January 29 | 11 AM – 12 PM CST
Young people have the insight, passion, and lived experience to lead meaningful change—yet too often their voices are excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives. In this dynamic Thought Leader session presented in partnership with Points of Light, we’ll explore what it truly means to center youth voice in traditionally adult-centric spaces such as school boards, policymaking, nonprofit leadership, and community planning.
Join us as we unpack the challenges and opportunities of shared leadership with youth. Through powerful examples and practical strategies, participants will learn how to authentically engage young people as equal partners in decision-making, shift adult mindsets and structures to make space for youth leadership, and create environments where intergenerational collaboration thrives.
Whether you’re an educator, nonprofit professional, policy leader, or advocate, this session will offer fresh insights and actionable tools for transforming your space into one that uplifts and centers the voices of young people.
Meet the Speakers!
Madelyn Qayyum, Obra D. Tompkins High School – Moderator
Madelyn Qayyum is a junior at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Houston, Texas. An advocate for positive psychology, gender empowerment, and digital wellbeing, Madelyn serves in organizations such as United Nations Girl Up and Half the Story. When she’s not pursuing her academic and personal interests, you can find her running through a local park, curating Spotify playlists, or reading Stoic philosophy. With NYLC’s YAC, she hopes to use her creative communication skills to inspire positive social change at a national and global scale!
Mathew Habib, Palm Harbor University High School
Mathew Habib is a youth leader and advocate committed to advancing justice, equity, and service. As a refugee and student, he draws on personal experience to drive community impact through civic engagement, volunteer work, and youth empowerment. Mathew has led initiatives focused on human rights, public service, and legal education, and he is passionate about uplifting marginalized voices. His work reflects a deep belief in the power of young people to shape a more compassionate and just future.
Clarissa Coleman, JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School
Clarissa Coleman is a senior at the JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School with a strong passion for public speaking, advocacy, and STEM. As a committed youth advocate in Mississippi, she serves on the Teen Health Mississippi My Council, where she champions sexual, mental, and educational health for teens. Her work includes lobbying at the Mississippi State Capitol and co-authoring legislation to combat menstrual product disparities in public schools. Clarissa also leads as the Debate Captain of the Murrah High School Speech and Debate Team, where she uses her voice to empower others and drive meaningful conversations.
Azim Noordin Khamisa, Chairman/CEO/Founder, The Tariq Khamisa Foundation, Founder and National Director of the Constant And Never Ending Improvement
Azim Noordin Khamisa is an international inspirational speaker, peace advocate, and founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, launched after the murder of his son in 1995. His story of forgiveness has touched millions and helped spark a global movement in restorative justice and nonviolence.. The foundation creates safer schools and communities through educating and inspiring children in the restorative principles of accountability and compassion. Since then, Azim has touched millions with his message of forgiveness, peace, and leadership.
Ryan Pinkham, Curriculum Specialist, Stockton Unified School District
Ryan Pinkham brings 26 years of experience in education, including 23 years as a social studies classroom teacher. His work centers on advancing high-quality instructional practices and expanding meaningful civic opportunities for students across SUSD. Ryan specializes in service-learning pedagogy and leads professional development that helps teachers integrate authentic community-connected learning into their curriculum. He plays a key role in building districtwide capacity for students to earn the California State Seal of Civic Engagement, supporting schools in aligning academic content with real-world problem-solving, student voice, and community impact.
Alex Edgar, Youth Engagement Manager, Made By Us
Alex uniquely combines generational insight with institutional fluency to drive meaningful change at scale. As co-founder of Youth250 at Made By Us, he has helped position young people as central leaders in shaping the nation’s 250th anniversary, reaching more than 2.3 million people and engaging 6,500 organizations nationwide. His work has been recognized through Forbes 30 Under 30 and advisory and board roles with the American Association of Colleges and Universities, CoGenerate, and Points of Light. Alex has become a trusted voice on youth inclusion in leadership spaces and is focused on deepening intergenerational leadership across sectors.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at [email protected].
This event will take place on Thursday, January 29 at 11:00 AM CT via Zoom.