Youth Advisory Council
We educate policymakers, service providers, and community officials throughout California about the experiences, needs and opinions of our state’s youth and young adults.
The 2025 Youth Advisory Council application cycle has closed, but if you’d like to get involved, we invite you to attend the Council and Commissions meetings, which you can find on our events page.
What is the CCSWG Youth Advisory Council?
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls recognizes that our youth aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow—they’re powerful changemakers today. The Commission’s Youth Advisory Council provides young Californians (ages 14–20) with a meaningful platform to engage with the Commission’s legislative work and help shape and elevate policies that impact their lives. Through this Council, youth have the opportunity to connect with other youth across the state, develop advocacy and leadership skills, obtain hands-on experience with California’s policy process, participate in mentorship, and have transformative conversations about the needs of our state’s young people.
*All references to ‘women and girls’ include gender-expansive individuals (cis women and girls, trans women and girls, nonbinary individuals, gender-nonconforming individuals, genderqueer individuals, and any women or girl identified individuals).
Press Release
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Announces Inaugural Youth Advisory Council Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2023
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Announces Inaugural Youth Advisory Council Members
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) is pleased to welcome the first ever California Youth Advisory Councilmembers to the Inaugural CCSWG Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
“We deserve to be safe, respected, and treated fairly,” said Serena Griffin, CCSWG Youth Advisor. “As a girl who stands on the shoulders of so many phenomenal women, I am deeply passionate about doing my part to build a society where all girls and women can truly thrive.”
YAC members will provide insight to the Commission on policies, procedures, and legislation affecting girls throughout California. Members of the Council were chosen from all regions of California and will meet and interact with other youth, Commissioners, CCSWG staff, and other professionals in the public and private sectors, resulting in the empowerment of young women and girls to become advocates for themselves and their communities.
Members of the Youth Advisory Council will write and propose for adoption a formal charter that outlines their goals pertaining to issue areas which include, but are not limited to: Reproductive rights, gender equity in the workplace, gender equity in education and sports, violence against women and girls, mental health, safety and treatment of transgender women and girls, and California policy and legislation.
“Women veterans, sexual violence, and women’s health education are three topics I am deeply passionate about,” said Anagha Rajesh, CCSWG Youth Advisor. “Through conversations with fellow young women and inspiring leaders…I hope to become a confident advocate for women’s rights.”
The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls works in a culturally inclusive manner to promote equality and justice for all women and girls by advocating on their behalf with the Governor, the Legislature, and other public policymakers, and by educating the public in the areas of economic equity and other key issue areas identified by the Commission as significantly affecting women and girls.
“I am passionate about the issue of gender norms and the damage they cause… sexism in education and school environments… and creating a safe space for other gay and trans youth,” said CCSWG Youth Advisor Eli Reeves Tordilla.
In establishing this Youth Advisory Council, CCSWG will take one more critical step toward inclusion, equitable representation, and continue the work of bringing the voices of those impacted by state policy directly to those responsible for creating it.
“I want to make the world a better place and I think this is the perfect place to start,” said Kyra Knight, CCSWG Youth Advisor.
“The members of the Youth Advisory Council are keenly aware of the needs of the girls in their communities,” said Kimberlee Vaye, CCSWG Program Director. “Their insight, knowledge, and lived experiences, will all be brought to the table and their collective voice will impact change in California communities.”
At the conclusion of their one-year term, the council will have contributed to the creation of a Girls Agenda to be adopted by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. The Girls Agenda will include issue areas that the Commission will need to advocate for in terms of legislation and policy at a state level.
“This council isn’t just a collection of students from around California but future female politicians, healthcare workers, and CEOs,” said Thao Yun, CCSWG Youth Advisor. “I hope to be a part of something bigger than myself to see how the world around me grows.”
To learn more about the California Commission on the Status of Women Youth Advisory Council visit https://women.ca.gov/ccswg-youth-advisory-council/
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For more than 50 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. Established as a state agency with 17 appointed commissioners in 1965, the Commission regularly assesses gender equity in health, safety, employment, education, and equal representation in the military, and the media. The Commission provides leadership through research, policy and program development, education, outreach and collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Press Contact:
Darcy Totten, Director of Communications
Darcy.totten@women.ca.gov
916.261.6705 (cell)
2025 to 2026 Executive Officers
Nicole Kim, Chair
Los Angeles County
Sriya Srinivasan, Vice Chair
Solano County
Sonia Sharma, Secretary
Contra Costa County
Meet the 2025-26 CCSWG Youth Advisory Council!
YAC members represent a diverse cross section of the California population. 2025-2026 membership is comprised of youth ages 14-20 from different regions of California.
Audrey Parkin
Contra Costa County
Caden Shepard Choi
Orange County
Sophie Kim
Orange County
Anannya Gairola
Placer County
Adiva Mittal
Placer County
Arifa Omid
Placer County
Hannah Gbondo
Riverside County
Kate Landeros
Riverside County
Brooke Specht
Riverside County
Ann Albumalalah
Sacramento County
Eucharistia Peter
San Joaquin County
Bethany Zhao
San Mateo County
Allyson Chan
San Mateo County
Camille Chu
Santa Clara County
Past Members
Yuzuna Kudo, Chair, Los Angeles County
Rebecca Wang, Vice Chair, Santa Clara County
Riya Yarlagadda, Secretary, Ventura County
Shae Dellamaggiore, Madera County
Natalia Armas, Stanislaus County
Tabatha Gachuzo, San Bernardino County
Sage Calderaz, San Bernardino County
Kaitlyn Uesugi, San Bernardino County
Anna McMillan, San Mateo County
Penelope Oliver, Sacramento County
Yuzuna Kudo, Los Angeles County
Riya Yarlagadda, Ventura County
Maya Henry, Los Angeles County
Bhajleen Khalsa, San Joaquin County
Rebecca Wang, Santa Clara County
Noelle Hardy, Los Angeles County
Nora Lounibos, Sonoma County
Hannah Satuito, San Mateo County
Oz Rafer, San Francisco County
Diana Haus, Sacramento County
Kyra Knight, Solano County
Isabella Murillo, Contra Costa County
Eli Reeves Tordilla, Los Angeles County
Abigail Shih, Orange County
Thao Yun, San Diego County
Anagha Rajesh, Santa Clara County
Yasmeen Arteaga, Los Angeles County
Phoebe Seigel, San Francisco County
Serena Griffin, Alameda County
“Being a part of the YAC has allowed me to take what were just ideas and create impact with like-minded girls who are all so passionate about different issues. All of us have such unique perspectives and I am constantly learning from them while also collaborating together.”
Our Mission
ADVISORY ROLE OF THE CCSWG YAC
The role of the CCSWG YAC is to operate in an advisory capacity by providing current knowledge, critical thinking, and analysis to increase the confidence of the Commission’s decision-makers and that they have a reliable connection with young women of our state.
Youth Advisory Council (YAC) meeting dates and times will be posted on the Commission’s home webpage. Agendas will be publicly posted at least 10 calendar days prior to each meeting. We encourage youth to attend meetings and connect with us to have their voice heard and to explore ways to work together to carry out youth-driven initiatives throughout the state.
*Bi-monthly meetings will be hosted in a public space with a virtual participation option.
YAC Membership
• Membership shall be diverse (i.e., ages, abilities, ethnicities, backgrounds, and geographical areas)
• Elections shall be held for Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary
• Chair: Leads by example and is the primary liaison between the Commissioners, Commission staff and the YAC members. Ensures structures and procedures are in place for effective meetings. Effectively communicates with YAC Vice Chair, Secretary, and Commission to develop and disseminate meeting agendas and minutes on time. Possesses effective communication and time-management skills needed in order to lead meetings and follow up with necessary parties on action items.
• Vice Chair: Assists Chair in carrying out important tasks such as agenda development and dissemination of pertinent information. Works closely with Chair and stands in place of Chair if Chair is absent.
• Secretary: Takes meeting minutes. Sends minutes to CCSWG staff for review, prior to dissemination to YAC members and Commissioners.
“The Youth Advisory Council has allowed me to strengthen my leadership and advocacy skills while being surrounded by passionate youth to impact policy on the state-wide level. Serving on the YAC has also empowered me to amplify youth voices and engage meaningfully in the policymaking process.”
YAC Handbook and Girls Agenda
“My favorite part of the YAC is the collaborative nature of our program. The Youth Advisory Council is all about hearing the voices of young people, we have been able to collaborate to address issues that matter to us the most to us and magnify it to an even larger scale.”
YAC Meeting Schedule
Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Full Business Meeting Dates
Meeting information will be posted on CCSWG’s webpage 10 calendar days prior to meeting. To access agendas, go to our events page.
“Being part of the YAC has strengthened my research, policy analysis, and collaborative leadership skills, in addition to helping me better understand how education policy, equity, and workforce development intersect at the state level.”