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Jill Asmus
24, Nebraska
jasmus@yahoo.com
Jill Asmus has served on the National Youth Action Council for 3 years as a representative from the 4-H program. Jill's 4-H career began in Iowa at the local club level when she was nine, where she participated in many activities and project areas - including Public Speaking, Leadership, Citizenship, and Photography. Jill also became involved at the county and state level - planning and leading workshops and conferences for youth, and participating-in, and leading community service efforts - including volunteering over 600 hours in 3 years at various organizations. Her involvement also broadened to national and international levels too. She participated in a citizenship focus trip to the Nation's capital, and was also selected to attend National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. where she spoke with Congressmen about young people's issues. Jill then participated in an international exchange and traveled to Norway for 5 weeks to live with a host-family. She has also received several awards - including the State 4-H Leadership and Public Speaking awards, as well as a National 4-H Leadership scholarship and a trip to National 4-H Congress in Florida.
While attending college, Jill belonged to several campus clubs and organizations and continued to volunteer. She was a member of Iowa State University's Student Alumni Association Foundation committee where she was in charge of hosting University donors and VIP's. Jill was also appointed by the Iowa Governor to the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services for a two-year term as the only youth member, and was selected to serve on the Iowa Governor's Summit Steering Committee - being placed in charge of encouraging youth involvement at the summit.
Jill currently lives in Omaha, NE but spends a majority of her time traveling throughout the United States, Europe, and South America while employed as a revenue management trainer and analyst for a company distributing revenue management software to hotels.
Francisco Castil
California
Fcastil@aol.com
Francisco received his Associates Degree from City College of San Francisco in May 2001. He will continue his education at San Francisco State University and pursue a degree in Political Science. In 1998, Supervisor Sue Bierman appointed Francisco to serve as a San Francisco Youth Commissioner. As Commission Chair ('98-'00), Francisco worked on establishing a better relationship between the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, Board of Education, various City Departments and young people who the Commission represents. As a result, he earned the respect of many San Francisco's Elected Officials. Francisco has shown a great deal of commitment to youth leadership and has been affective in advocating for the needs of San Francisco's children and youth. Currently, Francisco is an active member and Co-Chair of Earthtrain's Advisory Board. Earthtrain is an international program and network of youth teaching youth the skills of community organization, leadership, new media production, journalism and advocacy.
Francisco has not only shown a great deal of leadership within the City and County of San Francisco, but has expanded his commitment to establishing working relationships with children and youth from other parts of the world. He has participated in two International Delegations as a Youth Delegate. In the summer of 1997, he was part of Youth Partnership for Change, a community service organization that worked in collaboration with the Sister City Association and traveled to Esteli, Nicaragua to work closely with youth leaders.
In April 1999, under the leadership of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (9th District, CA), Francisco participated in a delegation to Ghana and South Africa, as a representative of San Francisco's youth. He was involved with the Youth & Education Exchange, which was designed to create a meaningful interchange of ideas and innovations as a means for facilitating and fostering long-term relationships between the Bay Area and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Most recently, he will join 25 other youth leaders in Puerto Rico as part of Earthtrain's 2000-summer session to the Raul Julia Mountain Rainforest. During the two-week session in Puerto Rico, youth leaders will participate in cross-cultural environmental service, team challenges and leadership training with youth activist from around the country and workshops in broadcast news and documentary as well as film story telling.
Marie Celestin
Massachusetts
Founder and Director, G.I.R.L.S. Project
mcelesti@mail.ptgirlscouts.org
Ms. Celestin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Simmons College and completed the graduate program in Women in Politics and Government at the University of Massachusetts. She has over seven years of experience working with adolescent girls and youth in the Boston area. She has led numerous workshops and served as panelist at various conferences to increase awareness about girls' needs and issues. She covered the 1996 National Republican Convention as a reporter for New England Cable News.
Ms. Celestin is involved with the National Youth Action Council to work with progressive agencies/individuals to ensure that youth have a voice in decision-making processes and are recognized for their service and social activism. Second, to advance issues of concern to youth at the core of public policy debates and continue strategizing for their collective voice to transform into political power. Third, to affirm that national leaders reach out and work with youth around the country to solve prevalent issues that are impacting society as a whole.
Nickole Evans
Dan Freilich
17, Maryland
dsfreilich@aol.com
My name is Dan Freilich, I'm 17, and I'm from Chevy Chase, Maryland, which is just outside of Washington, DC. I applied for the council because I've always been interested in finding ways to help other people my age do extraordinary things in their communities.
Two years ago, my friends and I created a TV program for students called TeenLine TV. Today, TeenLine is awarded as the best youth-produced television series in the United States and Canada. Our team of 53 students and adults based in Washington develops, produces, and markets innovative programming for the youth market. TeenLine reaches more than 1.5 million homes -- over 4 million viewers -- in local markets in Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Venezuela, South America. Next season, new markets in Florida, Ohio, and other states across the country are asking to carry the show. The website, TeenLineTV.com, receives over 30,000 hits each month. Guests on the show include former Congresswoman Susan Molinari (R-NY) and Kiplinger's executive editor Janet Bodnar. TeenLine has covered school violence, college admissions, part-time jobs, financial planning, and youth community involvement. Check out our site! www.teenlinetv.com.
In my spare time, I also enjoy volunteering and working at other organizations and companies. This summer, I'm working at a public relations firm called Sukol Communications. This school year, I'm very excited to have an afterschool internship at Edelman Public Relations. For about four years, I was a reporter/producer for Children's Express, a worldwide news service reported by young people. I had some of the best experiences ever with CE, including covering the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.
I also like to listen to music and watch TV. My favorite bands are Aerosmith, Fuel, and Train. Any of my friends can tell you how much I like the song "Jaded."
Goutam Jois
18, New Jersey
YMCA of the USA
Lilprez@aol.com
Goutam Jois has been involved in youth leadership and activism for the past several years. In 1996, at the age of 14, Goutam founded the Student Coalition for Progressive Dialogue (SCOPE), a student-run community action group with the intent of stimulating substantive discussion in various forums regarding pertinent present-day issues. Goutam coordinated and planned the several Symposiums, Discussion Forums, and Meetings that SCOPE sponsored, and helped to get more young people involved in the political process. SCOPE members have worked with local, state, and federal lawmakers, religious and social leaders of national and international organizations, local community activists and leaders, journalists, students, teachers, and members of the community-at-large towards this goal.
The following year, Goutam began his involvement with the YMCA of the USA through the Model United Nations and Youth and Government programs. In 1998, Goutam was elected Youth Governor of New Jersey through the Youth and Government Program, becoming the youngest-ever Youth Governor. A year later, he was elected Secretary-General of the Hershey Model United Nations Assembly Program, becoming the first person to be Youth Governor and then Secretary-General. Also since 1998, Goutam has been a participant in the annual Youth Conference on National Affairs, held each year in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Having just finished high school, Goutam will be attending Georgetown University in the fall as a Government major.
Jonna Justiniano
20, California
Youth Service California
Points of Light Foundation
jonna@cats.ucsc.edu
Jonna Justiniano is currently at the University of California, Santa Cruz majoring in Community Studies with a minor in Education. Since 7th grade Jonna has been heavily involved in youth volunteerism and leadership activities. Through her local involvement with the Students Actively Volunteering for You (SAVY) program, which provided service and leadership opportunities for young people in San Diego County, she was able to serve on the statewide level. Jonna was a member of Youth California Action Network and the Youth Advisory Council to the California Commission on Improving Life Through Service. The inclusion of youth voice has also been a main concern throughout her work. Jonna was able to advocate the importance of youth voice in the California Department of Education's Service-Learning Task Force, which produced a policy document containing recommendations regarding service-learning. As a student as UC Santa Cruz, Jonna works on campus issues regarding outreach and retention of students of color.
David Nabti
21, California
California Campus Action Network
Calcan1@usa.net
While young people are increasingly expressing their interest and devotion to their communities through performing direct community service, the crucial link between community service and public service and the political processes is becoming less and less evident among today's young people. Reestablishing and reinforcing that vital link is chief among the goals and interests of David Nabti.
In his third year at the University of California, Berkeley, David Nabti (21) has been working for years to represent, empower, and motivate young people to take responsibility for the shortcomings in the policy-making processes that affect them and all people. David Nabti is currently chair of the National Youth Action Council, which is part of the Youth in Action Campaign. Youth in Action, in cooperation and partnership with dozens of organizations nationwide, is working to create a National Youth Platform with the input of thousands of young people nationwide. As part of the YIA campaign, David Nabti is helping coordinate the activities of the NYAC, and contributing to primarily to the planning of one of two National Youth Conventions that coincide with the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
During the past year David Nabti has also worked at UC Berkeley's Service-Learning Research and Development Center, and as a service research intern at the Cal Corps Public Service Center. At Cal Corps he worked primarily on responding to Governor Gray Davis' proposal to create a community service graduation requirement for all students at public higher education institutions in California. According to David Nabti, critical flaws appeared in the plan because discussions did not include the perspectives of two important groups the voice of students, and the voice of community based organizations which currently provide placements for the majority of student volunteers in California.
Previously, David Nabti interned at the California Commission on Improving Life Through Service, and as an intern at the district office of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Before graduating from high school in 1997, his activities also mirrored his dual interests in community service and public service and public policy. He was very active in his high school's Youth Community Service club, and civicly active as a member of the Palo Alto Youth City Council.
Omar Malik
California
Join Us Making Progress (JUMP)
Associated Students of Sonoma State University
malik@SONOMA.EDU
I am a Junior at Sonoma State University in Northern California. I am currently twenty years old and the Chair of JUMP, Join Us Making Progress. JUMP is the community service program of the Associated Students of Sonoma State University.
I grew up in a Los Angeles where I attended Whitney High School in Cerritos. Whitney was the top ranked high school in California in terms of education. Whitney placed a high degree of emphasis on education and sending students to college. Almost 100 of my graduating class made it to college.
However, when I came to Sonoma State, I started to question everything I had learned in high school. I started to question what I was taught and what was chosen not to be taught. I got involved in volunteering and community service. In my Sophomore year at Sonoma State, I coordinated the Serving Our Unfed People (SOUP) program of JUMP. This taught me many invaluable lessons and conditioned me in becoming a leader of my campus. This past year, as the Chair of JUMP, I have gotten involved in youth advocacy, service learning, and have become committed to creating change in our society.
Shanna Lee Paddock
21, California
United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (U.N.I.T.Y., Inc.)
ShannaPaddock@aol.com
Shanna Paddock, represents the United National Indian Tribal Youth. She became involved in U.N.I.T.Y. in 1992 as a council member, and held the office of Metro OKC council Co-President in 1996. The organization provides native youth an opportunity to develop themselves, their cultural identity and personal leadership through public speaking and cultural sharing, promoting the positive image of youth citizenship through their tribal identity and community service, and partnering with other youth organizations. Originally from Oklahoma, Shanna has spent the last few years living here and there, taking advantage of her free spirit, but has finally settled down in Berkeley, CA, where she is attending a community college, filling spiral notebooks with nonsense, attempting to decide what to do with herself. Young people don't have all the answers, we just have all the right ones.
Benjamin Quinto
22, New York
Global Youth ACTION Network
benjamin@youthlink.org
Benjamin became involved with the United Nations shortly after High School, searching for greater meaning in his life and wanting to help empower young people around the world.
Benjamin represents the Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations (CCC/UN), World Citizen Diplomats, the World Peace 2000 Network, Pathways to Peace, the Millennium People's Assembly Network and Nation1. Benjamin works currently with the Foundation of America, serving as Communications Director and acts as International Liaison for the National Youth Action Council of the USA. He sits on the Youth Advisory Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation and the World Institute to End School Violence and is a Representative to the United Nations for the ONE DAY Foundation.
Benjamin's focus today, as Co-Director of the collaborative Global Youth ACTION Network, is to increase youth action and recognition, as well as build a shared resource database that will facilitate the flow of information among organizations and youth worldwide. His work has garnered the interest and participation of young people and organizations in over 120 countries.
Benjamin has delivered speeches or conducted workshops at the 1997 Sister Cities International Youth Conference, the 1998 United Nations International Symposium on Youth, the 1999 National 4-H Conference, the 1998 International Education & Resource Network Conference, the 1999 Hague Appeal for Peace, the 1999 United Nations DPI/NGO Conference and the 1999 Millennium Young People's Congress, the 2000 Be the Difference Conference and others.
Erin Seltzer
North Carolina
erinseltzer@hotmail.com
Erin Seltzer is currently a third grade teacher in Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended Guilford College and graduated with degrees in elementary education, sociology, and a minor in women's studies. While at Guilford, she worked in the Guilford's Project Community and began a new organization-Guilford Uniting Through Service (G.U.T.S.)-along with two other Bonner scholars. They coordinated a campus wide service day involving more than 100 volunteers, and an annual Kid-Fest, day of arts and games for diverse children from across the community. She tutored in a variety of contexts - prison, after-school programs, working with ESL students. Her primary focus was working with and for children. She also worked on the Peace Studies Committee to help develop the curriculum for the major and coordinate on-campus events for the National Day of Nonviolence. Most of her campus organizing and community activism involved working on issues of race, class, and gender. She believes that young people care about their world and that this world is more than worthy of that care.
Dave Sobotkin
19, New York
Smithtown Veterans Youth Program
New York State Youth Advisory Council
skadave@aol.com
David M. Sobotkin, 19, hailing from Kings Park, Long Island, NY, is a pre-law student double majoring in political science and psychology, carrying a minor in history at Muhlenberg College. His interests are domestic and foreign affairs, youth issues in politics, self-empowerment and anti-racist activism. When he is not watching CNN, you can find him listening to ska, punk, hardcore or jazz. In addition to the NYAC, Dave is a member of the New York State Youth Advisory Council, a member of the Muhlenber g Weekly Editorial Board and the president of the Smithtown Veterans Youth Program, a non-profit organization which he founded at the age of 14 to provide drug and alcohol-free activities for the youth of Long Island. "We can't alter society until we change ourselves first, from the inside out" (The Dead Kennedys).
Mitchell Spearman
Frank Vivacqua II
25, North Carolina
fvftw@juno.com
Akilah Watkins
22, New York
I AM Corporation
National Coalition for Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs
Akilah@youthlink.org
Akilah Watkins is a young pioneer for change. At age 13, when most people are just starting junior high school and just learning where their boundaries begin and end from their families, Akilah was in the process of creating her own non-profit agency along with her adult mentor Shelia Caballero. Together, Shelia and Akilah created I AM Corporation. I AM is an acronym for Imagine, Accept, and Materialize. Akilah believed that if young people were in position to control their own economic futures they would be less likely to do destructive things to their minds, bodies, families, and communities.
Currently, Akilah speaks to hundreds of high schools, universities, community based organizations, community development corporations, churches, and other institutions of progressives change on economic development, youth entrepreneurship and women and business. Akilah's future plan is to write a book on her process of creating a grassroots organization into a thriving institution for change.
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