Kristhell Guzmán (Kris)

CHIRLA, Los Angeles

Artistic, Powerful, Immigrant

Kristhell Guzman was born and raised in Guatemala and came to the United States when they were 12 years old with their family. Kristhell is currently a senior at Academia Avance and has been part of CHIRLA’s Wise Up! Initiative since 2023. Kristhell is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and is committed to advocating for the rights of all people. Outside of studying and organizing, Kristhell enjoys painting, soccer, going to concerts, and spending time with their sisters. 

Violeta Acuña, She/They

Pomona

Community Organizer, Drag Queen, Radical

Violeta is a community organizer, HIV-AIDS advocate, drag performer, sexual assault survivor, LGBTQIA+ advocate, and artist. After coming out as trans feminine and starting her transition in the Spring of 2022, Violeta soon learned she had been diagnosed with HIV. This led to a need to advocate for herself and the needs of those around her. Since then, she has been committed to advocating for others no matter their gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic background. Violeta is based in Pomona, California and has a cat named Rocky and a dog named Skywalker.

Jeremiah Salazar, He/Him/His

Community Coalition, South Los Angeles

Youth leader, Student, South Central Activist

Born and raised in South Los Angeles, Jeremiah Salazar has always had a profound desire to uplift his community. Passionate about helping others, Jeremiah joined Community Coalition’s South Central Youth Empowered thru Action program in 2022 to help bring opportunities and resources to his school and community. As he continues to exceed his goals, Jeremiah still understands that there remains much work to be done to win justice. That is why he seized the opportunity to join Bold Vision’s Youth Council to continue to transform his community. In addition to advocating for change, Jeremiah is a barber and also works with music engineers to produce music. 

Honey Bizarro, She/Her

East Yard Communities, Huntington Park

Environmental Justice Activist, Proud SELA Community Member, ELAC student

From the Huntington Park-Walnut Park community, Honey Bizarro is a college student studying environmental science and health. Her activism against environmental racism began after years of smelling dead carcasses from neighboring rendering plants that were polluting her community. Since then, Honey has joined East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ) and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE). As a youth leader, Honey collaborated with CBE’s legal team regarding the Huntington Park General Plan, Housing Element, and Environmental Justice Element. She has also given public congressional comments in favor of U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva’s Environmental Justice for All Bill. Honey is dedicated to fighting for environmental justice in communities situated next to industry like her hometown in Southeast Los Angeles.   

Alex Malleis Sternberg, He/Him

Long Beach

Avid Reader, Education Advocate, Rotarian

Born and raised in San Bernardino and now living in Long Beach, Alex grew up going to protests and rallies and quickly realized he wanted to develop his voice as an activist. After high school, Alex hopes to attend college, go to law school, and have a career in politics. In his free time, Alex enjoys reading, listening to music and running. Alex is the third of four siblings and has a cute dog named Lily. 

Makaela Brown, She/Her/Hers

South Los Angeles

DEI Leader, Social Justice Activist, Student Leader

Throughout her high school career, Makaela Brown has taken on several leadership roles fueled by her desire to tackle inequalities in her community. Engaging in community work and giving back are incredibly important to Makaela because her community mirrors who she is and where she comes from. In addition to advocating for her community, Makaela enjoys skiing and looks forward to Christmas every year, especially her family’s gingerbread house competitions.

Suleika Leiva Gonzalez, She/Her

Pacoima Beautiful, Pacoima

Bookworm, Central American, Advocate

Born and raised in California, Suleika always took an interest in learning new things. From learning how to play the flute to learning about environmental racism and even picking up a bit of Chinese, she enjoys being able to absorb new knowledge. Inspired by an environmental justice summer program, Suleika developed a great passion for the social and political issues facing her communities and others like it. Suleika is a leader in several organizations invested in education and community change, including Pacoima Beautiful.

Francisco Flores, He/Him

Lynwood

Future Lawyer, Dream/Indie Pop Fan, LGBTQIA+ Activist

Francisco Flores is an 18-year-old gay Mexican American residing in Lynwood, California. In school, Francisco experienced firsthand the discrimination faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. Unwilling to accept this status quo, he took it upon himself to be a catalyst for change. Francisco successfully advocated for his school board to improve resources and education in support of the LGBTQIA+ community in Lynwood schools. This particular achievement opened a pathway into activism at the local and statewide level and cemented his passion for activism. Currently, serving as a member of the Bold Vision Youth Council, he is excited for the next phase of his journey as an organizer.

Rachelle Cruz, She/Her

InnerCity Struggle, East Los Angeles

Music Lover, Boyle Heights Community Member, First-Gen College Student

Rachelle Cruz is an InnerCity Struggle youth leader born and raised in Boyle Heights, where she has organized for educational and social justice. She is currently a first year student at UCLA. She continues to be passionate and proud of her background. Rachelle is committed to advocating for her community, ensuring that their needs are being met.

Nat De La Cruz, They/Them/Elles

East Yard Communities, Compton

Student of Life, Intentional, Artist with Love

Nat De La Cruz is an urban indigenous youth who was born and raised on Tongva Nation territory, so-called Compton. Having been raised by an organizing family in an under-resourced community, Nat has been very involved in various community-based efforts. In 2019, Nat joined East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ) as a community member and youth leader to fight against local air and water pollution. Nat’s life experiences have made them interested in the work of healing. After graduating from Anawakalmekak International University Preparatory of North America, Nat wants to become an art therapist to understand themselves and help support the next seven generations. When not organizing or studying, Nat enjoys being near veins of water and creating different forms of art as a way to offer love to their own wellbeing. 

Frank Godinez, He/Him

Community Coalition, South Central Los Angeles

Scholar-Activist, Friendly Neighborhood Abolitionist, South Central Born and Raised

Born and raised in South Los Angeles, Frank Godinez is a junior at UCLA majoring in Sociology and Political Science. His passion to drive social change and to mobilize Black and Indigenous communities of color is fueled by his lived experience and informed by his academic journey. As a researcher-in-training, Frank has focused his scholarship on urban poverty, carceral capitalism, and the police state. After college, Frank would like to earn a joint JD/PhD to influence policy through research and organize his community while teaching at a local university or community college.

Attum Phang, She/Her

Khmer Girls in Action, Long Beach

Singer, Campaigner, Youth Leader

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Attum was just a middle schooler when she started sitting in on her older sister’s Khmer Girls in Action (KGA) meetings online and developing an interest in youth organizing. When she started high school, Attum became a KGA Youth Organizer, fighting for justice and social change for young people. Attum is currently preparing for a variety of campaigns including Youth Power Participatory Budgeting in Long Beach. When she is not building power, Attum enjoys singing and can turn anything into a song. 

Daniel Candia, He/Him

El Monte

Advocate, Thinker, Mentor

Daniel Candia is a student at Pasadena City College seeking to broaden his knowledge base in all areas of public policy, politics and advocacy. With the aim of educating young people and engaging in public policy and advocacy, he has been involved with various non-profits and has contributed to local campaigns, statewide policymaking, and national redistricting efforts. Daniel also brings experience working as a paralegal in both family and estate law all while juggling a full course load for school.  

Amaris Gilbert, They/She/Him

California Youth Connection, Culver City 

Lifelong Learner, Colorful Artist, Community Changemaker

Amaris Gilbert is a sister, purveyor of laughter, radical lover, and high school junior from Los Angeles. As a former foster youth, Amaris yearns to uncover the truth about corrupt government systems and holds a profound interest in both African American Studies and the history of systematic oppression in the U.S. They first fell in love with community work through their school, and now are highly invested in their hometown where they fight for community justice and education. As a Bold Vision Youth Council member, Amaris works to become a creator of change locally, and is especially passionate about intersectionality in the melting pot that is L.A. She is beyond excited to be a puzzle piece in the Bold Vision Youth Council’s big picture and to bring their personality to the work.

Alaysia Jointer, They/Them/Theirs

Community Coalition, South Los Angeles

Artist, Avid Tiktok’er, Organizer

Raised in Los Angeles, Alaysia (Lay) Jointer grew up in an environment where both politics and art were expressed freely. As a result, Lay developed a keen interest in artivism (art + activism) and this interest grew stronger as she grew older. Lay looks forward to sharing and practicing the joys and inner workings of artivism with the Bold Vision Youth Council and the Bold Vision ecosystem over the next two years. 

Angela Yang, She/Her

Legacy LA, East Los Angeles

Obsessed Poet, Geeky Coder, Open-Minded Advocate

As the 2024 recipient of the Distinguished Young Women of LA County scholarship, Angela is immensely devoted to LA and its BIPOC, low-income, and system impacted youth. With broad aspirations for a career in public service, her avid civic engagement has manifested in 2 years of service on the LA Mayor’s Youth Council and her current term as a LA City Youth Council Member representing Council District 12. Whether indulging in poetic activism efforts or coordinating youth listening sessions, the nucleus of Angela’s advocacy is community and communication. Whenever she can find free time, Angela loves 90s hip hop (MFDOOM!), last-minute Disneyland visits, and building community with others!

Jorge Diaz, He/Him

Advancing Communities Together, Lynwood

Learner, Advocate, Servant

From Lynwood, California, Jorge Diaz serves as a Planning Commissioner for the city, ensuring that development and land use plans prioritize the welfare and wellbeing of Lynwood residents. Jorge is also a fellow at California For All College Corps where as a Climate Action specialist, he leverages the power of AmeriCorps to advance climate solutions that engage communities, foster change, and leave a lasting impact. In his free time, Jorge enjoys hiking, learning different languages (currently studying Chinese), and teaching English to elementary school students in Taiwan. 

Lauren Lopez, She/Her

CHIRLA, Harbor City

Chicana Activist, Environmentalist, Intersectional Feminist 

Lauren Lopez was born and raised in South Bay Los Angeles surrounded by a strong Latino immigrant family and community. Lauren is currently a senior at the Chadwick School and has been involved in social justice work since her sophomore year of high school. Lauren is incredibly passionate about organizing for immigrant rights and environmental justice and has been involved with Communities for a Better Environment and other student-run environmental groups. Lauren is excited to continue her advocacy in college next year. When she is not studying or organizing, Lauren enjoys playing basketball.

Kahlila Williams, She/Her/Hers

Students Deserve, South Los Angeles

Scholar-Activist, Change-maker, Revolutionary

Kahlila Williams is a third-year double majoring in Sociology and African American Studies with a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Kahlila became passionate about organizing after joining Students Deserve in high school where she advocated for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to divest from policing Black students, leading to the divestment of $25 million and the creation of the first-ever Black Student Achievement Plan. She continues to advocate for LAUSD to prioritize Black students’ education as a South LA task force member with the Youth Development Network, an intern with Twinspire, and through her research at UCLA. Kahlila is a former foster youth, so her work also aims to improve policies that affect foster youth through the UCLA Pritzker Center and UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholars Program. When she is not advocating for change or studying, Kahlila enjoys baking for her family and friends, especially strawberry crunch cookies. 

 

Matthew Quiñonez, He/Him

Social Justice Learning Institute, South Los Angeles

Activist, Anime Lover, Avid Learner

Growing up in South Los Angeles amidst economic struggles, Matthew Quinonez’s upbringing has fueled his determination to reshape society and advocate for change. Engaging with various organizations including the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), he discovered a fervor for activism, actively participating in conferences and protests to make a positive impact alongside his peers. Despite being in high school, Matthew envisions his passion for social change flourishing further as he embarks on his college journey. When he’s not studying or organizing, Matthew enjoys working out with his brother and friends.

Isaiah Williams, He/Him

Brotherhood Crusade, Gardena

Anime Lover, Comic Book Reader,  Basketball Player

Born and raised in California, Isaiah Williams is a powerful youth leader at Brotherhood Crusade – a legacy community organization based in South Los Angeles committed to equipping BIPOC youth with the tools they need to lead successful lives and careers. Growing up, Isaiah developed a strong interest in working with animals and plans to devote his future career in the beef and cattle industry. Isaiah also enjoys playing video games during his spare time. 

Sydney Pike, She/Her

Los Angeles

UCLA Student, Swiftie, Environmentalist

Sydney Pike is a first-year undergraduate transfer student entering her junior year at UCLA where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree, Sydney hopes to earn a Masters in Public Policy and a Juris Doctorate. Her goal is to advocate for Native Hawaiian land and water rights along with other environmental justice issues. Sydney’s interests span community advocacy, the environment, and fashion. During her free time, she enjoys baking, playing board games, visiting amusement parks, and playing sports including soccer, volleyball, and pickleball.