Meet the 2023-2024 Teen Leadership Council

Lyss is 17 years old from Dorchester. She is in 12^th grade and is a babysitter. She is most proud of her honesty and hopes to strengthen her community. They are unique because they are their own people and is hoping to be in school in five years. She is influenced by rock culture and the band Kiss.

Annelise is 16 years old from Dorchester. She is in 11^th grade and is active in her church, teaching little kids and singing in the choir. One thing that she’s most proud of is getting through an interview with a news reporter and performing with the Boch Center. Annelise is unique because she’s always looking on the bright side of things and trying to improve herself. She is influenced by her friends and community members and is inspired by Michael Jackson.

Bjam is 17 years old from Roxbury. He is in 12^th grade and involved in a dance company and has been a dance teacher and debate team captain. He is most proud of his music career and is unique in the way he uses his creative ability and thinks outside the box. Bjam is influenced by his producer and family members, including his 6 siblings, because they push him to keep going and achieve his full potential.

Jeanette is 16 years old from Mattapan. They are in 11^th grade and involved in the Baking Club at school. Jeanette is most proud of being a talented writer and growing through her many years writing. They have become better at speaking in social settings and is unique because they are an individual who strives for a better community, and they have the skills to be a person that creates change. In five years, they will be in college to become a writer. They have been influenced by their teachers who have pushed her to be a writer and their AP Lit teacher inspires them with her amazing poetry.

Jordyn is 16 years old from Savin Hills/Uphams Corner. She is in 11^th grade and is involved in hockey, cheer, and lacrosse. She is most proud of her academics and accomplished making high honor roll. In five years, she will be in college studying to be a detective, and she has been influenced by her law teacher Ms. Maddelana. Jordyn is unique because she’s not afraid to share what comes to her mind and is able to be herself no matter the circumstances. The artist that inspires Jordyn is her mom.

Jossie is 14 years old from Dorchester. She is in 9^th grade and is involved in her school’s dance team. She is most proud of her dance skills because they make her who she is, and she hopes to be studying dance in college in 5 years. She has accomplished meals for cheerleading and being Student Body President in 8^th grade. Jossie is unique because she is always trying to find resolutions to problems, and she’s always laughing. Her family has influenced and inspired her to continue dancing and being the best she can be.

Kayla is 17 years old from Roslindale. She is in 11^th grade, the President of the Self Care Club, and is involved in National Honors Society and Debate Club. She wants to strengthen foster homes to make sure that kids get the happy family they need. She is proud of being happy with herself and enjoying life while also helping people feel safe and open to be who they are. Her mother has influenced her, and Rihanna and Janelle Monae are artists that inspire her. In five years, Kayla hopes to be alive in her nice bohemian home listening to jazz music.

Kyleigh is 16 years old from Dorchester. She is in 11^th grade and is involved in hockey, cheer, track, and softball. She is most proud of the person she is today. She has accomplished high honors and brought her cheer team to state and winning. Keyleigh hopes to strengthen her school community against bullying. She is unique because she’s not afraid to express herself in ways others might not think are right. In five years, Kyleigh hopes to be a nurse and help save people’s lives. A Boogie wit da Hoodie inspires her.

Mauricia is 14 years old from Mattapan. She is involved in track, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, and ice skating. She is most proud of being able to make it through school and is happy that she’s still pushing through. Mauricia hopes to work on strengthening communication and respect at her school. She has accomplished improving her grades. In five years, she hopes to be either in college, the Army, or the Navy. Her brother has inspired her, along with hearing about how other people have moved along with their future plans.

Mia is 16 years old from Roxbury. She is in 10^th grade and involved in dance club and chorus at school. Mia is most proud of her accomplishments of getting on honor roll, going to the Boston Ballet at 9, creating and performing her own choreography, getting her first job by herself, and getting into Boston Latin. If she could strengthen something locally or globally, it would be for streets to be cleaned better in certain neighborhoods, and if she could strengthen her school, she would get more opportunities for clubs to perform. In five years, Mia will be finishing college, working, and trying to become a professional dancer. She is influenced by dancers she grew up watching and is inspired by Beyoncé, Missy Eliot, and Coco Jones.

Nataly is 15 years old from Roxbury. She is in 9^th grade and is involved in the soccer and basketball teams. She is proud of herself and her little sister for making the soccer team and feels that being a big sister is one of her best accomplishments. She is unique because she is open to anything and loves to help people. Nataly hopes to strengthen the Hispanic community to get out of their comfort zone. In five years, she will be a nurse or professional actor. Nataly’s dad influenced her and her plans because he came here to give her and her sister the best that he could, and she wants to do the same. Romeo Santos and Xavi are artists that inspire her because they started low and are now famous singers.

Raheema is 15 years old from Mattapan. She is in 10^th grade and involved in the Step and Dance Teams at her school. She hopes to strengthen her community as a whole and is proud of the work she did in City Spotlights, as it is helping her reach that goal. She has accomplished making the head of her school and is not afraid to be herself. Her father has influenced the way Raheema sees and talks to people. The Weekend, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj are artists that inspire her.

Rasheed is 15 years old from Dorchester. He is in 9^th grade, composes music, and is a content creator outside of school. He is proud of almost hitting 6,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel because that is not easy and has taken a lot of hard work and dedication. Rasheed has accomplished taking three academic honors courses and earning awards at school. He is unique because he is caring of other people’s emotions and makes content that is unique to him and his area. Rasheed’s friends, grandparents, and anime have influenced him and his plans for the future. Jonny Yong Boch is a talented voice actor who has influenced him and his interest in voice acting in the future.

Zander is 16 years old from Roslindale. He is in 12^th grade, the Vice President of Student Government, Co-President of the Gay Straight Alliance at his school, and is in music production at the Copley Library. He is most proud of the protest he participated in at school to advocate for punishment for people who make inappropriate remarks to students in the LGBT community. Zander wants to see a world in which we all just love, accept each other, and have empathy for one another. He is unique because he is willing to try new things and his impulsiveness keeps him excited. In five years, he wants to be sitting on the porch of his pink beach house in California, a dream that was inspired by his grandpa, who never compromised his happiness and painted his house a new pastel color every few months to make his wife happy.