Meet our Texas Youth Advisory Board

 

Amantha Hons

Amantha Hons grew up in a small town outside of San Antonio, Texas and received her degree from Texas A&M University in 2015. After college, Amantha began her career in advertising as a digital marketing apprentice, learning the hands-on skills to help her succeed in the industry, all while working full-time as a social media manager. She now leads the project management department for RCCO, an advertising agency in San Antonio. In her work, Amantha is passionate about developing processes that make agencies better and more efficient, and helping her coworkers build better relationships with work. Amantha served as a member of Young Invincibles’ Texas Youth Apprenticeship Council in 2021-2022 and helped to develop the Texas Apprenticeship Report about women and young people in the workforce. In her free time, Amantha enjoys performing improv in the San Antonio community and as part of the ComedySportz San Antonio troupe. She’s also a founding cast member of Monsternomicon, a monthly Dungeons & Dragons inspired improv show.

Diana Paez

Diana Paez was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She graduated from Los Libertadores University (Bogotá, Colombia) in Dec, 2015 with her degree in communication and Journalism. After being a journalist for many years in Colombia, she moved to the states in 2016 and enrolled in the Digital Marketing apprenticeship program in 2019 in San Antonio Texas, with the New Apprenticeship, the nation’s first Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship for Digital Marketing. Diana Joined Young Women’s Apprenticeship Council in 2021 to conduct a statewide research project on understanding the apprenticeship landscape for women and moms in Texas. After that, she had the great opportunity to join the Young Invincible advisory board to support the change of many policies for young adults that need voices.

Diana is passionate about social media and is currently a social media coordinator of a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She also has her own presence on social media with over 40k Followers, where she shares her USA lifestyle with many Latin-American people and encourages them to follow their dreams.

 

Laura Bere

Laura Bere is student currently working towards obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Strategic Communication from the school of Liberal Arts and Social Science at the University of Houston. She has actively been involved with the University in multiple capacities. She currently works as a Residential Advisor for the freshman dorms where she has been able to lead and connect with many first year students. An organization she has been involved in since freshman year is Young Life where she actively serves as a social media director and donor communication coordinator. Throughout her time at the University she has had a heart for public service and non-profit work. She hosted a blanket drive for Open Gates homeless shelter at the University. She has also held an internship as a Young Advocate Programs intern where she educated and facilitated discussions on pressing issues affecting this generation. Being a first-generation student she does not shy away from using her voice. Therefore, she has had the opportunity to participate in a Bill Gates short video documentary where she got to discuss the barriers in the educational system. She also had the opportunity to be the voice-over of the University of Houston 1 Billion dollar campaign. She is passionate about inclusivity, diversity and serving her community well.

Shanaya Premjee

Shanaya Premjee is a first-generation immigrant from Karachi, Pakistan. She lived in Arkansas and California before settling down in Katy, Texas. She attends the University of Houston, where she is studying Political Science and Environmental Science. She is passionate about improving the world through various means, including immigration reform and clean energy. After quarantine hit, she found her passion for politics when organizing for voting rights reform and working on communications for candidates during the 2020 election. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, taking pictures, playing guitar, and sleep.

Esme Ledezme

Esme is a rising senior at the University of Houston where she is majoring in Sociology with a minor in Mexican American Studies. She was twice an Advocate in YI’s Young Advocates Program where she fell in love with advocacy and community organizing. Since her time in the YAP, Esme has expanded her skills through legislative advocacy, direct action, and mutual aid. She now works with organizations like Mi Familia Vota to engage and empower Latinos in the political process across Texas. Her experience with YI has driven her to pursue her passion in advocacy and she hopes to obtain her Masters in Public Policy and work in the legislature in the future. When not working, Esme takes part in the Student Government Association at the University of Houston, attends concerts and Astros games.

Liliana Hernandez

Liliana Hernandez currently attends the University of Texas at Austin where she is pursuing a Public Health major and Bridging Disciple Certificate in Human Rights & Social Justice. Liliana has been a part of the Young Advocates internship program in the past, and hopes to continue enhancing her advocacy skills when it comes to issues affecting young adults in the U.S. She is especially interested in the country’s immigration policies and aspires to represent those from underrepresented backgrounds in the future as a lawyer. She believes the key to major change is education and demonstration so she wants to empower as many individuals as possible to use their voice to fight for what they believe in. She enjoys volunteering at food pantries as well as leading an after-school program that encourages young girls in elementary to pursue STEM related careers. In her free time, Liliana enjoys reading by the pool, working out, and dancing.

Jennifer Cobb 

My name is Jennifer Cobb. I am a third year apprentice electrician, from Austin Texas and mother of two boys.