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).
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.”