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DC Youth Advisory Council
 
DC Youth Advisory Council
“Youth Leading and Influencing Change in the District” 
 
 
 
Current Council Members
 
 
Feb 19th full body meeting
 
 
 
 
Freddy Possain - Ward 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Connell Wise - Ward 5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Representing:Ward 1
Nominated by:  Timothy Smith, Teen Program Director at Marthas Table.
Age:16
School:Benjamin Banneker Senior High School
Issue Most concerned with:  The current state of the District Public School System.
Affiliations:Banneker Art Club
Interesting fact about her:  She plays the Viola and dances bachata.
 
J Fuentes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Freddy Possian
Representing: Ward 1
Age: 18
School:Cardozo Senior High School
Plans:To enroll and graduate from college.
Issue most concerned with:  Health and education.
Affiliations:The African and Caribbean Club; and Youth Service Opportunities Projects.
Interesting fact about him:  Freddy loves all sports and speaks more than two languages.
 
F Possain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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ML MBock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Brooke Bode 
DCYAC Treasurer
Representing:Ward 2
Nominated By:  Meg Virkar, Executive Vice President, Digital Infuzion, Inc.
Age:16
School:Sidwell Friends
Issue most concerned with: Lack of student involvement in government.
Affiliations:  Vice President of the Sidwell Friends Debate club
Interesting fact about her:  She once shot a chicken with a blow gun.
 
B Bode
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Representing:Ward 2
Nominated by:  Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
School:Dunbar Sidwell Friends School
Plans:  To become a brain surgeon.
Issue most concerned with:  Urban crime and violence.
Interesting fact about her:  She collects dinosaur fossils.
 
 
Sidney Sands-Ranshaw DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Representing:Ward 3
Age:16
School:  Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
Issue most concerned with: Lack of student involvement in government.
Interesting fact about her:  She currently interns for a Tennessee Congressman.
Karyn Bigelow DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of Page Name: Safiyah West
Representing:Ward 3
Nominated to DCYAC by:  Dr. Bennett, her guidance counselor.
Age:17
School: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
SchoolPlans: To attend college, and then attend law school.
Issues most concerned with:  Diversity in the workplace.
Interesting fact about her:  Safiyah plans to travel around the United States on a motorcycle by the age of 18.
Safiyah West DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Asia Booker
Representing:  Ward 3
Nominated to DCYAC by:  Carol Talley, DCYAC Program Analyst
Age:15
School: The Bullis School
Plans:  To graduate at the top of her class and attend Johns Hopkins for college.
Issue most concerned with:  Gang violence.
Affiliations:  Model UN, Bullis Student Council, Soccer, Track, and Dance Teams.  She is also a peer mentor at school.
Interesting fact about her:  Crazy about sports.
 
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Name:  Odinga Johnson

Representing: Ward 4
Age: 18
School: Coolidge Senior High School
Plans:  To start his own international business.
Issue most concerned with:  Financial Literacy.

Affiliations: The African and Caribbean Club.
Interesting fact about him:  Odinga is a stock market wizard.

 
Odinga Johnson DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Kelsey Wilbon
Representing:  Ward 4
Nominated to DCYAC by:  Janice Ferebee, DCYAC DirectorAge:16
School:  St. Johns Academy
Plans:  To become a doctor.
Issue most concerned with:  Childhood obesity.
Interesting fact about her:  She loves to play golf.
 
Kelsey Wilbon DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name:  Catherine Mithika

Representing: Ward 4
Age: 17
School: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School

Plans: To attend Northeastern University, or Emory. 

Issue most concerned with:  Youth violence.

Affiliations: Youth Parliament, Calvary Casa Del Pueblo.

Interesting fact about her:  She is from Nairobi.

 
Catherine Mithika DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Courtney Salter
Representing: Ward 4
Age:16
School: Duke Ellington School for the Arts
Plans: Plans to become an actress.
Issue most concerned with:  Arts in DC schools.
Interesting fact about her:  She plays 4 different instruments.
 
Courtney Salter DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Joanne Alexander-Santos
Representing:Ward 5
Age:17
School:  Dunbar Senior High School
Issue Most concerned with:  Sick puppies.
Interesting fact about her:  She's a speed reader.
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Connell Wise 
Representing: Ward 5
Age: 18
School:  Commonwealth Academy
Plans:To enroll and graduate from college.
Issue most concerned with:  Health and education.
Interesting fact about him:  Connell owns and runs his own online television network.  JSNN.org
 
Connell Wise DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Vanessa Blanco DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Arrie Hurd
Representing:  Ward 6
Age: 17
School: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
Plans: To attend College.
Issue most concerned with:Youth involvement in government.
Affiliations: The Design Apprenticeship Program at the National Building Museum, Wilson Forensics Team, Graphic Designer for District Councilmember Tommy Wells (tommywells.org), and a Salesman at B. Dalton Bookseller.
Interesting fact about him: He aspires to become a full time designer.
 
A Hurd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Jennifer Cole
Representing: Ward 6
Age: 17
School: Maya Angelou Public Charter School

Plans:  Aspires to become a physical therapist.

Issue most concerned with:  Physical health.
Interesting fact about her:  Jennifer can lift 100 pounds, clear over her head.

 
Jennifer Cole DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Representing:Ward 6
Age:  18
Nominated by:   Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
School:  Enterprise Public Charter School
Plans:  To attend college and become a member of congress.
Issue most concerned with:  Urban crime and violence.
Interesting fact about her:  People always say that she'll one day be famous.
 
Danye'll Mackell DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Representing:  Ward 7
Age:  15
Nominated by: Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
School: Maret School
Plans: To attend Cornell University, work in a science laboratory, become a Spanish sign language interpreter, and have fun!
Issue most concerned with:  Youth Violence, peer pressure, the education system, mental/physical health.
Affiliations:  Arena Stage, Georgetown University College Prep, Best Friends Foundation, High Tea Society, Running Start.
Interesting fact about him:  Jannel is Washington DC’s top female chess champion!
 
 
jannel Alston DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of Page Name: Brittany L. Everett
Representing:Ward 7
Nominated to DCYAC by:  Stephanie McMullan
Age:17
School:Benjamin Banneker Senior High
SchoolPlans:To attend college, majoring in international business while minoring in fashion merchandising or advertising.  She also wants to one day obtain and MBA and a PhD.
Issues most concerned with:  health, obesity, HIV/AIDS, and teen pregnancy.
Affiliations:President of Ft. Davis Supreme Teen Club
Interesting fact about her:  Brittany loves shoes, shopping, and food.
 
 
 
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Name: Leonard Long 
Representing: Ward 7
Nominated by: Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
Age:15
School: Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
Plans: To attend college.
Issue most concerned with: Education
 
Leonard Long DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Derrell Johnson
Representing: Ward 7
Nominated by:  David Smith, Program Manager, East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, Inc.
Age:15
School:HD Woodson Senior High School
Plans: Plans to study business management and to get his real estate license.
Issue most concerned with:  The continued violence and crime in Ward 7.
Affiliations:  East of the River Clergy and Police, HD Woodson BBall-Forward
Interesting fact about him: Derrell is the unofficial record at holder at HD Woodson for making consecutive full court shots on a basket.  During practice one day, in front of the entire HD Woodson Varsity BBall team, he made 3 in a row.  He challenges anyone to match him.
 
D Johnson
 
 
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Name: Howard Brown
DCYAC Chairperson
Representing: Ward 8
Nominated by: Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
Age:  21
Plans: To run for District Council in Ward 8.  Also to build a theatre for the arts in Ward 8.
Issue most concerned with: Education and graduation rates in Washington DC. 
Interesting fact about him: Howard is a working Actor.
 
Howard Brown DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Name: Brittany Mooney
Representing: Ward 8
Nominated by: Her mentor, Laruby May
Age:16
School: Archbishop Carroll High School
Plans: To attend college.
Issue most concerned with:Education
Affiliations:  Archbishop Carroll Women’s Lacrosse; Cheerleading.
Interesting fact about her: She also goes by "Mona Lisa" or "Lions Moo"
 
Brittany Mooney DCYAC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Arrow Indicating Top of PageName: Durrell Gaston
Representing: Ward 8
Nominated by:  Janice Ferebee, DCYAC Director
Age: 21
School: Coppin State University
Plans: Plans to run for public office.
Issue most concerned with:  The continued violence and crime in Ward 8.
Interesting fact about him: Durrell writes poetry in his spare time.
 
Durrell Gaston DCYAC
 
 
 
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