Youth-Led Branch of The Youth Center

Leadership Council of Students

A student-driven body within The Youth Center, dedicated to channeling youth voices, advancing community service, and building the next generation of community leaders.

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Meet the Council

Our Principles

Three commitments that shape our work

01

Voices of Youth

Channel the voices of youth in the community by establishing impactful and inspiring programs based on their needs.

02

Provide Support

Advise and provide support on core youth issues to augment and integrate with The Youth Center’s learning experiences.

03

Amplify Youth Voice

Increase engagement in the community so every child has the opportunity to express their needs, build leadership skills, and amplify their voice.

Our Mission

Leading with integrity, resilience, and purpose

The Leadership Council is dedicated to providing leadership development for students in the community by supporting and creating targeted, innovative programs that connect youth, promote mental health, and encourage community service. As a driving force and branch of The Youth Center, the Leadership Council seeks to channel the voices of high school, middle school, and elementary school students to create and nurture a network of leaders in the community.

Contact Us

Email: leadershipcouncil@theyouthcenter.org

Instagram: @youthcenterleadershipcouncil

Applications Information
Board

The Council

Meet the youth leaders shaping our community

An elected board of students in grades 7 through 12 who design, drive, and run the council’s programs throughout the year.

Allison Han

Co-President

Mylan Mauge

Co-President

Adrian Lopez

Vice President

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more

Full Roster

View All Members

Allison Han

Co-President

Mylan Mauge

Co-President

Adrian Lopez

Vice President

Kayla Teng

VP of Creative Engagement

Abby Bednar

Director of Learning Development

Katelin Tang

Director of Marketing

Ella Mendoza

VP of Outreach

Gatsby Lemus

Director of Outreach

Thai Vu

VP of Administration

Juliana Leung

Director of Administration

Nathaniel Priyakumar

Junior Community Outreach Associate

Madelyn Childress

Junior Community Outreach Associate

Nam Vu

Junior Community Outreach Associate

Drew Hatakeyama

Junior Community Outreach Associate
WHAT WE DO

Programs we run

The Leadership Council designs and runs initiatives that connect, support, and inspire youth in our community.

The Seeds of Service program is a collaboration between the Leadership Council and Weaver Elementary’s leadership program, The Ambassadors. This youth-led initiative offers a series of workshops designed to teach students valuable lessons in communication, emotional intelligence, the importance of volunteering, and exposure to different leadership styles and conflict-resolution techniques.

Additionally, the council is working to connect the Ambassadors with local nonprofit organizations, providing them with opportunities to participate in volunteer events and make a meaningful impact within their community.

As a group of passionate middle and high school leaders, our aim with this workshop series was to revamp Making Mindfulness Matter 2023 to augment students’ mental health consciousness, cultivate a culture of mindfulness throughout the community, and empower youth of all ages to develop and grow their self-awareness and confidence. Through various mindfulness activities from yoga and breathing to mindful listening, we have crafted an innovative and updated 12-part series aiming to impact students from first to sixth grade.

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The Prep for Success Workshops provided an engaging, interactive, and meaningful experience to build a foundation for students to learn essential skills, habits, and resources for high school and beyond! Built through comprehensive surveys from middle schoolers, insights from current, successful high schoolers, and thorough  research, these workshops cover the essentials of time management, effective study techniques, active recall strategies, the basis of creating a substantive study guide, demystify high school, and provide resources and opportunities for students to apply newfound skills! Join us in prepping for success by learning and growing for the future!

As of 2026, Prep for Success has been revived as a multi-part workshop series, targeting individual participant needs and advancement!

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Representing the Youth Center at a annual community-wide event for 6th to 9th grade kids, our board planned, organized, and facilitated a series of three workshops. These workshops covered essential skills, including practicing mindfulness through activities like painting and journaling, along with hands-on instructional sessions that taught kids the core steps of first aid.

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In collaboration with the Sunshine Youth, a youth organization based in India, the Leadership Council created a seven-part series of social media posts to spread awareness of various lessons. This series highlights the importance of youth advocacy through leadership, fostering growth mindsets, effective communication, and more!

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Created by one of our board members, the resources webpage serves as a dedicated space on the Youth Center’s website, providing helpful links, hotlines, and resources to the community. It aims to make seeking help more accessible and achievable while also connecting people to resources curated by our council! Maintained and reviewed by the Council in partnership with Youth Center staff.

Why Join

The Council offers students the chance to

01

Lead change in your community

Help create and influence programs at The Youth Center, contribute to the community, and gain experience with serving. Each member makes a meaningful mark on the place they live.

02

Advocate for youth needs

Listen to parents and peers, identify what the community actually needs, and use that information to shape learning opportunities that benefit the children of Los Alamitos and beyond.

03

Build leadership skills

Develop public speaking, relationship-building with peers and adults, exposure to local philanthropy, and the practical leadership skills that translate into college applications and life beyond.

Application Details

Open to students in grades 7 through 9. Submit a written application, complete two rounds of interviews, and join as a Junior Community Outreach Associate.

Applications Open February / March

View Application Details

Next cycle opens February 2027

View Application Details

Next cycle opens February 2027

Common QUestions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Leadership Council is a youth-driven board where board members take the lead in designing and running meaningful programs. From community service initiatives like Seeds of Service to wellness-centered workshops like Meeting Mindfulness, everything we do is shaped by the ideas and effort of our members.

The Leadership Council accepts applications from students in grades 7 through 9. Once you join, membership can be renewed each term, meaning you can stay involved and continue growing with the Council until high school graduation.

We open applications within the first 3 months of each year. The process involves a written application and two rounds of interviews. Members join as Junior Community Outreach Associates, rotate through departments as an introductory role, and later advance into general leadership. Visit the Applications Information page for full details.

Our meetings are every other Sunday and alternate between in-person meetings at The Youth Center (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) and online meetings via Zoom (10:00 AM to 10:30 AM). Meetings typically involve general discussion, task fulfillment, and updates on current projects.

Members gain logistical skills, program development experience, and meaningful connections with organizations and professionals through the opportunity to work within a reputable, established nonprofit organization.

Get Involved

Ready to make a difference?

Reach out to leadershipcouncil@theyouthcenter.org for more information about joining the Council, partnering on a program, or learning what we’re working on next.

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