Executive Director
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Kristin McGuire is the Executive Director for Young Invincibles. Kristin assumes this role having most recently served as YI West Regional Director, where she has spent the last five years empowering young adults to advocate for higher education, health care, and economic policies.

Kristin brings years of community organizing and policy change expertise to her role as Executive Director. As a first-generation college student from a single-parent household – she is driven by a deep understanding of the needs of under-resourced communities and has helped shift power to young adults from these communities over the last decade.

Kristin’s recent successes include shaping policies that will protect the financial health of young Californians as they enter adulthood such as the California Student Borrowers’ Bill of Rights 2019 (AB 376), the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act of 2019, and the College Student Hunger Relief Act 2016 (AB 1747). But her most prized accomplishment is not her own, it is her mother’s, who integrated her school at the age of seven.

Previously, through her work with the LA County Department of Public Health’s Project TRUST, Kristin organized residents to demand that the City Council mandate smoke-free housing and curb secondhand smoke at parks in communities like Compton, California. She’s also worked to reduce recidivism of young parolees in Los Angeles.

An active member of her community, Kristin is the first Black American elected to her local school board (November 2020). Her upbringing, family values, and commitment to the community ensure educational success for youth at every level and from diverse backgrounds.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for those who blazed the trail before me. Unsung heroes like my mom truly inspire me to continue to work for generations who will come after me.”

Kristin is the wife of a military veteran and mother to two daughters – a 14 year old aspiring chemical engineer and a 19 year old rising Sophomore at UCLA who studies neuroscience – dog mom to Blue, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the best sorority in the world.

Deputy Director
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Dyonicia "Dy" Brown is a nonprofit executive and connector who is currently the Deputy Executive Director 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 among other significant for the company.

Dy has also served in numerous capacities including National Executive Director for Jack and Jill of America, Inc. with over 252 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!, Krewe of Pyros Foundation, Inc. and Walker’s Legacy Board of Directors. 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 and Washington Nationals, volunteering, and watching movies.

Engagement Manager
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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.

Midwest Program Manager
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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!

Content Strategy Program Manager
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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.

Regional Media Coordinator
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Emma is the Regional Media Coordinator 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.

Rocky Mountain Policy Coordinator
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Emmett Blaney is the Rocky Mountain Policy Coordinator. Originally hailing from rural Wyoming, Emmett earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Willamette University, before returning to the Mountain West to earn a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.

During his time as a social work graduate student, Emmett completed internships at One Colorado and the Hub for Justice-Centered Youth Engagement. He is deeply involved and invested in rural community building, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and climate justice. Centering all his work around underserved community members, he dreams of systemic change that bridges social divides and repairs historic harm.

In his spare time, you can find Emmett seeking out the best chai latte, re-watching Pride and Prejudice (2005), or using every pot and pan in his kitchen for a singular meal.

West Advocacy Manager
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Sarah Bouabibsa is the West Advocacy Manager and is based out of Sacramento, where she looks to continue serving the needs of and empowering young adults through substantive policy and advocacy efforts. Having immigrated to San Francisco in the early 2000s, Sarah’s passion for advocacy stemmed from growing up in a severely underserved community in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Additionally, her experience as a visibly Muslim woman has been a catalyst in her journey towards the advocacy world. Sarah graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science where she researched the effects of systemic racism and color blindness on minority youth’s political empowerment.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and everything pasta. She is excited to be an instrumental part in carrying YI's mission forward.

Director of Policy Research
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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.

Finance and Operations Manager
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Tonia is the Finance & Operations Manager. She leads day-to-day financial management including but not limited to YI’s contract and invoicing processes, accounting systems, operational policies, and compliance.

Prior to Young Invincibles, she worked at the College Board for five years in various capacities. Her experience includes office and facility management, budgeting, operational systems, procurement, and advocacy. In her previous position, she also helped support the Advanced Placement (AP) Advocates Program, which works with teachers to champion equitable access and diversification for AP students, in addition to securing legislative funding.

She is a proud HBCU alum from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and received her B.A. in English Language and Literature. Tonia enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and curating new music playlists in her spare time.

Western Regional Director
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Alfredo Camacho is the Western Region Director at Young Invincibles and is based out of the Los Angeles, California regional office. He leads operations for advocacy, policy and communications on key young adult issues including workforce & finances, health care, higher education and civic engagement. He firmly believes that the experience of young people is crucial when it comes to making important decisions. Alfredo experienced this firsthand, when he served on the City of Pomona Youth Commission.

Alfredo brings over 15 years of experience in the nexus of policy/advocacy and working with young people. Alfredo previously served as the Director of Environmental Justice at Day One, a public health and environmental justice organization based in the San Gabriel Valley, where he connected cities and community-based organizations to funding opportunities and assisted with community engagement and leverage funding. With nearly 9 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he has managed programs in the areas of healthy food access, active transportation, climate resilience, substance abuse prevention, youth engagement and improving the built environment. Alfredo first got involved with Young Invincibles in 2017 when he participated in the Young Advocates Program and went on to serve on the Youth Advisory Board in 2018.

Alfredo continues to be active in his community and serves on the City of Pomona Planning Commission, where he advocates for land-use policies and development that prioritizes pedestrians, young people and the health & safety of Pomona residents. He is currently finishing off his Master’s in Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside. Alfredo enjoys walking, biking, exploring new cities and trying new restaurants.

Policy and Advocacy Manager
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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.

Technology and Outreach Manager
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Elio Cruz is the Technology and Outreach Manager, located in his hometown of Santa Barbara, CA. Hailing from Teocaltiche, Jalisco, Elio has long been fascinated by technology and the role it continues to play in our daily lives. After working for Apple for five years, Elio transferred to a company called Payjunction where he led in defining the company’s culture by organizing training, gatherings, and events. Though he loves and works with tech, Elio’s heart resides in the kitchen of his soul. In his free time, he’s on a journey hunting for the perfect salsa recipe. If you give him a fridge, he’ll give you a meal. Elio loves his family, the oldest brother of three, and the uncle to two nephews.

Southern Peer Policy Fellow
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Naomi is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, but she grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She currently lives in Austin where she recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. At UT, she majored in Health & Society and Latinx Studies with a minor in Portuguese. Most of her passion points are centered around social justice, racial and educational equity, pathways to self-determination, and prioritization and restorative justice practices. In short [or not], she is committed to helping build a world that recognizes everyone’s humanity and operates to serve everyone in it with compassion, love, and real accountability. In her free time, she loves to pretend she's on a cooking show like Chopped, and she also likes to go thrifting!

Rocky Mountain Engagement Manager
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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).

Southern Region Director
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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.”

Development Coordinator
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Reese finished up her Bachelors of Arts in International Affairs at Lewis & Clark College in May of 2023. She is currently based in Long Beach, California. She is passionate about human rights in the US and abroad and completed her senior thesis on censorship in authoritarian states. She spent the last two years working as a Video Production Assistant at her college, where she interviewed professors and students at the school who were working to foster a diverse and accepting space for LGBT students and staff. She also worked previously as an International Visitor Leadership Program intern at Global Ties Sacramento, drafting policy briefs and researching community programs. Beyond her work experience, Reese is an avid painter and explores the bike trails around the LA area.

Digital Communications Coordinator
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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.

Digital Communications Manager
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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.

Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs
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Van Freeman has recently taken on the role of Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Young Invincible, bringing with him an extensive background in economic and workforce development strategies from both business and government sectors. With nearly two decades of experience, Van has been a driving force behind the growth of minority-owned businesses and the diversification of workforce training initiatives, demonstrating his exceptional problem-solving skills.

In his most recent role as the Principal Consultant at QED Solutions, LLC, a Government Affairs Consulting firm, Van led the charge in crafting Government Engagement Strategies for a varied clientele, ranging from Nonprofits and Governments to Start-Ups and Midsize Businesses. Under his guidance, QED Solutions thrived in devising effective strategies, building crucial stakeholder relationships, and advocating for client interests in the complex landscapes of Federal, State, and Local governments.

Prior to QED Solutions, Van made impactful contributions as the Regional Head for Opportunity@Work in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. He was pivotal in launching the Stellaworx platform in DC, an innovative initiative connecting Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) individuals to in-demand jobs, revolutionizing the DC labor market with tech-driven skill matching.

Earlier in his career, Van held significant positions such as the Director of Future Workforce Development and Strategy at the Aerospace Industries Association and Deputy Chief of Staff at the DC Department of Employment Services. His commitment to public service was further exemplified during his time as a political appointee in the Obama Administration, serving as the Senior Advisor to the National Director at the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Deputy Director in the Department of Commerce’s Office of the Secretary.

Van's illustrious journey began at General Motors and led him to roles at UBS Investment Bank in London and as a member of President Obama’s campaign team. A proud graduate of Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center, Van enjoys life in Washington, DC, alongside his wife and three children.

Senior Director of Development
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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.

Virginia Outreach Coordinator
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Brandon is based in Virginia and currently serves as the Virginia Outreach Coordinator. He conducts extensive outreach to community organizations, college campuses, and other young adult-serving organizations to educate those about the Affordable Care Act, and accessing healthcare in the Virginia area. Brandon has numerous years of Outreach and ACA experience. Prior to joining the YI, Brandon has served as a Certified Navigator with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. He provided outreach, education, and direct enrollment assistance for Maryland residents. Brandon has also served as a Certified Application Counselor at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Northern Virginia area that focuses on healthcare access in underserved populations. Brandon’s passion for healthcare access stems from growing up in an immigrant Colombian household with limited knowledge pertaining to healthcare. He hopes to see change and to contribute to eliminating the obstacles and barriers in regards to healthcare access within underserved communities. Brandon is a DC sports fanatic, he enjoys fitness, listening to Channel Orange by Frank Ocean, and playing FIFA in his free time.

Senior Director of Regional Strategy
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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 Senior Director of Regional Strategy 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.

Storytelling and Engagement Manager
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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 but ethnically Palestinian, 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.

New York Policy Coordinator
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Noshin Hoque is the policy coordinator for the YI NY region. She is a political social worker and social justice advocate. She recently graduated with her MSW, specializing in policy practice, from Columbia University, and completed her BS in Social Work in 2020 from Stony Brook University. Noshin is passionate about environmental justice, transforming the family regulation system, immigration rights—and, most importantly, envisioning alternatives to current oppressive systems. Noshin previously worked with Legislator Kara Hahn at the Suffolk County Legislature, the Action Lab for Social Justice, and the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy, where she helped organize their Student Advocacy Day on the Hill and helped develop congressional briefings. She was also a member of the NASW-NYS PACE committee, which endorsed over 20 candidates running for elected office in NYS.

Most recently, she worked at Rise Magazine as their Policy Coordinator, where she supported Rise’s shift to community organizing to reverse NYC’s over-investment in family policing and under-investment in communities. This especially included supporting accessible and affordable child care, elevating parents' voices and recommendations for system changes, and reducing system involvement.

She dreams of a world where every oppressive system is dismantled and equality, equity and inclusivity become the new building blocks of society. She is committed to creating change and contributing to the work that many incredible people have already done and continue to do.

Senior Finance and Operations Coordinator
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Noah Johnson is the Senior Finance and Operations Coordinator for Young Invincibles- where he supports the day-to-day financial and operational processes as well as growing operations structures. Originally from Atlanta, Noah comes to YI with a wide range of experience including research, community organizing, and direct advocacy. Before joining YI, he was the staff assistant at the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, a network of over 75 organizations fighting for justice on many fronts through a Jewish lens, during their strategic planning process. Noah has seen the profound things which are possible when communities of aligned changemakers work together and have the infrastructure of support they need to build lasting sustainable positive growth. Noah is a proud alumnus of Avodah, the Jewish service corps, and a graduate of Georgia State University. He believes in the essential nature of robust systems, a good book, and a great meal ideally shared.

Midwest Policy Manager
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Hannah Keller is the Midwest Policy Manager. Previously, Hannah served for three years as a Research & Appropriations Analyst for the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Her focus in this role was in K-12 education and bridges to higher education. She helped pass comprehensive sexual health education standards and a bill to require instruction on Asian American history in public schools. She also staffed the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus in passing their education reforms through the Illinois General Assembly. After briefly teaching A.P. U.S. History, Hannah became passionate about education policy reform. She aims to smooth the pipeline from school to career, from a student to a civically engaged adult.

In her spare time, Hannah enjoys exploring the culinary world, whether it be trying a new recipe at home or a new restaurant.

Rocky Mountain Regional Director
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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.

Southern Program Coordinator
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Liz Kufour is the Southern Program Coordinator for Young Invincibles. Liz assumes this role after starting with Texas’ inaugural cohort of the Young Advocates program, serving on the Youth Advisory Board, and working as a "super advocate" for a year.

As the Southern Program Coordinator, Liz plays a critical role in engaging young adults to have a voice in our four policy areas. Programmatically, this includes coordinating health insurance literacy trainings around the state and supporting our young adult engagement programs. She also supports our youth-led local actions - from town hall events to conferences - designed to build a stronger young adult base for our campaigns.

Liz recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies and a B.B.A. in Management. Of YI’s core areas, Liz feels closely connected to our higher education work, and she intends to use her time at YI to expand her understanding of the intricacies of higher education in order to effect lasting and sustainable change for young adults within Texas. Throughout her time at YI, she hopes to become more hands-on within the preparation of the next generation of young advocates and impact future leaders in a similar fashion that YI impacted her.

Liz is passionate about empowering marginalized groups and providing resources to underserved communities. She intends to pursue a dual JD/MBA degree, focusing on public policy and social entrepreneurship in the near future. In her free time, Liz enjoys analyzing Lil Wayne lyrics, discovering hidden gems on Netflix, and volunteering within her community.

West Program Coordinator
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Chynna Lloyd is based in Los Angeles and serves as the West Program Coordinator for Young Invincibles. She recently graduated from California State University, Northridge with a bachelor's degree in Public Health with a minor in Civic and Community Engagement. Chynna is passionate about racial and health equity in low income communities.

Chynna has recently gotten back from studying abroad in Accra, Ghana for a whole year. In Ghana, she was able to study and learn public health from a different perspective, mentor young school girls and create a school curriculum. She previously coordinated a mentorship program, called WISDOM, that was geared towards helping the retention rate of Black female students at CSUN. She was also a participant in the 2017 young advocates cohort where she was able to learn organizing skills and how to be a better advocate in her community.

In her spare time, Chynna likes to read, travel, drink coffee and play with her puppy.

Communications Director
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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.

Federal Workforce Development and Finance Policy Coordinator
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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.

Northeast Region Director
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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.

Engagement Coordinator
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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.

Engagement Manager
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Greg Norwood serves as the Engagement Manager in the southern regional office. Previously, he was the Co-Lead 1st grade teacher at Dogan Elementary and Volunteer Coordinator for SBP, a national disaster relief, resilience, and recovery non-profit headquartered in New Orleans, LA. There he led the volunteer engagement and small dollar fundraising efforts to ensure both human and financial capital were always available to aid our community of clients impacted by natural disasters in Texas.

Greg is no stranger to YI. He has just concluded a term with the NYAB and has been consecutively and consistently promoted from the TX-YAP to the TX-YAB to NYAB. He has such profound respect for Young Invincibles and the work it does every day and looks forward to bringing his diverse set of experiences to that work at YI.

Greg is a proud UH Coog #GoCoogs, and in his free time loves to listen to good music, eat amazing food, travel, smoke great cigars, and engage in rich conversation.

HR Coordinator
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Vanessa Petion serves as the HR Coordinator for Young Invincibles.
She is a Brooklyn native with a love for people and culture. With an extensive background as an HR professional, she thrives on building impactful connections in her work and community, while making her mark on the world.

Vanessa obtained her BA degree in English and is a proud alum of the HBCU Delaware State University. Outside of work she is a content creator and shares a love for wellness and self-care. She is honored to be part of the mission of Young Invincibles.

Midwest Regional Director
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Lily Rocha is the Midwest Regional Director for Young Invincible’s Midwest office, where she leads YI’s Illinois operations. With the Midwest team, she builds policy and advocacy strategies specific to Illinois, engages young adults throughout the state, and elevates YI’s impact in the region. Lily joins YI with over a decade’s worth of work in state and federal policy dedicated to serving marginalized communities. As an aide to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, she worked on education policy, ensuring college graduates who were drowning in debt had a voice in Congress. As a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives, Lily assembled a coalition of grassroots supporters and industry stakeholders to draft a new bill tackling mental health stigmas and requiring culturally competent care. After Congress, Lily joined the Joyful Heart Foundation, an anti-sexual assault organization, rising to Associate Director of Policy & Advocacy. In this role, she led collaborative efforts with sexual assault survivors and state legislators to enact laws enhancing survivors’ rights and eliminating the backlog of thousands of untested rape kits across the country. Prior to joining YI, Lily was the Chief of Staff to Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez. Lily received her B.A. in Economics-Political Science from Columbia University. She enjoys cooking, yoga, and voting in local elections.

Director of Health Policy and Advocacy
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Martha serves as the Health Policy and Advocacy Director at Young Invincibles. Martha is a proud first generation immigrant from El Salvador, raised in Washington D.C. and Maryland. Prior to joining YI, she served as a health legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) where she helped introduce federal legislation to streamline the health care enrollment process, and focused on legislation to support youth with chronic conditions such as Sickle Cell Disease. Previously, Martha worked for five years in the U.S. House of Representatives, first serving as a caseworker in the district office of Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and then as a legislative assistant handling his Rules Committee, health, education, labor, and transportation portfolios.

Martha’s early advocacy career started in the immigrant rights space, where she advocated in support of higher education and economic opportunities, as well as a pathway to citizenship, for undocumented immigrants. In her junior year of college, Martha was fortunate to participate in YI’s first class of YI Scholars. It was through this fellowship that she focused on the intersection of immigration and health care access, and delved into the disparities and inequities present in the U.S. health care system.

Martha is a graduate of American University, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government. She enjoys latin dancing, art, and exploring new restaurants.

Health Policy and Advocacy Manager
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Mina is the Health Policy and Advocacy Manager at Young Invincibles, where she supports local, state, and national efforts to increase access to health insurance coverage, particularly among communities of focus. Mina joined Young Invincibles from New York City's GetCoveredNYC initiative, where she conducted community outreach to help New Yorkers understand their health coverage options. As a former Certified Application Counselor in West Virginia, she has enjoyed helping people not only access health insurance but also health care. Mina earned her B.A. in French from the Pennsylvania State University, her M.A. in French and Foreign Language Education from the University of Missouri, and her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University. In her down time, she enjoys caring for her jungle of plants, texting her dad questions that she could easily Google herself, and discovering off-the-beaten path treasures around the DC area.

Engagement Coordinator
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Ruth is based in Sacramento, California and first began her journey with Young Invincibles as a participant in the Spring 2020 Young Advocate Program. She quickly fell in love with the work YI does and now serves as the Engagement Coordinator for YI West. Ruth has received an A.A. in American Sign Language from College of The Sequoias, a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Sacramento and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from the California State University, Sacramento. Previous to her time at Young Invincibles, Ruth has worked with several organizations on issues such as civic engagement, health care, reproductive rights, environmental racism, gun violence and Immigration. She has a deep passion for youth empowerment, community organizing, and advocacy work and hopes to make meaningful change for underrepresented communities in California. In her free time, Ruth enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Director of Higher Education & Workforce Policy & Advocacy
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Satra D. Taylor is the Director of Higher Education & Workforce Policy and Advocacy at Young Invincibles, leading the overall strategy and positioning on higher education and workforce issues. Satra is an experienced equity advocate, levering policy, partnerships, and research as levers for social change in higher education. Satra is skilled in engaging coalitions, managing collective investments, public speaking, writing for diverse audiences, and equity-focused policy analysis.

In Satra’s previous role, she worked with the Executive team to focus the organization on executing the demands of now, not just on strategic planning for tomorrow. Additionally, Satra previously led policy strategy for a national policy and advocacy organization, culminating in the restoration of Pell grants for incarcerated students.

Satra has attained strong content expertise with a Master's degree focused on Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Michigan and a current doctoral student studying Higher Education at the University of Maryland College Park.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Satra obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

HR Manager
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Since 2006, Jocelyn has been helping organizations shape their HR practices so they are aligned to the strategic agenda of the business. Prior to joining YI, Jocelyn served as an HR Manager at Genesys Works,a non-profit with a mission to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Jocelyn has also worked in corporate and consulting roles at for-profit organizations providing HR support in the areas of compliance, talent management, training & development, compensation, benefits administration and employee relations.

Jocelyn obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Southern University. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and a Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP). She is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and has a passion for Cajun/Creole cuisine.

Virginia Engagement Manager
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As VA Engagement Manager with YI, Iesha's dedicated to educating and training young adults on the Affordable Care Act and accessing health care in the Virginia area. Iesha is a graduate from UMUC where she earned her degree in Communications Studies. Iesha has a background in broadcast, marketing, communications, and outreach. In her previous position as Reproductive Outreach Specialist, she educated teens and young adults on reproductive health and future family planning needs.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family in New York. She looks forward to contributing to the ongoing success of Young Invincibles.