2024-2025 Directing Change Youth Council
The Youth Council supports Directing Change by providing youth perspectives and serving as ambassadors for the program. Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Youth Council members!
Brandon Reyes
Orange County
“Film has always been a passion of mine, but my journey took on a whole new depth when I discovered the Directing Change program last year. Together with my friends, I set out to create a short film for the ‘Through the Lens of Culture’ category, and to our delight, it won first place in the statewide competition. The filmmaking process was incredibly rewarding and, more importantly, transformative—it opened my eyes to how both I and those around me experience and address mental health. As I immersed myself further, watching submissions from previous years and other winners, I gained insights not only into filmmaking but into the complexities of mental health. I realized how much we all carry, often quietly, and how powerful storytelling can be in bringing those struggles into the light. That’s why I joined the Youth Council: I believe deeply in the impact Directing Change can have. This program has the potential to reach anyone grappling with mental health challenges—or anyone supporting someone who is. It’s an honor to be part of something so meaningful, and I’m proud to help amplify the voices and stories that can make a difference.”
Cardan Watson
Los Angeles County
“I got into film and journalism to create narratives revolving differences in cases of internal mental health challenges vs environmentally induced struggles and the problems within certain in patient programs and the foster system, created journalistic pieces surrounding the less discussed issues within foster care and the dependency court system, and am working to create my own organization for an organized support group for people children who are/were in foster care or dependency court or in abusive childhood situations.”
Chidike Nwankwo
Riverside County
“After applying to the monthly prompt back in November 2023, I was thrilled to see what impact my music video “These Days” had on the people around me. It really resonated with people in a digestible format. That is the reality. Mental health problems continue to rise day by day, but everyone shies away from it. My peers won’t trust adults to tell their problems to, but will trust friends. Our youth accepts messages better when it is spoken by a young person, rather than older. I have a growing reach on Instagram among the youth, but in the hype of telling everyone to chase their dreams, and being the product of a successful teenager. I want to use my influence to remind people to care about their mental health!”
Duke Dela Rosa
Alameda County
“I am excited to serve on the Youth Council because of my commitment to mental health advocacy and desire to continue fostering impactful and resonating films, this time on the ambassador side. Having participated in the Directing Change Film Contest and attended the awards ceremony in May 2024, I was profoundly moved by the large collective effort of young people dedicated to spreading awareness and destigmatization of conversations. Seeing the community we’ve built in advocating for a crucial issue area in our age group, I was able to see how this experience emphasized the importance of the program and its potential to foster change in schools and communities on a larger scale. Being a part of this council presents a unique opportunity to contribute to this larger mission; graduating high school and moving on to higher education at Berkeley, I am eager to continue working with Directing Change by engaging in the council’s activities, aiming to help guide and enhance our efforts to reach more young people with important mental health messages and facilitating the filming efforts, just as other supporters have guided my club and I during our submission process. My involvement last school year with the Marauders for Mental Health club at Mira Mesa High School has shown me firsthand the impact of supportive networks and effective communication—I am motivated to give back and be an ambassador for the program that has supported and helped us produce our award-winning films!”
Golden Shao
Alameda County
“I am very interested in serving on the Directing Change Youth Council, because I find this program very interesting and positive, and I want to get involved in a youth advisory council. I am interested in serving on the Directing Change Youth Council, because I have a strong interest in politics, and I also have a strong interest in advocating for the community to make a change that helps all the youth and community members to thrive positively.”
Gurneet Kaur
Fresno County
“I am interested in serving on the Youth Creating Change Council because I truly love this program and what it has done. I have participated in this contest for 2 years now through poetry. I think that art is one of the best ways to raise awareness about mental health, but also one of the best ways to help someone. Art resonates with everyone in every form, no matter who made it or who viewed it. Art can touch people’s hearts, and I want to be a part of something that helps people. I wanted to be a part of something significant and important. The mental health of our youth is exactly that. This organization was my anchor for a while, now I want to pass it down to someone who needs it more.”
Ilene Mireles
Riverside County
As mental health is an extremely important topic that can vary from anyone and everyone, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to participate in this year’s Youth Council. I understand the importance of sharing awareness about mental health as it affects many. With this I can be seen and heard as a voice for those who struggle with their own mental health. By participating in the Directing Change Program, which was an eye opening experience, I want to make known how mental health can drastically take a toll on people’s lives and I want to be a voice for those who are afraid to speak out for themselves.”
Jayden Mendoza
Riverside County
“I joined Directing Change because I feel as the new generation of young adults is going through a lot at such young ages. Mental health isn’t addressed in certain families, so I wanted to be a part of a group that could push forward this message of hope.”
Jiaxu (Lydia) Chen
Los Angeles County
“I would love to be a part of the Youth Creating Change Council because I like the mission the program is going for!”
Kaser Winn
Sacramento County
“Serving on the Directing Change Youth Council is an amazing opportunity to further serve my community and spread awareness surrounding the ever relevant topic of mental health. I look forward to participating in community engagement and peer exchanges in hopes to destigmatize discussion of mental illness and help those in need.”
Lilia Mekri
Monterey County
“I think that mental health is so stigmatized and overlooked. I personally deal with a mother who battles feelings of depression and anxiety frequently. Seeing her in pain like that feels like a knife to the heart, and every time I think about other people who are going through similar situations, I am suddenly being stabbed countless times. No one deserves to suffer alone, and if I were to serve on the Youth Creating Change Council, I would make sure that I can not only become more aware, knowledge, and empathetic but also help bring our society one step closer to helping people battle their daily struggles.”
Marleen Juarez
Orange County
“Mental health is something I’ve always been passionate about. I believe everyone needs to take care of their mental well-being because neglecting it can seriously impact one’s overall health. From my own experience, I know what it feels like to be left in the dark. Mental health truly matters, yet it’s often not taken seriously. I want to create awareness of the “harmless” jokes that are common. This topic will always be close to my heart and will be part of my journey. I hope to show others that life is beautiful and has its ups and downs, and that’s completely okay! We should treat others with kindness because we never know what they might be going through. By sharing my experiences and thoughts—especially with my peers—I hope to connect with them on the importance of mental health. My voice, like anyone else’s, deserves to be heard!”
Naya Winn
Sacramento County
“I first became aware of Directing Change when my school counselor introduced me to the annual film contest. The process of researching and filming my video piqued my interest in how society can connect with young people about stressors and coping mechanisms as they relate to mental health. Directing change has so many unique opportunities for youth to engage with each other through various modalities. Being part of the youth council will allow me to share my unique perspective in an authentic way and connect to my community. I also hope to learn more avenues to reach students at my own school since mental health is an issue that needs more recognition and support.”
Orbal Farhad
Orange County
“As an aspiring actress and writer, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that media has on the mental health of young people. People are very easily influenced by the messaging shown to them, so it is important that some of it carry a sense of hope. That’s exactly why I was so passionate about joining the Youth Creating Change council. Directing Change dedicates itself to creating optimistic short films centered around mental health, created for young people, by young people, and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Patrick Navas
Los Angeles County
“I joined Directing Change to be part of something bigger than myself—a movement that sparks understanding, reduces stigma and supports those struggling with mental health. Now, as a youth council member I’ve found a way to channel my passion for mental health advocacy into action, helping guide and inspire others in their own journeys. Directing Change isn’t just an organization to me it’s a place where I can use my voice to make a difference supporting conversations that encourage openness and compassion. Being in this role allows me to contribute meaningfully knowing that each project or initiative I support can help create a more accepting and supportive world.”
Quinn Ayala
Mendocino County
“Having a lot of friends my age, I see the different struggles they go through, many of which I can relate to as well, and it’s the same for many other teenagers throughout California who feel they may not have the support from people around them to seek help for these issues. That is why I care about suicide prevention and mental health support for teenagers, as so many people just don’t know the support that is available to them, and why I joined the Directing Change Youth Council.”
Ruby Schultz
Orange County
“Directing Change is a very good program and should be well known. I love what it stands for, and I love to motivate younger versions of me to pursue their interests while fighting for a cause they believe in.”
Skylar Alksnis
Riverside County
“I am interested in serving on the Youth Creating Change Council because I am extremely passionate about spreading awareness regarding mental health. I want to help other teenagers and young adults to know that they are not alone, should not feel guilty, and they will always have someone looking out for them. In addition, I want to strengthen my leadership skills and work on my team building abilities by actively being a part of a group that shares a common goal of seeking change through media.”
Sophia Lee
San Diego County
“Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to help people. I felt, and still feel, that the meaningfulness of my life is directly correlated to the good I can do in the world, in my community, for a friend. To drive change, to make one person feel less alone, to give someone hope, is in essence, what all of art is. Displaying the human condition to be reminded we all need empathy for ourselves and one another.”
Tess Veronda
Contra Costa County
“I am interested in serving on the Youth Creating Change Council because I want to bring awareness of mental health issues to others. I suffer from a condition called Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is often triggered by difficulty in coping with stress in life. I am learning how to manage my stress levels to help control my IBS. My hope is to share my experience, through media expression on this council, to empower and create an understanding of how stress can be manifested not only emotionally but physically as well.”
Vianca Terriquez
Riverside County
“I first heard about Directing Change through another youth council I am part of. We created videos and art speaking out about mental health and I was excited for an opportunity to do so. I think mental health is something that, as time progresses, is becoming addressed more and more. It is important to educate ourselves and others about this topic so that we can all live our best and happiest lives. I want to join the Directing Change Youth Council to do just that, learn more about mental health and share what I know with others.”
Yvette Paez
Imperial County
“I am interested in serving on the Directing Change Youth Council because I want to help my community and others as much as possible so that they know that there is help out there. I gained an interest in 2021 when I made my first video with my group. Through this, I gained much knowledge about mental health and the stigma surrounding it. I found how important it is to reach out to the community and the younger generations. Being able to do this increases the chances for support and even for people to reach out for help. It is hard for people to sometimes reach out for help due to stigma or other challenges they may be facing in their lives, and therefore by making it a comfortable environment that they know they can trust, there will be more people who will use services to help themselves and others. I want to be able to create a comfortable environment where they can easily use these services.”