YELS 2021 Presenters

Youth Mental Health Advocacy and Information

Alexis Moracco (she/her) is currently a junior at St. Anthony Village High School and has been involved in Youth In Government for three years as well as being chair of the St. Anthony YIG delegation. Outside of school, she is a part of the Minnesota Youth Council, specifically the Mental Health and Well Being Subcommittee.

Raising Awareness of Juvenile Justice Issues

Alya competes on the robotics, math league, and cross country teams at her school. She is committed to social justice issues and participated in the ACLU High School Advocacy Institute during the summer of 2020. She serves on the Minnesota Youth Council in order to gain the skills to make a positive difference in her community.

Youth Engagement in Tobacco Prevention

Climate Justice Education

Ava (she/her) is a freshman at South. She interns for YEA! MN, helping to work to create equitable climate change solutions. She grew up and still lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mental Health Advocacy in the Pandemic

Ava Kalenze is a senior at St. Anthony Village High School. She is a Chair and member of the Minnesota Youth Council and believes that youth voices are at the forefront of change happening in our communities. In her work in and out of the MYC, Ava hopes to focus on issues such as mental health support, accessible and affordable post-secondary education options, and comprehensive sex/consent education. Additionally, she focuses her work towards equity in the public education system, an issue which has been painfully exacerbated in her city and community over the past year. She loves to be outside, watch movies, travel, see live music, kayak, take pictures, drink coffee, have picnics with her buddies, and sleep (when she has time). She is planning to attend a post-secondary institution in the fall.

UI for All: How high school students won $30 MILLIONS DOLLARS!

Bridgemakers aims to unleash and encourage the problem-solving potential and democratic participation of marginalized young people. Bridgemakers amplifies the stories and mentors the leadership of youth by building bridges with experienced leaders to reimagine and revitalize communities through the power of passion, purpose and relationships that break cycles of miseducation, poverty, violence and addiction. Our youth-led program engages diverse young (ages 14-25) activists, social entrepreneurs and artists of color as community problem solvers, policy advocates and local journalists, pairs them with experienced mentors, and provides hands-on training in civics, leadership, advocacy, community organizing, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and other areas.

Grassroots Organizing and the Bottom-up approach

Clara Garner is a Junior at Saint Paul Academy and a climate change activist. She is currently a part of the YEA!MN climate justice campaign program where she is working on a campaign to provide access and education about the benefits of sustainable period products. When she is not working on her campaign, she enjoys skiing and going on hikes with friends.

How the Healthcare System Has Failed People of Color

Dawson Clifton, a senior at Andover High School, is a passionate activist in his community interested in making an impact on important issues like racial inequality, LGBTQAI+ rights, environmental sustainability, and more. As State President of Minnesota HOSA-Future Health Professionals, he spends much of his time planning events and recruiting future doctors. Outside of HOSA, Dawson is a frequent volunteer looking for any way to make a difference in his community. In the future, he plans to take a more impactful role in the workforce as a civil rights attorney or congressman. Please feel free to connect and collaborate with Dawson on Instagram @dawsonjclifton or via LinkedIn to team up for a better future. 

Sexual Reeducation

Deja (she/her) is most passionate about the topic of period poverty and the impacts of period poverty. She is 11th grade and attends Edina High School. In her free time, she likes to read her friend's birth charts and learn about astrology through TikTok :)

Youth Engagement in Tobacco Prevention

Ella Wiggenhorn is a senior at Mounds View High School. She has been an anti-tobacco activist for 3 years. During that time, she has worked to advocate policies to prevent youth smoking in her community and state.

Sexual Reeducation

Emani (she/they) is a Junior at Benilde St. Margarets, and is really passionate about educating the black community, especially young black women, on sexual health. Emani is looking forward to presenting and hearing from peers!

Sexual Reeducation

Emi (she/they) is honored to be a part of this leadership summit! Emi is a virgo sun and moon, libra rising, whose passions include sexual health, reproductive justice, and birth work. Emi's background includes serving as a member of the Minneapolis T.H.E. Council, volunteering with Annex Teen Clinic, working as a lab assistant at Newbridge Clinic, founding the Body Org, and working towards certification as a full spectrum doula. In my Emi's time, they find joy in fermenting kombucha, utilizing the healing energy of crystals, and exploring metaphysics.

Youth Engagement in Tobacco Prevention

Grace is a senior at Mounds View High School, and has been involved in youth anti-tobacco advocacy with ANSR since her sophomore year. Grace has spoken at city council meetings, attended a governor's press conference, and participated in other policy activities to help advocate an anti-tobacco stance to her peers.

Restorative Justice Practices in Schools

Haley Adkins is a Senior at Carlton High School and has received her associate degree from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Carlton, Minnesota. Her interests include traveling, exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, going to coffeeshops, watching history documentaries, and cooking. In the Fall, Haley will attend University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in political science with the plans of becoming a foreign service officer or running for public office.

Restorative Justice Practices in Schools

Haley Ableiter is a Junior at Carlton High School. Her interests include sports, hanging out with friends, advocating for positive change, and working towards racial equity within schools and communities. She will be graduating from Carlton High School in 2022.

Climate Justice Education

Indigo (they/them) is a junior in high school, and does full time PSEO. Indigo is a part of YEA! MN, and has learned a lot about the connections between climate change and oppression through this experience. They have also done work with MN Youth for Climate Justice, and believes in the power of conversation and education for creating a just future.

Restorative Justice Practices in Schools

Johnette Ostlund is a Senior at Carlton High School in Carlton, Minnesota and will be receiving her associate degree by the end of Fall 2021. Her interests include the outdoors activities that include hiking, snowboarding, biking, and paddle-boarding. She is an avid reader and practices meditation. She spends her free time advocating for environmental justice. In the Fall, she will be attending school at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, majoring in environmental science and engineering.

Mental Health Advocacy in the Pandemic

Laichia Vang (She/Her/Hers) is a junior at Roseville Area High School, and is involved in various organizations such as Youth Executive Board, Becoming Organizers Becoming Advocates, and the Minnesota Youth Council. Some of her work in activism can be seen from her research and organizing to capture the experiences of Asian American youth in Minnesota surrounding racism prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some issues that are important to her are racial justice, educational equity, mental and sexual health, LGBTQ rights, and more. Beyond her activism, Laichia likes exercising, reading multicultural literature, and listening to KPOP . 

Sexual Reeducation

Maddie (she/they) is a Capricorn who loves trashy British reality TV and challenging the thoughts of others. Maddie works with a non-profit connecting survivors of human trafficking with mental health services, is a member of the T.H.E. Council, co-founder of The Body Org, and full time PSEO student at the University of Minnesota. Maddie is looking forward to hearing from her peers at the summit!!

Feed Your Potential With Plant-Based Foods

Naimah is the owner of Nai's Delight. Naimah is 15 and a student at Hopkins High School. She loves to cook, draw and do art. Naimah started cooking when she was 5 years old and has been doing it ever since. Naimah has won numerous cooking competitions and has won money to donate to charity. Nai's Delights is Black-owned and female youth-led. Products of Nai's Delights are reasonably priced and made from scratch with quality ingredients. The ingredient are all-natural and plant-based, making the consumers feel better about when eating sweets! Eating vegan is a great way to improve your diet.

What the School System Refuses to Teach Us

Rena (she/her and they/them) is an 8th grader at Great River School and is super super excited to present at the YELS event!

Mental Health During the Pandemic

Rhea is a huge mental health advocate in the Minnesota community. Her passion for mental health revolves around increasing mental health resources for the BIPOC community.

Amplify Your Audience!

Sidarth Gazula is a sophomore at Wayzata High School who enjoys art, math, biking, and chess. Sidarth is currently working on increasing access to chess lessons through ChessStar (chessstar.org) with his classmate, Nastassja Matus. He enjoys working with the Adobe Creative Cloud and other tools, including Canva and Animaker!

Climate Justice Education

Stella Hopper-Gramenz is a junior at South High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stella plays soccer, box,es and plays guitar. She am a youth leader with the organization Yea! and is presenting with three other youth leaders (Indigo, Ava, and Kathleen) on Climate Justice Education. Stella is passionate about Climate Justice, and creating awareness and change in our local communities, as well as pushing for it on a greater level. Follow us at Yea!'s Instagram and Twitter at @yea_climate

Sexual Reeducation

Thalia is passionate about helping speak up with members within communities who feel as if they aren't being heard. Thalia am apart of The Body Org, as well as an environmental group, and also participates in clubs and volunteering.

Youth Engagement in Tobacco Prevention

Upendo is a a junior in high school, and a youth advocate for tobacco prevention.

What the School System Refuses to Teach Us

Juwaria Jama is a 17-yr old climate justice organizer and poet from Minneapolis. Juwaria is the State Lead for the Minnesota Youth for Climate Justice, serves on the Minnesota Youth Council, and is a youth ambassador for Bridgemakers. Aside from organizing, Juwaria enjoys going on walks, reading, and preforming spoken word poetry.

How to Talk to Legislators

Salma is a Junior at Rochester Century High School. Salma’s passionate about about climate justice, educational equity, and public health. As the Southern MN co-lead of the Minnesota Youth Climate Strike (MNYCS), Salma advocates for climate justice across District 1 and the entire state focusing on the intersectionality of the climate crisis and other issues. Her deep interest in the healthcare field has led to her interest in global health and as the Co-President of her school’s UNICEF club she gets firsthand knowledge of her privilege to live in Rochester. Also, as the student body secretary of her school, she wants to make sustainable change when it comes to educational equity in her school district. If Salma’s not organizing, you can find her writing poetry and running.

How to Talk to Legislators

Zamzam is a Junior at Rochester STEM Academy. Going to a charter school for the majority of her life has made her very passionate about education equity. She feels that there isn’t enough representation of youth around the state, especially in matters pertaining to youth. She is also very passionate about the issues that surround accessible health care and housing around the state. Zamzam is also a member of her high schools fencing club.

Know Your Rights

Katelyn is the district eight chair for the Minnesota Youth Council and a junior at Grand Rapids high school. She is passionate about her community, and building a world in which all people are educated on their rights and respected as citizens.

Know Your Rights

Olivia is a Senior at Chanhassen High School. She is very involved in her school and activities, and she believes every student deserves access to a safe, welcoming school environment. She is passionate about education equity, which became the basis for a community organization she founded with other students in her school district. Liv cares deeply about criminal justice reform, the environment, accessible housing, and youth voice. She hopes to pursue political science and international relations in higher education. When she’s not working on the MYC or 112 Youth or Change, Liv volunteers at a start-up company promoting businesses and events across the state.

Know Your Rights

Paula is a Junior at Math + Science Academy – Woodbury. She has always been incredibly passionate about history and how it affects us today. During her free time, she can be found reading books, writing, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Know Your Rights

Trinity is a Junior at St.Michael-Albertville High School, and is very passionate about helping others, especially those who are unable to advocate for themselves. She is involved in a variety of activities such as speech, debate, NHS, and Youth in Government. Trinity also runs a Women’s Advocacy Club that advocates for better conditions and intersectionality within her school!

Climate Justice Education Bill

Kathleen (she/her) is a junior at Highland Park in St. Paul. She's been apart of Climate Generation's YEA! Network for two years. YEA! Network is a group of students across the state who care about climate justice, and work to take action and educate themselves and others about the issue. There, she has worked with youth across the state to help push for climate justice education, and planned events for students to learn an advocate for climate justice. In her free time, she likes to play piano, and spend as much time as possible outside including running, skiing, and playing softball.