trying new restaurants and food blogging!

Jeffrey Mezick

ACA Connector Manager
He/Him

Anusha Moudgal

Development Coordinator

Anusha Moudgal is a Development Coordinator at Young Invincibles. She is a Master’s graduate in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s graduate in Economics and International Affairs from The George Washington University, where she focused on democratization, civil society, and diaspora advocacy. She has previously held positions in international development, nonprofit development and fundraising, and youth organizing and civic engagement. Most recently, she worked at Democracy International to secure high-value grants and contracts implementing good governance and civil society programs abroad. She is originally from the Atlanta area.

Naomi Mortensen

Development Manager

Naomi Mortensen is the Development Manager at Young Invincibles, based in Washington, D.C. where she is responsible for overseeing the organization’s grant fundraising. She plays a key role in identifying and securing funding to support the YI’s national advocacy efforts and its collaborative work with state-level partners and initiatives.

Before YI, Naomi worked at the National Women’s Shelter Network, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, RAINN (who operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline), and other nonprofits. Her roles at these national organizations included managing strategic partnerships, securing funding, advocating for the needs of marginalized populations, and training trauma-informed professionals.

Naomi has her Bachelors of Science in Sociology with a minor in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University. In her spare time, Naomi likes to foster cats, ride horses, and play D&D!

Dr. Lynneah Brown

Director of Policy Research
She/Her

Dr. Lynneah Ciera Brown is the director of policy research for Young Invincibles. Lynneah leads our research portfolios on policy issues affecting young adults in the areas of higher education, health care, and workforce policy and financial health. Lynneah comes to us from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), where she worked on projects, such as state performance funding, state funding equity audits, college closures, college completion, direct admissions, free college, free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) simplification, and the SHEEO membership report. Through these projects she either conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis, such as gaining experience using large-scale datasets (e.g., Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the National Student Clearinghouse data); developed descriptive statistics; used and analyzed survey data; conducted, transcribed, and developed key themes from interviews from participants; assisted with convenings with state leaders; gained experience working with grant funders; and/or produced various publications.

In addition to her experience at SHEEO, Lynneah has participated in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Data Institute where she worked with the Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B: 08/18) data and using these data with a group of scholars to analyze student loan debt and the effects on adulthood. Prior to SHEEO and the NCES Data Institute, Lynneah was a graduate research assistant at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), where she gathered data from the 1990s to 2021 regarding performance funding policies for the InformEd States project. The project was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and the Joyce Foundation and resulted in multiple co-authored policy briefs and academic research papers. While at PSU, Lynneah was awarded the American Educational Research Association – National Science Foundation (AERA-NSF) Grant to support her dissertation entitled, “”Impacts of Tennessee’s Performance-Based Funding Policy on STEM Degree Production at Four-Year Universities: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Difference-in-Differences Design.””

Outside of work, Lynneah loves to spend time with her son, family, and friends. She loves to travel and binge watch tv series. Lynneah is originally from Elmira, New York and raised in Miami, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English Literature; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a master’s degree in Higher Education; and PSU where she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education.

Keyri Canales

Navigator & Outreach Coordinator

Keyri Canales is currently pursuing an Associate’s Degree in IT at Northern VA Community College, she recently completed a Desktop Support Technician internship at Navy Federal during her enrollment in Year Up. An organization that provides workforce training for young adults, and whom we work closely with to assist students with HILs and enrollment.

Keyri is known for being detail-oriented, organized, and adaptable. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she brings a multicultural perspective to her collaborative work with diverse teams. With a commitment to continuous learning and a personal ethos of integrity and teamwork, Keyri is poised to make a positive impact in her new role as a Navigator and Outreach Coordinator.

On a personal note, Keyri enjoys spending her free time with her parents and 5-year-old daughter. They enjoy beach trips every summer and spending time with the rest of the family.

Krystal Milam

National Policy and Advocacy Director

Krystal D. Milam is the National Policy & Advocacy Director at Young Invincibles. She was previously a Political Appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy. Krystal was appointed as the Legislative Affairs Assistant in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Additionally, she served as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy and as Designated Federal Officer for the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Krystal served as a Senior Legislative Assistant in the office of Former Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) where she managed a legislative portfolio and assisted the Congressman on House Appropriations Committee work. Krystal has also worked as a Policy Fellow for the House Committee on Ways & Means and as a Policy Advisor in the office of Former Congressman Alcee Hastings (FL-20). She was a 2018-2020 Legislative STEM Fellow for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Krystal earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree from John Carroll University and a Masters of Legal Studies degree from Catholic University of America. She is passionate about social justice, civil rights and advocating for clean energy solutions.

Alexander Lundrigan

Policy and Advocacy Manager
He/Him

Alex serves as the Federal Workforce Development and Finance Policy Coordinator at Young Invincibles. His previous experience in policy includes working on researching agendas for political campaigns and health policy as a member of the Generation Vaxxed team. Alex studied political science and composition in college and received his MA in policy analysis from Northwestern University. In addition to all the support Alex provides for the policy team at Young Invincibles, Alex is also an in-house Tik Tok star, going viral several times on our Social Media.

Alex enjoys exploring Chicago restaurants, dive bars, museums, and thrift shops. When he’s not exploring The Windy City, he’s reading, binging his favorite TV shows, jogging, or hanging with his two cats.

Marilyn Cabrera

Federal Policy & Advocacy Manager

Marilyn serves as the Federal Policy and Advocacy Manager for Healthcare at Young Invincibles. She has previously held several roles within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Marilyn has served as a Policy Advisor within the Immediate Office of the Secretary. Additionally, she served as the Senior Equity Coordinator within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. She has also served as a Policy Advisor within the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Marilyn’s prior work focused on addressing the social determinants of health through adoption and implementation of effective, evidence-based policies. Marilyn holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, you can find Marilyn trying new restaurants, training for her next triathlon, and enjoying time with her cat.

Stanley Augustin

Content Strategy Program Manager
He/Him

Stanley Augustin serves as the Content Strategy Program Manager with the Young Invincibles. Previously, he was the Digital Media Manager at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, working across the organization’s programs to support efforts and initiatives through digital content. A graduate of Howard University, Stanley Augustin comes to the Young Invincibles with a rich past of developing effective digital strategy and producing digital content across mediums. At the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, Stanley served as the Training & Outreach Program Specialist for the organization. Stanley managed the Pro Bono Center’s various legal trainings for volunteer attorneys, producing corresponding content like training videos, podcasts, and graphics to support the Center’s programs.

Stanley has also spent time working on affordable housing and banking policies for a local affordable housing developer in the District, and on Capitol Hill working with the Committee on Homeland Security.

Emma Bittner

Media Manager
She/Her

Emma is the Media Manager based out of Austin, Texas. Previously, she was a Texas Young Advocate and Policy Fellow focusing on healthcare and workforce. She recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Journalism and Communication & Leadership. With a strong passion for making a positive change, she wants to help amplify youth voices in any way she can. In her spare time, she loves to read, flex her creative writing skills and be outdoors. She is a self-proclaimed Rom-Com fanatic and coffee connoisseur with a little bit of “”I wanna save the world”” in her.

Karen Fragoso

Digital Communications Coordinator
She/Her/Ella

Karen Fragoso is the Digital Communications Coordinator at Young Invincibles. Karen graduated from Bradley University with a Public Relations, Social Media Marketing, and Political Science degree. Her role at YI is to strategize and execute social media campaigns to amplify YI’s voice and online presence.

Previously, Karen worked with various nonprofit organizations that focus on mental health and equity among low-income students and young adults. While working for nonprofits, Karen has gained experience using digital tools to increase individual giving, grow social media, and content creation. As a social media content creator, Karen has created popular content for social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter(X). Karen is eager to use her unique ability to create engaging content to expand Young Invincibles’ Digital presence.”

Dontae Freeman

Digital Communications Manager
He/Him

Dontae comes to Young Invincibles after spending three years as a Senior Digital Communications Manager at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). While at DBSA, Dontae worked to provide resources to peers living with depression and bipolar disorder through digital channels. At DBSA, Dontae managed and expanded the digital footprint of DBSA through social media, email campaigns, developing a digital brand/voice, and improving the DBSA website. Dontae is a native of Detroit and graduated from Michigan State University with a Communications degree with a focus in digital media.

Dontae previously worked for the Detroit Police Department as a Digital Media Relations Specialist, where he developed digital strategies to bridge the gap between the citizens of Detroit and the police department. When not talking about digital strategy, you can find Dontae hanging out with his dogs or watching the Spartans play.

Samer Hassan

Storytelling & Engagement Manager
He/Him

Storytelling and Engagement Manager Samer Hassan grew up in Chicago and decided that community college was the most equitable way to begin his journey in higher education. As a formerly undocumented immigrant born in Venezuela, he was acutely aware of the realities marginalized communities faced. After noticing rampant inequalities among the segregated neighborhoods of Chicago, he began a mentorship pipeline from Chicago’s underrepresented communities to the community colleges in order to provide children with marketable skills and self-growth. After gaining the Student Government President position, he advocated for fellow community college students where they worked in tandem to push administrators toward tuition reform and accept student voices in their decision-making processes. Partnering with numerous organizations such as Chicago Votes in order to help register voters, Chicago Council on Global Affairs which provided politicians and diplomats direct access to college students, and Young Invincibles where he was able to provide an immigrant perspective to Bill Gates, who eventually began lobbying Congress to reform the FAFSA application process. Samer graduated from Columbia University in 2020 and is a current Evening Master’s Student at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where he also represents Harris on the UChicago Diversity Advisory Board.

Kate Londen

Communications Director
She/Her

Kate oversees communications strategy at Young Invincibles. Kate brings 12 years of experience in using communications for progressive advocacy. In her previous position, she was the Communications Manager at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, a national reproductive justice non-profit. Before joining the team at URGE, she worked as a Communications Associate for the global nonprofit, One Economy. Kate is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia and a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she studied documentary filmmaking.

Katrina Linden

Western Regional Director
She/Her

Katrina M. Linden is the Western Regional Director for Young Invincibles and is based out of Los Angeles. She most recently served as the Director of Public Affairs for the Campaign for College Opportunity, a California-based policy advocacy organization dedicated to closing racial equity gaps in college access, affordability, and success for all Californians. Katrina has over seven years of experience in policy advocacy, coalition-building, and community engagement and is passionate about building new connections and empowering Californians to advocate for change.

Katrina was born and raised in Santa Ana, California. She is a first-generation college graduate, Mexican-American, and daughter of an immigrant. Her parents always encouraged her to never stop learning and challenging injustices in the world, leading her to a life of advocating for racial equity in all she does.

Katrina is the founding co-director of New Leaders Council (NLC) Orange County, a national organization dedicated to developing and empowering place-based leaders. She is a member of the Notre Dame Club of Orange County. She is a graduate of the Coro Southern California Women in Leadership Program and previously served on the NLC Sacramento (2022 fellow) and Fem Dems of Sacramento boards.

Katrina received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, where she double majored in American Studies and Latino Studies and studied issues of immigration, socioeconomic inequity, and education. In her free time, Katrina enjoys traveling, spending time on/in the water, camping, and eating new foods with her dog, Poppy. She resides in Santa Ana, California

Carly Lopez

Engagement Coordinator
She/Her

Carly is a lifelong Los Angeles County resident and over 6 years of experience in public health. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a focus on Public Health Promotion from California State University, Northridge in 2018. She developed her passion for working with young people and public health through nutrition education and obesity prevention as a Health Educator for two years. She has spent the last 4 years as a Program Coordinator with a focus on substance use prevention and education at a nonprofit that works with youth and families. In her free time she enjoys spending quality time with her dog, going to concerts and music festivals, and visiting the beach when the weather is warm. In her role at YI she will be focusing on conducting trainings and consumer education, fostering and developing relationships with partner organizations, and will be responsible for programming and events to help us reach young people across California.

Cameron DeTello

Rocky Mountain Organizing Manager
She/Her

In this role, Cameron leads YI’s engagement strategy for the Rocky Mountain office. Cameron stays engaged with her childhood community (Pueblo, CO) by co-creating and running a local scholarship, the Leticia “Weda” Salinas Scholarship, dedicated to financially supporting students interested in pursuing higher education and reducing mental health stigma and youth suicide. Cameron most recently served on Mental Health America’s 2020-21 Young Mental Health Leaders Council. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Colorado State Youth Council (SYC), a sub-committee of the Education & Training Steering Committee of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC). Cameron graduated from the University of Colorado Denver in 2017 with a BA in Sociology and then from Regis University in 2019 with a Master’s in Nonprofit Management (MNM).

Melanie Kesner

Rocky Mountain Regional Director
She/Her

Melanie Kesner is the Rocky Mountain Region Director at Young Invincibles and is based in Denver, Colorado. Prior to her role at YI, she was the Owner and Principal of Mel Rose Consulting, LLC, a Colorado-based policy and advocacy firm and previously served as the Director of Public Policy at the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado. There she built a powerful policy and advocacy shop that represented progressive faith communities. Melanie currently serves on the Colorado State Legislative Taskforce Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems. She also stays involved with the Denver Community Taskforce for Reimagining Police and Public Safety.

Melanie has over eight years of experience as a community organizer, advocate, and political strategist. Throughout these roles, Melanie has worked with directly impacted and underserved communities, including young adults, to uplift and center their voices throughout the legislative process on various issues. These issues have mainly included affordable housing and homelessness, access to healthcare, criminal justice reform, and reproductive justice issues. Melanie received a BA in International Studies and a BA with Distinction in Religious Studies from the University of Denver. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Colorado Denver. When she is not working or studying, Mel often is hiking and biking, reading, or cooking delicious meals for loved ones.

Troy Alim

Midwest Engagement Manager
He/Him

Troy Alim is the Engagement Manager in the Midwest regional office, where he leads the regions’ engagement efforts including the Young Advocates Program and Youth Advisory Board. After living in Atlanta, Georgia for four years working in the music industry, Troy returned home to Chicago and dedicated himself to fighting for social justice. Since then, he has worked with a number of organizations, including the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, BYP100, and Chicago Votes. In addition to nearly 8 years as a community organizer and activist, he also is the founder of Podlab Studios, an innovative podcast network and media consulting business.

Jorge Arteaga

Midwest Advocacy Manager
He/Him

Jorge Arteaga is the Midwest Program Manager for Young Invincibles, based in Chicago where he leads YI’s Illinois workforce development portfolio and projects. As a first-generation immigrant, Jorge is passionate about uplifting and fighting for the rights of underserved communities through direct advocacy and community organizing.

Jorge previously worked as the US Programs Manager for Common Purpose, a global organization based out of the UK dedicated to developing the next generation of culturally intelligent leaders. Jorge led initiatives in Chicago and Boston that brought young adults together to reimagine their respective city and collaborate towards community solutions to reach an equitable society for all. Jorge has also served as the Programs and Operations manager for Mind+Hand, a local learning center in the southwest side of Chicago geared towards providing resources to create opportunities for development and learning outside of traditional educational pathways.

In 2019, Jorge was selected to participate in the Obama Foundation Community Leadership Corps initiative where he collaborated and developed programming to address the mental health of high school students across Chicago Public Schools.

In his spare time, Jorge stays very active through running, cycling, and playing in a men’s baseball league. You can regularly find Jorge at local art shows, music events, or exploring new coffee shops!

Erick Deshaun Dorris

Midwest Regional Director
He/Him

Erick is the Midwest Regional Director for Young Invincibles and is based out of the Chicagoland area. He most recently served as the Director of Community Organizing for Arts Alliance Illinois, the state’s only multi-disciplinary arts advocacy organization. His previous work in the arts and education include leading district-wide, free tutoring at Chicago Public Schools; organizing community projects and advocacy campaigns; and eventually serving in elected positions and appointments in his hometown of Joliet, IL.

From 2021-2023, Erick served as Board President of Joliet Public Schools District #86; implementing a new, 5-year strategic plan, drafting and passing an Equity policy, and winning a $99.5M referendum with over 70% of voter approval. He also served as the inaugural Chairperson of the Joliet Arts Commission, leading the formation of committees, goals, recommendations to city council, and gaining distinction and funding from the Illinois Arts Council.

Erick obtained a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from Millikin University and a Master’s of Performing Arts Administration from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA). Erick is currently completing his Executive Certificate in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is a proud member of the Leading Change Network (LCN) and serves on the CCPA Advisory Board at his alma mater, Roosevelt University, in Chicago.

Erick is committed to amplifying and championing the voices of young adults and approaches this work with joy, passion, creativity, and collaboration. In his free time, he can usually be found hiking trails, going to see live theater and music, and visiting communities across the region.

Lisa Nishimura

Engagement Coordinator
They/She

Lisa is the Engagement Coordinator for the YI NY region and a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), with her BA in Criminology. A Native New Yorker who calls Washington Heights her home, Lisa has been with YI since Spring 2020, as she was a part of the first cohort for the NY Young Advocates Program, and then became an Organizing and Advocacy Fellow in Spring 2021, working more closely with other fellow advocates and alumni of the program.

Prior to YI, she has been fortunate enough to have opportunities to work in various sectors ranging from criminal justice to the arts. During her undergraduate career, Lisa was awarded a three-year fellowship that allowed her to partake in summer internships both across the United States and abroad, including an advertising agency, FCB, where she assisted with Culture & Inclusion initiatives; a non-profit, Street Poets, where she co-facilitated poetry workshops to incarcerated youth; and a non-governmental organization, Freemuse, where she documented artistic violations internationally via social media. She has also served as a support and guide for her peers throughout college as she was both a mentor and a Peer Career Educator, helping students to develop professionally and personally.

Lisa is passionate about empowering youth by giving them opportunities to elevate their voices, expand their knowledge base, and pursue their passions. She believes that everyone is invaluable and should have the resources set up for them to succeed. In her freetime, Lisa enjoys writing poetry, dancing, practicing martial arts, and essentially being a free spirit.”

Sean Miller

Northeast Regional Director
He/Him

Sean is a former teacher and swim coach. His interest in education began in high school, as a volunteer tutor for kids in Trenton, and later working with YaLa Young Leaders, a peace movement of nearly 1 million youth from the Middle East & North Africa who foster dialogue & change. He taught 5th-Grade English and Social Studies in Baltimore, where he became passionate about the transformative power of equity and inclusion in education and health care. Thereafter, he worked for four years in administration and communications at Princeton University; supporting undergraduate students, faculty, and research at the Department of East Asian Studies and the School of Public & International Affairs. Most recently, Sean worked for the Harlem Children’s Zone, where he co-led novel college and career success programs. He previously led research with Bellwether Education Partners and former Obama Administration advisors examining barriers and proposing recommendations for improving national postsecondary degree attainment rates among marginalized student groups. He served on Mayoral Committees for Education, Workforce Development, and Special Needs in Trenton and Montgomery, New Jersey, for Mayors Gusciora (Trenton’s first openly gay mayor) and Jaffer (the first Muslim woman to serve as a mayor in the United States). Sean served on Princeton’s municipal Civil Rights Commission and has been a guest lecturer for American University’s School of Education and the N.Y.C. D.O.E.’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. He currently serves as a Community Liaison at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, where he’s helped to advocate for policies and legislation throughout New Jersey and nationally on issues of education, human rights, and health care. He’s also a member of the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Leadership Institute, which empowers young adults to fight hatred and bigotry in their communities and advocates nationally to address systemic bias and hate crimes. Sean holds a master’s degree in education policy and leadership from American University, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ursinus College, a certificate in management from Princeton University, and a campaign management certificate from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. In his free time, he loves cooking, outdoor activities, live shows, music, and dance.

Mariah Adeeko

Southern Organizing Coordinator
They/She

Their journey with the organization began in 2022 as a participant in the Young Advocates Program during their sophomore year of college. That experience sparked a deep commitment to advocacy, launching them into organizing work both inside and beyond the classroom. Since then, Mariah has grown within YI’s ecosystem, from advocate to Texas Policy Fellow, and now to full-time coordinator, bringing with them a strong foundation in human rights scholarship, rhetoric and writing, and youth-led policy engagement. Their academic and lived experience has shaped a clear vision: to build youth power in the South by helping the next generation of leaders find their voice, organize their communities, and create lasting change.

Sarah Cinco

Policy and Research Coordinator
She/Her

Kasey Corpus

Policy & Advocacy Manager Health Care
She/Her

Kasey Corpus is the Policy and Advocacy Manager at Young Invincibles. She lives in Austin, Texas and originally grew up near the border in the Rio Grande Valley. Her past experience includes campaigning for local officials, working at the Texas legislature, and developing community engagement strategy at the City of Austin. With her background in research, community outreach, and advocacy, she has worked to increase civic engagement and the representation of underserved communities in Texas. When she is not working, you can often find her in the crowd at an Austin FC game or looking for live music.

Travis Evans

Southern Regional Director
He/Him

Travis Evans has an impressive track record in several specialized areas and brings years of experience supporting national non-profit organizations with a focus on early childhood education, school age programs, youth and young adult development, social emotional support, health/wellness, and education programs in over 7 states.

Travis currently resides in Houston, Texas where he previously served as the Director of Workforce Readiness for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. As Director, he was responsible for all operational responsibility and partnership developments for creating Workforce Pathways for youth. His primary responsibility is to create a high-quality overall club experience for teen members by helping them develop their leadership skills, access postsecondary and career readiness activities, and connect their passions with clear goals as they begin their journey. He leads and supports program development, implementation, and budget management of the workforce pathways. In addition, he will support preparing teens for college and military opportunities.

Before joining the Boys & Girls Clubs, Travis served as the Deputy Director of Programs and School Age Program Specialist for Save the Children United States Programs and Advocacy in multiple states (AL, TN, KS, SC, TX, WV, and the District of Columbia). He also served as the Child Safeguarding Focal Point, an Emergency Responder, and Nutrition Counselor for a number of years – all children and family focused. He has enjoyed the opportunity to lead non-profit community development through assessments, leadership, data analysis, policy change, grant management, strategic planning, program development and implementation, partnership development, disaster response, and provide training and technical assistance. He has also supported international work by providing trainings and support in Malawi and Zambia, Africa.

He’s a proud South Carolina native and business owner. Travis earned his Bachelors of Sciences in Family Consumer Science Family & Child Development from South Carolina State University and a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Webster University.

He loves working with youth and young adult groups that support positive interaction, dynamic identity as a root for life success and achieving purpose. In everything he does, he brings his heart and leads with compassion. This is only the beginning to how he plans to give back to the world. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, he stands on its motto, “Achievement in every field of human endeavor.

Elias Ramirez

Elias Ramirez

Let’s give our newest Texas team member, Elias Ramirez, a big Yeehaw 🤠 and a warm welcome aboard as our new Southern Program Coordinator (SPC)!

Many of you may have met Elias during our 15th Young Invincibles anniversary or seen him in action through our Student Advisory Council. We’re thrilled to share that he has now advanced into a full-time role with us and will be joining us next week at the national YI retreat. Excited to have you on the team, Elias! 🎉

Elias started his first day as the SPC today. Elias previously worked as Program Coordinator at the Galveston County Food Bank, overseeing initiatives that supported more than 250 homebound seniors and 20 schools across the county. Elias is President and Board Chair of the Hispanic Business Network of Galveston County and Treasurer of Lifeline of Galveston County, where he leads community efforts to support small businesses and vulnerable populations. He is also an alumnus of the Texas PACE Student Advisory Council, where he contributed to student-centered policy work. He currently serves on several local municipal and educational committees focused on civic engagement and community development. Elias holds a B.S. in Public Service Leadership from the University of Houston–Clear Lake. In his free time, he mentors first-generation students, volunteers in his community, and participates in local civic events.