To learn more about joining our team, check out our open opportunities.
Amy Meuers is the Chief Executive Officer of the national youth leadership council, the leading service-learning organization in the country for more than 40 years. Amy has spent 20 years with nylc leading both national and international service-learning initiatives that expand the capacity of educators to utilize service-learning as an instructional strategy with students of all age-levels. Under her leadership, nylc launched Youth as Solutions, a national service-learning program that supports teams of youth across the country in addressing issues impacting their communities. She co-founded the Coalition for Service-Learning to support advocacy efforts for service-learning at the federal level, and published Equity in Service-Learning: Self Assessment Tools for Quality Engagement, Engage: Service-Learning for Afterschool, and the revised Getting Starting in Service-Learning: Integrating the Process into K-12 Teaching. She is a graduate of the Hubert H. Humphrey Policy Fellows (21-22) and is a city commissioner in her hometown of Brooklyn Park, Mn. Amy holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Administration from Globe University, and a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. She also completed Northwestern University Certificate of Executive Leadership and ASU Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership.
Pam Siebert 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. She then worked with professional associations for the ensuing five years to increase member engagement, enhance member service delivery, and create stronger organizations. Building communities for shared learning is one of her passions. In her current role as Vice President of Community Impact & Evaluation with nylc, Pam supports youth taking action in their communities through advising the Youth As Solutions program, supervising AmeriCorps VISTA’s, conducting evaluation, and managing special initiatives. 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, volunteer management, and project management. Pam chairs the Board of Directors for Carol Mathey’s Center for Children and Families, is an ambassador for Moms on the Run, and actively participates in TeamWomen Minnesota and the GoGoDone co-working community.
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.
Syed is passionate about learning, youth development and community. Previously, he has worked for an education nonprofit leading professional development, service-learning, and DEI initiatives. Within his own community, he is involved with his local boards and commissions, participates in community gardening, and started a mutual aid group. Syed is excited to learn and work alongside youth and adults to understand ways we can collectively make change and develop the next generation of leaders.
Bella has always been passionate about youth leadership, service-learning, and community empowerment. A recent graduate of Colby College, she studied English and Philosophy—disciplines that shaped her ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage with complex social issues. Her journey with the national youth leadership council (nylc) began in high school. Over the years, Bella deepened her involvement by joining the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), mentoring future leaders, and interning during multiple summers. As nylc’s Marketing and Events Coordinator, Bella hopes to leverage her service-learning experiences to inspire and elevate young leaders around the country.
Meet our Youth Advisory Council! We are proud to prioritize youth voice as one of our core values, as we recognize youth as partners in decision-making. Learn more about the role of the Youth Advisory Council.
Ariella Adjangba-Baker is a junior at Williamsport High School in Washington County, MD. She’s passionate about youth amplification and empowerment, which can be seen through her non-profit organization—Echoes of Tomorrow—and membership on her school county’s youth council. She also enjoys helping those in need as a result of her lived experience, and works to serve through volunteering and advocacy. She hopes to, through the YAC, continue her work regarding her passions!
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. Beyond advocacy, she has a deep interest in neuroscience and biomedical research. With a goal to bridge her passions, Clarissa aspires to combine her love for science through becoming a neurosurgeon with her dedication to youth-centered policy, using her voice and research to advocate for issues that shape the future.
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.
Paige Barhoover is a junior at Minnetonka High School in Minnesota with fervor for change. A longtime lover of Minnesota’s very own Boundary Waters Wilderness, she strives for advancing climate education as a founding member of Camp Fire MN’s Youth Advisory Council, working onsite to preserve natural land and with communities around the state to bring nature back to young people. She works in advocacy and political education as a District Director for the foundational Minnesotan organization The Youth Voter Project. Paige, Student Government Representative for her graduating class and cofounder of the Dream for America chapter at her school, is passionate about making tangible impact in her community by working with the people who are integral to it. As a seasoned Debate Club veteran and Public Forum Captain for her schooll, she works to increase debate accessibility both as Outreach Captain and by heading the programming across the district. Outside of school, Paige likes to help with local campaigns, cox for the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club, and perform with her punk band Quarter Moon in the Cities!
Manha Baqai is a sophomore at Troy High School in Fullerton, California. Passionate about law, civic engagement, and youth advocacy, Manha is actively involved in student leadership as her class’s Sophomore Vice President. She is deeply committed to empowering underrepresented voices, particularly young women, and works to create inclusive spaces within her school and community. Beyond campus, Manha teaches debate to middle school students, serves as a judge in Teen Peer Court through the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and contributes to various community and political campaigns . In her free time, you can find her playing with her cat Mufasa, going out with friends, and spending time with family. Through nylc’s YAC, she hopes to educate new youth, advocate for equitable opportunities, and drive meaningful change on both a local and national level.
Allison Cerron is a senior at Design Tech High School in California. As a proud Peruvian American born to immigrant parents, her upbringing and time spent living in Peru deeply rooted her connection to nature and sparked her passion for environmental justice and climate action. She is deeply interested in youth advocacy and the intersection of service learning and environmental equality.
At her school, Allison serves as the co-president of the Amnesty International Club, where she educates students on global issues and leads local community service initiatives. Dedicated to inclusion, she actively volunteers with local organizations, planning events and providing translation services to ensure minority voices and non-English speakers are empowered to participate. As a member of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), Allison looks forward to using her creative communication skills to inspire positive social and environmental change on a national and global scale.
Laia Chandran-Moles is a junior at Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California. She is passionate about using data, technology, and research to improve lives and expand opportunities for underserved communities. Her work ranges from research to improve the accuracy of genetic risk prediction across diverse populations to developing data-driven tools and leading community initiatives that help older adults recognize and avoid financial scams. Beyond her research, Laia tutors underserved students and develops interactive data tools for an education nonprofit that supports educational initiatives in India. Through the nylc Youth Advisory Council, Laia hopes to collaborate with youth leaders from across the country, support youth-led initiatives, and inspire meaningful change in communities nationwide. In her free time, she enjoys running local trails, getting lost in a good book, and playing the piano.
Nayeli is a junior at San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California. Passionate about youth civic engagement, environmental policy, and design, Nayeli enjoys working at the intersection between local climate governance and creative storytelling. She currently serves as the Head Social Media Manager for Escondido Indivisible and is a Summer 2026 Youth Policymakers for Tomorrow intern, in which she is advocating for a city climate advisory commission. At her school, she founded the Art Club, where she organized an eco-art exhibition to merge sustainability with youth expression, and currently leads graphic design initiatives for Key Club from the club level all the way to the state level. In her free time, you can find her singing soprano in choir, designing her newest graphic, or working in the school garden. Through the Youth Advisory Council, Nayeli is excited to use her expertise in design and policy advocacy to empower youth-led environmental action on a national scale!
Jay is a junior at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, NJ. He is passionate about community health and emergency response, and about giving young people real pathways into service. In school, he is involved in Pingry’s Humanities Independent Research Team, where he pursues research in futures thinking and foreign policy, and he founded HospitalityGlobal.org, a media platform that interviews professionals across the hospitality industry. In his community, Jay serves as a Junior Firefighter with Warren Township Volunteer Fire Company #3 and coordinates the annual Warren Labor Day 5K, which draws more than 350 participants each year. He also volunteers with the Warren Township Historic Sites Committee. Jay is excited to join the YAC to strengthen his service-learning and leadership skills and to expand access to community health resources for youth in his area
Mary Dong is a sophomore at West Forsyth High School in North Carolina. Originally from China, she is passionate about youth leadership, service-learning, STEM education, public health, and youth mental well-being. As an international student, Mary believes young people can create meaningful change by serving their communities and connecting across cultures.
After moving to the United States in 2024, Mary became actively involved in her community and has completed more than 300 hours of volunteer service with organizations including the American Red Cross, Kaleideum, healthcare organizations, and local libraries. She has developed her leadership skills through programs such as the NASA Precollege Summer Institute of Earth Science and Geospatial Science, Resource Conservation Workshop, Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy, and North Carolina 4-H leadership programs. Through a Girl Up project, she led a youth mental health initiative encouraging girls to build confidence and support one another.
As a member of the nylc Youth Advisory Council, Mary hopes to amplify youth voices and empower young people from diverse backgrounds to lead positive change.
Jon Schiffman is a senior at Starr’s Mill High School, located in Fayetteville, Georgia! He is very interested in all forms of healthcare advocacy, but especially Alzheimer’s care in the rural South and health equity among minorities. He’s done cancer research internships with Morehouse School of Medicine through its GROW CELLS program, where he created a PSA on liver cancer and presented it to 500+ people. Jon also created a qualitative patient case study on liver cancer, which he presented to 100+ MDs, PhDs and industry leaders from Georgia and Alabama. He currently serves as the Co-President of Silence the Shame’s Youth Advisory Council, a nonprofit focused on destigmatizing mental health through tabling at college campuses and posting social media content for over 36,000 people! Jon also attended the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in chemistry, where he conducted research on oxidative stress and artificial cerebrospinal fluid. At school, he participates in Science Olympiad and HOSA, where he serves as the Vice President and has helped fundraise over $2,000 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is super excited to be a part of the Youth Advisory Council, meet people from across the nation, and create a real difference in his community and in places across the South and the nation!Â
Yosafat Solaiman is a senior at Mountain View High School in El Monte, California. Passionate about the intersection of technology and social equity, Yosafat is dedicated to using innovative engineering and public policy to uplift marginalized communities. As a Wise Up! Community Organizing Fellow with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), he leads grassroots mobilization campaigns and analyzes regional legislation to advance immigrant rights. His drive for structural change extends into the tech space; as an All Star Code Tech Scholar and a participant in competitive MIT innovation programs, Yosafat has developed data-driven web applications and engineered community infrastructure solutions, even authoring a project published at the California State Railroad Museum. Through nylc’s Youth Advisory Council, he hopes to bridge the gap between civic advocacy and technological innovation to empower a more equitable future. In his free time, Yosafat loves serving as a bass player at his church and playing tennis for his school.
Olivia is a junior at Ames High School, located in Ames, lowa. She is passionate about civic education and empowering young people to be informed. She has participated in and built her knowledge through relevant extracurricular activities, such as mock trial and debate. After being named lowa’s runner-up for the National Civics Bee, her interest in making civics accessible to everyone sparked. Since then, she has also been selected as a 2026-27 Riley’s Way Call for Kindness Fellow for a project aimed at promoting civic learning amongst elementary-aged students. She is excited to assist nylc as part of the YAC and help shape meaningful opportunities for civic engagement!
Emiliana Korin is a junior at Athens Academy in Athens, Georgia. Passionate about social justice, human rights, and volunteerism, Emiliana loves community organizing and working with local and national organizations to promote educational and advocacy initiatives. She established a student chapter of Amnesty International at her school and has leadership positions in several other student-run organizations. She has also been the recipient of several awards for her volunteer work. She hopes that her role in the YAC will allow her to expand her influence and inspire other young people to get involved in their communities in various ways.