Toni G. Atkins was born and raised in southwestern Virginia, the daughter of a miner and a seamstress, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va.

In 1985, she moved across the country to San Diego, California, to help care for her sister’s young son while her sister served in the U.S. Navy. In San Diego, before becoming involved in public service, she worked as director of clinic services at Womancare Health Center.

Atkins served as an aide to San Diego City Councilmember and LGBT trailblazer Christine Kehoe, and, in 2000, was elected to replace Kehoe as the council’s District 3 representative. During her eight-year tenure, Atkins provided steady leadership as interim Mayor of San Diego amid a challenging and tumultuous time at City Hall.

"Throughout her career, Atkins has been a champion for affordable housing, the natural environment, healthcare, veterans, women, and the LGBTQ community."
Elected by voters to the state Assembly in 2010, Atkins served there for six years. In 2014, her colleagues selected her to be the Speaker of the Assembly – she became the first San Diegan and the first lesbian to hold the position. Atkins counts a major $7.5-billion water bond and creation of the state’s first Earned Income Tax Credit among her proudest accomplishments.

In 2016, Atkins was elected to represent the 39th District in the state Senate and was appointed to the prestigious Rules Committee, in addition to the committees on Transportation and Housing, Health, Labor and Industrial Relations, and Natural Resources and Water. Among the bills she got passed and signed was SB 2, which created a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, a signature piece of legislation she had worked on for seven years.

In January 2018, after just one year in the Senate, she was elected by her colleagues to be the next Senate President pro Tempore. In March 2018, she was sworn in, becoming the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ person to lead the Legislature’s upper house.

Throughout her career, Atkins has been a champion for affordable housing, the natural environment, healthcare, veterans, women, and the LGBTQ community. She lives in the South Park community of San Diego with her spouse, Jennifer, and their dog, Joey.

Kevon Lee is a national activist for anti-bullying, education, and at-risk youth. He is the author of “Kevon’s Big Field Day, We should All Have A Chance”. His highly sought-after keynote “Go Make a Difference (#GoMAD),” has been shared with thousands of students, parents, and educators. He is a Peer Support Advocate for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools where he advocates for youth who experience homelessness or the foster care system. Kevon is a recipient of the 30 under 30 awards for his dedication, innovation, and service in the 47th Assembly District. Kevon holds a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino, and is currently a student at California Baptist University where is working toward his master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership and Student Development. His dream is to attain his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and inspire the next generation to be better, dream bigger, and GoMAD.

Jade is the Administrative Assistant for CCY, and also supports the Youth Advisory Board for CCY. She is currently attending GCU to get her master's in Business Administration. For undergrad, she attended Saint Mary's College of California to study Business Administration. She grew up in the Bay Area and loves it there. Growing up in a single-parent home taught her the importance of community because that's where most of her time was spent. From the YMCA to Girl Scouts, to being a volunteer anywhere she could. Jade has always been a huge part of her community. Because of this, she advocates for all youth from all walks of life. She sees the need for youth to be included in everything because it affects them too.

I am a Leadership Coach and Trainer who supports people to be their truest selves so they can offer what they came into this world to contribute.

Having overcome adversity, I was able to pull myself up because of the support I received from others. Since then, I have become focused on how to offer holistic support to folks who are looking to not only heal but also move towards their goals and aspirations with ease. This has led me to pursue my Master's in Social Work and my coaching certification. I find purpose in offering coaching support to clients because I know that coaching can be just as powerful as psychotherapy in supporting you to transform your life.

As a coach, I have been trained by the Academy for Coaching Excellence. When not coaching I work as a Volunteer Coordinator for the California Youth Crisis Line where I train, retain, and recruit volunteers in crisis intervention.

With more than 15 years of legislative and lobbying experience, Kimberly focuses on a wide range of issues from technology and broadband, workforce development, education and after school, healthcare, human services and youth issues. Ms. Lewis played an instrumental role in bringing high-speed broadband to all of California’s public libraries, creating California's dual-generational CalWORKs home visiting program, and ensuring that parent engagement became a statewide priority in the Local Control Funding Formula. Kimberly has secured over $500 million in state funding for a variety of state-wide and local programs through the State Budget process. Ms. Lewis provides strategic advice and coalition building as well as manages the firm's legislative tracking system, plans events for clients, including lobby days and receptions, and coordinates all clients' services.​

Dolly Chacon has a business background in three
completely different areas expanding over four
decades. Corporate Business Executive
Administrator for Fortune 500 companies. New
York 7th Avenue Fashion Designer for design
houses like Liz Claiborne and Kasper.
Professional Certifications as a Consultant and
Coach in Mental Health, Wellness and Life
Coaching. She is a Motivational and Inspirational
Speaker and Educational Program Director, Talk
Show Host and a passionate advocate for
helping misused and misplaced youth. Currently
Dolly is the CEO of Radiant Promises, a youth
outreach and President / Founder of Live2Excel
– Empower Your Well-Being.

Having it easy” is never a phrase you would use to describe Logan Taylor’s childhood. Raised by his grandmother in low-income housing and with an absentee father and barely-there mother, Taylor struggled as a child and young adult. Add to these issues, sexual abuse, drug addiction, a horrible car wreck, multiple suicide attempts, and crippling anxiety and it’s hard to imagine how he ever made it. And yet, he not only persevered but has also used the memory and pain of these experiences to help other at-risk kids and poverty-stricken families. Logan has obtained his bachelor's degree, is certified in SEL(Social and Emotional Learning) and ACES(Adverse Childhood Experiences), and has a million views on youtube by speaking life to millions all over the world.

Martha joined Larkin Street in October 2005 and since then she’s held several direct service and management roles. In 2009, as the Manager of Education and Training she increased post-secondary counseling and enrollment among youth at Larkin Street, and focused on integrating educational programming throughout the continuum of services. In 2013, Martha was promoted from Program Manager to Associate Director, in recognition of her skill level and her intensive participation in Larkin Street’s strategic planning process, as well as her work implementing key education initiatives that arose from that plan. In 2014, she became Director of Larkin Street Academy and provided senior leadership to all education, workforce development and training services. She was promoted to her current role in 2016. Prior to joining Larkin Street, Martha worked for the Digital Learning Commons, a non-profit organization that provides online educational tools to students and educators across Washington State. Martha received a B.S. in engineering from the University of Washington and brings her strong analytical, problem-solving and team skills to Larkin Street Youth Services.

Bianca Christian has been working in mental health settings of varying kinds for over 6 years. She holds a Masters in Social Work as well as BAs in Psychology and History. In her free time, Bianca likes to play video games and watch a variety of shows, Bianca also enjoys singing and received classical vocal training for a few years. Bianca is also a bit of a foodie and enjoys wine and craft beer tasting.

Louie Gonzaga is a Senior Associate for Citigroup's Commercial Bank covering global Consumer Product and Retail businesses with $1-3 Billion in annual revenues. Louie received a degree in Finance & Entrepreneurship from Boston College and has been in the banking industry since 2018. Louie is a Los Angeles native and creates personal finance content in his free time on Walletkid.com.

Robynne Rose-Haymer serves as the Deputy Chief Program Officer for the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. With over twenty years of workforce development, program development & implementation, and leadership experience, Robynne’s continuing passion is helping young people obtain the education and skills they need to pursue their goals. Robynne began her career as an ‘on the ground practitioner ‘ working directly with low income families and communities of color on health & well-being and education issues. As local school district employee and leader, she planned the implementation of the WIA & Adult Career Technical Education programs districtwide. Focused on making an impact, Robynne extended her range to include consulting and grant writing for non-profit organizations seeking to build new programs or shore up existing ones seeking to serve community.

As a graduate of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (NELP- Class VI), Robynne took her leadership skills to the next level by strengthening her boardsmanship and program management skills. Additionally, since Robynne completed the Prosperity Now Platforms for Prosperity Fellowship in partnership with Bank of America, Robynne has become a champion for financial capability integration into workforce development programming. In 2018 she graduated with a master’s in Organizational Learning and Effectiveness and started the journey for a doctorate at the University of the Pacific. Of all her accomplishments, her greatest is being a proud Mimi to two fabulous grandchildren and parent of three successful children.

“All of my life experiences lead me to this opportunity. To utilize my education, talents, passion, and lived experience to serve in a capacity to help California’s disconnected youth, get connected.”

Jevon Wilkes has dedicated over 15 years to CCY as both a Youth Board Member and as the Membership Vice-Chair for the organization. Jevon received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from the California State University Channel Islands.

Jevon’s passion for serving vulnerable youth populations comes from his lived experience with homelessness, the foster care system, and being a disconnected youth, giving him a wide understanding of the vital work CCY is doing. Jevon is excited to lead CCY forward and answer the call of thousands of youth in need of support and to spearhead the effort in advocating for public policies that improve their lives and help them learn how to empower themselves.

Growing up, I always wanted to help other and build a brighter future,
leading me to join the California Coalition for Youth board. Outside of the
classroom, I am part of student groups, such as my high school’s Peer Counseling,
to work with others. In my free time, I like playing the French Horn and playing
Monopoly.

Crystal is an outstanding leader in her community. She has been involved with the California Youth Crisis Line since August 2020 and is currently serving as a board member for the California Youth Empowerment Network. Crystal is also a part of the Global Perspectives Initiative, which implemented under-addressed themes, such as cultural humility, community engagement, and lived experiences, in the Global Disease Biology major. With GPI, Crystal has won the One Health Integration in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion / Black Lives Matter grant from the UC Davis One Health Institute and presented at the 2020 and 2021 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference at UC Davis and the 8th Annual One Health Symposium: Innovations in Student Research. She has also served as a NextGen Fellow with the College Diabetes Network and represented CDN at the Friends for Life - Children with Diabetes conference, American Diabetes Associated Scientific Sessions, and From A to Gen Z: What Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Need to Know About the Next Generation of Diabetes Patients Panel.- Selected of 20 young adults across the nation to participate in a virtual six-month NextGen Fellowship Program. - Represented CDN at the Friends for Life - Children with Diabetes conference, American Diabetes Associated Scientific Sessions, and From A to Gen Z: What Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Need to Know About the Next Generation of Diabetes Patients Panel.

Born in the Garden of England, Kent, and bred in the industrial town of Willenhall, I moved to Bakersfield, CA in August 2020. I am a freshman at college studying political science.
As a young boy, from a working-class background, at the blossoming age of 14, on an awakening spring morning, sitting in Sociology room 8, it was enthralling yet thought-provoking to learn how "demonization is the ideological backbone of an unequal society." I bellowed to this dreary, yet inevitable concept, and from that day forth I immersed myself in the world of sociology to not only know more but do more. I gradually discovered my goal and what I'm enthused about: youth empowerment and social justice. This is where my passion lies.
The CCY Youth Advisory Board is an impeccable and inclining initiative to help me and my fellow youth to represent ourselves and the subjects that affect us in our daily lives to help try to tackle and eradicate those issues which seem to be the root of the problem.

Kassy is a 23-year-old college student who was born and raised in Vallejo, CA by her loving and supported family. This is her first year on CCY’s Youth Advocacy Board. She currently works at a Nonprofit organization called Putnam Clubhouse, an accredited Clubhouse International facility, that focuses on the social and vocational rehabilitation of those with severe mental illness. Since she was 8 she has struggled with several mental health diagnoses including ADHD, Bipolar 2, an Eating Disorder, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse issues. Having been previously incarcerated, she is committed to fighting to make a change in social inequality and advocating for more accessible substance abuse resources, especially for those under 30. She remains resilient and wants to help others by showing them it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past, you are in the driver's seat and you can make your life what you want it to be. When she isn’t working on homework or working, she’ll either be reading, in the kitchen, painting my nails, petting cats, or hammocking in a park.