Announcing the First Changemaker Cohort

Anantika Nair is a high school junior carrying forward Wellness4Washtenaw, a project focused on increasing students’ knowledge of and access to mental health resources. She has been involved with the project for three years and is committed to building a strong team of leaders to expand the project’s impact during the school day. Inspired by the meaningful change the project has had on her classmates, Anantika works closely with partners to strengthen their outreach and engagement with high school students.

Outside of her project work, Anantika enjoys playing music, especially the cello and saxophone, and discovering new books to read. She joined the Changemaker Cohort to build her leadership skills, strengthen her project, and connect with other students committed to improving their communities. For her, being a changemaker means recognizing the opportunity to make a difference, even in small ways, and taking responsibility for contributing positively to her community.

Asanti is a high school senior continuing her work on IMPACT (Inclusive Muslim Program for Awareness, Community and Tolerance), a project created to engage school staff and faculty in conversations about how to meet student needs in and out of the classroom. In its second year, Asanti is building on the project’s momentum by collaborating with peers and strengthening its reach.

Outside of her academic and extracurricular commitments, Asanti enjoys spending time with her friends and staying connected to her community. For Asanti, being a changemaker means making an effort to act on what you believe in and create the change you want to see in the world.

Avantika is a high school junior co-leading Wellness4Washtenaw, a project focused on expanding access to mental health resources for students. She has been involved for three years and is motivated by her personal connection to the project’s mission. Inspired by her experiences with mental health, Avantika is dedicated to strengthening relationships with mental health providers and ensuring students feel seen, supported, and listened to.

In addition to her project responsibilities, Avantika enjoys playing the violin and tenor saxophone, reading and writing her own stories, and learning about astronomy and astrophysics. She joined the Changemaker Cohort to receive support from her peers in growing the project’s impact. For her, being a changemaker means identifying challenges that exist and creating solutions that are meaningful, innovative, and long-lasting.

Delilah is a high school senior continuing her leadership of Minds Entwined, a project focused on increasing mental health awareness and advocacy. She has been involved with the project for two years and is driven by a personal connection to its mission. Inspired by her own experiences and the impact Minds Entwined has had on her peers, she is working with her team to continue the forward momentum they’ve built through conversations and out-of-classroom activities.

Outside of her project work, Delilah spends time at her local performing arts center where she works as a dancer, choreographer, and actress. She also enjoys volunteering, studying for Academic Decathlon and reading fiction books. For her, being a changemaker means taking initiative, engaging directly with challenges that arise, and using what she learns to work to improve her community.

Eliel is a high school junior leading STEM Connect, a project he has been involved with for four years that supports and encourages students to study STEM fields. He is driven by the impact the project had on him and his peers as participants and is committed to creating similar opportunities for students. Eliel is focused on continuing the project’s growth and influence through project activities focused on increasing underclassmen engagement.

Outside of his project work, Eliel is passionate about engineering and aerospace, spending time working on hands-on projects such as designing and building a telemetry-based rocket. Through the Changemaker Cohort, he hopes to strengthen his leadership skills and learn how to better engage others in his work. For Eliel, being a changemaker means leading project efforts that create positive and meaningful change.

Jackie Sullivan is a high school junior co-leading the work of Dewasters, a project focused on environmental education and action. She has been involved for two years and has a goal of deepening their impact within the wider community. Driven by her passion for sustainability, Jackie envisions a future where environmental awareness and responsibility are prioritized. 

Outside of her project work, Jackie enjoys hiking, running, swimming in the ocean, and spending time with friends. She joined the Changemaker Cohort to connect with other students who turned their passion into actionable steps to improve their communities. For her, being a changemaker means intentionally working to create meaningful and effective impact. 

Luong is a high school senior who has been involved with Don’t Oppress Youth Success (DOYS) since its creation three years ago. DOYS connects high school mentors of color with middle school students to foster relationship-building and restorative practices. Luong is dedicated to strengthening these connections and is inspired by the long-lasting relationships the DOYS program has cultivated.

Outside of his project work, Luong enjoys going to the gym, taking scenic drives through Oregon, and canvassing on issues he cares about. He joined the Changemaker Cohort to expand his skills in team building and leadership. For Luong, being a changemaker means showing up consistently for your community and building a compassionate coalition of passionate and empathetic servant leaders.

Pierre is a high school senior leading LEAP (Literary Enhancement and Advancement Project), a literacy-focused initiative supporting students in bilingual learning environments. Pierre has been involved since the start of the project and is driven to improve access to literacy for the students the high school team has served.

Outside of deepening literacy skills for young people, Pierre enjoys studying computer science, developing independent game projects, baking, analyzing and translating music. Pierre joined the Changemaker Cohort to connect with other student leaders and learn from their experiences to bring back lessons to the LEAP project team. For Pierre, being a changemaker means being part of a community that supports one another while working toward a collective and meaningful impact. 

Rebecca Bannister is a high school senior leading Ask a Friend, a project designed to support students to navigate mental health resources and deepen peer-to-peer relationships. In her third year of involvement, Rebecca is driven to improve students’ emotional well-being while continuing to celebrate academic achievements. Inspired by the stories of students who have benefited from project activities over the last five years, she is working to expand opportunities for connection through panels, resource sharing, and mentorship.

Rebecca is passionate about government and law and spends her time learning about careers tied to political science, supports voter registration initiatives, and mentors younger students. She also enjoys attending concerts, crafting, and creating social media content. For Rebecca, being a changemaker means showing up every day to make a difference, even in the face of uncertainty.

Sabrina is a high school senior co-leading Dewasters, a project focused on educating students about environmental issues and designing sustainable solutions within their community. In her third year of involvement, Sabrina is driven to inspire others to care for and protect the Earth and enjoys seeing young people engage in conversations that impact Monterey. 

Sabrina is active in her community, volunteering at the aquarium and hospital and hosting additional beach cleanups on weekends. She also enjoys baking, reading, and playing lacrosse. For her, being a changemaker means taking initiative and using her skills and passions to bring positive change to those most impacted by societal issues. 

Trinity is a high school junior leading Mynd Revolution, a project focused on mental health advocacy through the creation of wellness centers in high schools. Since the project’s inception, the team has focused on social media, increasing student engagement and expanding wellness centers to new schools. Trinity is motivated by the need for more open conversations around mental health and the reality that many students quietly navigate academic and personal pressures.

In addition to her project work, Trinity spends time rehearsing for choir concerts, practicing cheer routines, and volunteering with Arizona Broadway Theater Academies. Trinity joined the Changemaker Cohort to strengthen her leadership skills and collaborate with peers to grow her project. For Trinity, being a changemaker means having the courage to see the world differently and believe that change is possible, even when it feels difficult or out of reach.