Amy Meuers
She/Her/Hers | Chief Executive Officer | [email protected]
As the Chief Executive Officer of The National Youth Leadership Council, Amy provides executive leadership and vision, working in partnership with the board of directors, staff, and Youth Advisory Council to engage young people as civically informed and engaged global citizens. Amy is a champion for young people and under her guidance, NYLC continues to be a recognized leader nationally and internationally for its work in youth engagement and service-learning. Throughout her 17 year career at NYLC, Amy has upheld and promoted values around servant leadership, youth voice, and service to community. Amy received her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the Regis University in Denver, Co and her bachelor’s degree from Globe University in Bloomington, Mn. She is a widely-traveled speaker; she has addressed audiences throughout the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Qatar and written extensively on service-learning and youth leadership. She is a native of Minnesota, is married, has two children and is active in her own community.
Pam Siebert
She/Her/Hers | Vice President of Community Experience | [email protected]
Pam is a skilled strategist and implementer, with over 20 years of experience in nonprofits and cross-sector initiatives– taking plans from ideas to action on topic areas including human services, substance abuse prevention, homelessness, education, and community service. Pam began her NYLC experience early on as program manager for service-learning training and technical assistance initiatives and then serving as NYLC’s Operations Director for 10 years. Over the last five years, she has worked with professional associations to increase member engagement, enhance member services, and create stronger organizations. Building communities for shared learning is one of her passions. In her new role with NYLC, Pam looks forward to engaging and supporting the service-learning community through NYLC membership, the National Service-Learning Conference, and sustainability efforts. She earned a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Gustavus Adolphus College, as well as certificates in organizational development, change management, and project management. Pam serves on the Board of Directors for Carol Mathey’s Center for Children and Families, is an assistant coach for Moms on the Run, and is an active participant in several associations.
Julie Rogers Bascom
She/Her/Hers | Director of Learning & Leadership | [email protected]
Julie Rogers Bascom is a service-learning leader from Minneapolis, MN who has been supporting youth workers, teachers and young people to use service-learning as a strategy to solve problems in their communities for over 17 years. Her passion for supporting young people to become problem solvers formed when her own children attended an Oakland, CA school where every student, every year was engaged in service-learning. Julie also serves on non-profit boards that encourage civic engagement: the League of Women Voters and Doing Good Together, an effort to empower families to raise caring and engaged children. She also coaches and leads workshops on Respectful Conversations in Schools, a protocol designed for teachers and students to address controversial topics. Rogers Bascom has presented at local and national workshops on how to incorporate service into curriculum and community.
Miranda Taylor
She/Her/Hers | Marketing Manager | [email protected]
Miranda is passionate about helping drive brand visibility for nonprofit organizations. In the last six years, she has worked for a diverse range of nonprofit organizations in fields such as youth development, human trafficking, and poverty alleviation. She understands the importance of upholding a brand identity that communicates the powerful work nonprofits do to change the world. She also has experience changing her own community – from founding an equal pay coalition to spearheading the first “No More” campaign for sexual assault awareness month, Miranda knows how important it is to stand up for what you believe in. She is excited to bring her marketing, storytelling, and brand management skills to NYLC, to help reach new audiences and further develop the organization’s story.
Lizania (Lizzie) Sanchez
She/Her/Hers | Program Coordinator | [email protected]
Lizzie combines her passion of serving Latinx communities and advocating for accessible healthcare, serving through Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Acción Latina (COPAL) and Community of Peace Academy throughout her college career. As a community leader supporting youth empowerment, she directed the Voz Latinx subgroup within Bethel University’s United Cultures at Bethel (UCB) Department and mentors middle and high school youth through Urban Ventures in Minneapolis. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Community Health and a minor in Communication studies with an emphasis on Organizational Communications at Bethel while completing qualifications toward the Certified Health Worker (CHW) designation. Lizzie brings her own experience as a first-generation immigrant to increase health equity for future generations.
Anthony Le
He/Him/His | Youth Engagement and Events Coordinator | [email protected]
Anthony is passionate about youth development, service-learning, and contributing to his community. During his time at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, he served as the president of the Minnesota International Student Association. As a student leader, he collaborated with multiple student organizations to promote inclusion, diversity, and learning opportunities. Anthony previously worked at NYLC as a Youth Advisory Council Advisor during his time in college, an experience that ignited his passion to work with young people and educators. In his new role, Anthony hopes to inspire those he works with to be active leaders in their communities.
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2020-2022 Members
Henry Xie | Naperville North High School
Henry is a junior at Naperville North High School. As an avid enthusiast of math and physics, Henry has participated in various clubs and competitions at school, regional, and national levels. Aside from competitions, Henry is deeply passionate about advancing educational equity for all students regardless of background. He founded a nonprofit organization, STEM Kids, and directed the organization’s efforts in running classes and workshops, and mentoring students. STEM Kids has altogether reached students in his community with free educational opportunities and support from older peers. These programs have helped spread passion for STEM and provide students with tools for success. In his role as a member of the Youth Advisory Council, Henry is committed to continuing to promote equity and youth empowerment, while assisting NYLC’s outreach and programming.
Lucia Colwell | Polytechnic School
Lucia is a sophomore at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California, where she writes for the school newspaper, performs in the spring musical and fall play, and competes in moot court and ethics bowl. Lucia has been involved in political activism for most of her life, but got her first taste of leadership in advocacy work when she helped organize a March for Our Lives protest in middle school. Lucia became interested in racial justice when she read and studied Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass in eighth grade, and became passionate about addressing educational inequalities she saw in her community that same year. Lucia currently interns with a social justice initiative at a local theater company, and she is excited to collaborate with the YAC to continue to promote positive change in her community, connect art to activism, and transform awareness into advocacy through servant-leadership.
Sofia Ghafouri | The Potomac School
Sophia Ghafouri is a sophomore at The Potomac School in McLean, VA, and is passionate about working towards social justice. She believes everyone should have access to all the same resources regardless of their race, ethnicity, and background, and is excited to dedicate time and hard work to making this a reality.
At Potomac, she is a writer and editor at InLight, a diversity publication dedicated to interrogating injustices and empowering its readers and writers. Additionally, she is a member of PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment) and participated in YxY Activism, a learning experience dedicated to helping redesign education. She recently partook in LearnServe’s annual Youth Changemakers Worksop and the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault, hoping to continue to learn about the multiple injustices members of her community face and search for ways to take steps towards solving them. She is particularly passionate about solving gender-based price discrimination, specifically the Pink Tax on feminine hygiene products. She has begun working to solve this, co-founding the nonprofit Emperiod, an organization dedicated to spreading the word about this unjust tax and putting a stop to it in the states it still exists. Sophia is passionate about empowering people in their differences and is excited to continue to create a better future while serving on the YAC.
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2021-2023 Members
Rafiel Castillo | The Master’s Academy
Rafiel Castillo is a freshman at The Master’s Academy in Oviedo, Florida. Rafiel is passionate about creating a difference and serving underrepresented communities. Rafiel is a bilingual math tutor for middle school students, on the varsity soccer team, plays in the school band, loves to cook, volunteer for local organizations, and composes his own music. Rafiel has also had the opportunity to live in Colorado, The Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. These experiences have allowed Rafiel to expand his world view and develop appreciation for different cultures and people.
Haya Elamir | City Honor Schools
Haya is passionate about helping her community, especially the youth population. Haya volunteers at an organization that works with people with disabilities and loves lending her skills to the kitchen to make chocolate cake. Haya believes that the ability to speak up and bring about change is a privilege and a joy, Haya hopes to encourage those around her to do the same. In the cliche but true words of Buzz Lightyear, “To infinity and beyond,” because that mentality is the best way to promote change!
Michelle Song | D.H. Conley High School
Michelle Song is a sophomore at D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, NC. Michelle is passionate about conserving the environment through gardening and beekeeping. Growing up Michelle was fortunate enough to have access to fresh produce and a garden, leading her to develop a big interest in gardening and cooking. Later on, she founded her initiative, the Community For Environmental Sustainability, to provide STEM and nutrition education for all youth throughout the county’s school district and people within the community. Michelle enjoys working with different pollinators, is a certified beekeeper and is working with other beekeepers to implement hives in school campuses to provide environmental education in unique ways. As a new member of the Youth Advisory Council, Michelle is determined to continue advocating for public health and environmental sustainability while also helping in expanding NYLC’s impact by working with other peers.
Michelle Song | D.H. Conley High School
Michelle Song is a sophomore at D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, NC. Michelle is passionate about conserving the environment through gardening and beekeeping. Growing up Michelle was fortunate enough to have access to fresh produce and a garden, leading her to develop a big interest in gardening and cooking. Later on, she founded her initiative, the Community For Environmental Sustainability, to provide STEM and nutrition education for all youth throughout the county’s school district and people within the community. Michelle enjoys working with different pollinators, is a certified beekeeper and is working with other beekeepers to implement hives in school campuses to provide environmental education in unique ways. As a new member of the Youth Advisory Council, Michelle is determined to continue advocating for public health and environmental sustainability while also helping in expanding NYLC’s impact by working with other peers.
Kaleb Sy | East High School
Kaleb Sy is an honor student at East High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Ever since elementary school, Kaleb has had a found passion for policy and law. Kaleb has since then taken up many leadership roles to represent his fellow classmates. From executive roles in Student Council to lobbying in the Tennessee General Assembly for education bills, Kaleb has always found different opportunities to exemplify his leadership qualities and contribute to his community. This has resulted in numerous accolades and awards such as the Rising Star SGA award, Points of Light Youth Summit Pitch Contest winner and Memphis Business Journal Young Men Who Matter award. Currently Kaleb serves as the Vice President of the Student Government Association, Shelby County Schools Student Congress member, and an EmpowerEd student leader with the Education Trust.
Learn more about the role of the Youth Advisory Council.
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Zahra Ali | Augsburg University
Zahra Ali is currently a freshman at Augsburg University pursuing a degree in Sociology and English Lit. In the future she hopes to use her experience growing up in both a tight-knit Somali community and a predominantly white school system to address issues of education inequity and the opportunity gap, particularly in relation to race. She supports the current Youth Advisory Council, leads youth leadership and youth adult/partnership trainings, and is on the NYLC’s Board of Directors.
Isabella Sullivan | Colby College
Bella Sullivan is a freshman at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, studying English, Philosophy, and Italian. Bella has served on NYLC’s Youth Advisory Council since 2019. She believes that civil liberties should be protected for all people, and that all people deserve compassion, protection, and equity. She works with the Colby College QuestBridge chapter to help other low-income students feel welcomed on campus. Also, she is a writer for the Colby chapter of HerCampus, using her platform to encourage other Colby students to recognize their privileges and how they can use their privileges for the common good. She believes that you are never too young to accomplish great things.
Zahra Ali | Student
Katy Dolan | Secretary | Consultant, Katy Dolan Consulting
Haya Elamir | Student
Andrew Furco | Vice Chair | University of Minnesota
Anas Ghanim | Qatar Foundation International
Shanzeh Haider | Student
Greg Herder | Chair | Consultant
Johanna Huang | Visitation School
Amy Meuers | CEO, NYLC
Daria Nastasia | Student
Amanda Otis | Treasurer | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar | StiveTogether
Susan Ward Roncalli | Los Angeles Unified School District
Laura Coates | NYLC Board Honorary Director | CNN Legal Analyst
Dr. James Kielsmeier | NYLC Board Honorary Director | Founder
Nontombi Naomi Tutu | NYLC Board Honorary Director | Race & Gender Justice Activist
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NYLC Advisory Council
Dr. James Kielsmeier | Senior Scholar and Founder
Dr. Sue Root | Senior Research Fellow
Linda V. Rivera | Advisory Council Member
Dr. Michael VanKeulen | Advisory Council Member
NYLC is fortunate to have a gifted team of Senior Fellows: Leaders from a number of fields, they advise the organization on its programming and policies.
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Susan Abravanel | President, Susan Abravanel Consulting, LLC