Generation Change with Leo Finelli

On this episode we have Lexi Philips. Lexi is a college student pursuing a degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She speaks to students at elementary and middle schools about her cyberbullying experience, chronicled in her graphic novel, “Click.” Lexi hopes that sharing her trials and triumphs over bullies inspires hope in others as well as the courage to do the same. She is currently presid...

On this episode, Leo talks with Xander Martin, a teenage non-binary, theater obsessed queer rights activist. Xander's family started the Bowie Area Non-Binary & Transgender Gender Youth Alliance.

On this month's episode, Leo talks with Isaac Hertenstein, the founder of Students Teaching Finance, a youth-led organization with the mission of increasing youth financial literacy and combating economic inequality. Isaac is a passionate advocate for financial literacy education nationwide and empowers other high school students to teach financial literacy in their communities, sparking changes a...

On this episode, Leo talks with Sophia Huynh, currently a freshman from Columbia University. She loves to involve herself with Social Justice, educating, creating open spaces for discussion, fundraising, and planning events based upon race, class, gender, food insecurity, and many other topics. She is the Founder of Asian American Alliance and Co-leader of International club at the Paideia Sc...

On this episode Leo talks with Brianna Chandler. Brianna is a college student who organizes in St. Louis, Missouri. Her areas of focus include abolition, climate justice, and more holistically Black liberation. She is a member of the River City Climate Collective and WashU Students for Black and Palestinian Liberation. IG: @_bri_chandler_ Twitter: @_bri_chandler_ Brianna Photo courtesy of Whitney...

On this episode Leo talks with Molly Smith, a 20 year old filmmaker from Orlando, FL. Her short film  I Don't Know  has screened at over 20 film festivals nationwide, winning 7 top awards. Her next film, Dear America has received over 600k views online, won a National Student Emmy in the PSA category and the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Youth Free Expression Film contest....

Mina Fedor is the founder of AAPI Youth Rising . Mina is an 8th grader from Northern California. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, learning about all things neuro and spending time with her friends, family and many pets. Mina was recently named as a Top Five Time Kid of the Year for 2021 . Maxwell Wong is a member of AAPI Youth Rising and a 9th-grade student from Northern California. Maxwell e...

On this episode, Leo talks with Bianca Jortner, a 17 year old high school senior from Connecticut. She is the founder and president of Youth Promise, a non-profit providing under-served youth with free, virtual educational services such as tutoring and classes. Her passions include medicine, writing, reading, photography, and activism. Instagram @biancajortner | @youth.promise 📖 Bianca's book - D...

Claire is a Los Angeles based artist , filmmaker and photographer . At 15, she joined Adolescent , a media company focused on the creation of original content by youth for youth. She developed and directed short form content, serialized content, and documentary work with a focus on youth empowerment and human equality. By 18, her client list included Hasbro , Nike, Target, Disney , American Girl ,...

Desmond Napoles is a multi-awarded LGBTQ advocate, outspoken gay teen, genderfluid editorial and runway model, motivational public speaker, drag performer, designer, actor, singer, LGBT influencer, and published author. They are currently working on developing a private social network for LGBTQ+ youth. They have walked the runways at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) for several designers including Gyp...

Nandita Kumar is a 17-year-old community organizer from Dallas. Passionate about public health and human rights, Nandita works towards sustainably advancing health equity through policy, education, and advocacy. Her interest in global public health stems from the staunch disparities in health outcomes in marginalized communities. She is currently working as a Diversity & Inclusion Captain for...

Krissy Oliver-Mays is a youth activist and advocate from Charlotte, North Carolina. Krissy was formally one of the co-coordinators of Extinction Rebellion Youth Charlotte alongside her best friend Ollie who she also founded a non-profit with that educates youth on how to create change within their communities. Krissy is currently a sophomore at American University where she is studying environment...

Kezia Rice On this episode, Leo talks with Kezia Rice, founder of imprint magazine, an online community which promotes sustainability and activism. Imprint publishes articles that encourage readers to make small eco changes in their own lives. Read Imprint magazine and follow Kezia. Kezia Rice Instagram @kezrice | @imprintmag_ Twitter @RiceKezia | @imprintmag_   Facebook imprintmagzine I...

This month, Leo talks with Thanasi Dilos, co-founder of Civics Unplugged, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) social enterprise whose mission is to empower the leaders of Generation Z to build the future of democracy. He is also one of National Geographic's Young Explorers, working to create platforms for youth-led work around the globe. Thanasi Dilos Instagram @thuhhnasi | @civicsunplugged | @natgeo Twitter...

On this episode, Leo talks with Isabel Hope about autism, voting, mental health, and more. Isabel is a writer, musician, activist, and founder of Meddling Kids Movement (an international non-profit dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth activists around the world)  Isabel Hope Twitter @isabamahope Instagram @isabama Meddling Kids Movement website - https://www.meddlingkidsmovement.com/

On this episode, Leo talks with Jasmine Lunia. Jasmine is a writer who works for social change and justice, with a particular interest in diversity and mental health. She writes on her blog a nd the moon speaks again and her work has also been published on iFeminist, the Lilac Blog, and Teen Ink. Jasmine also serves as the student rights director at Meddling Kids Movement. Jasmine Lunia 🌐 and the...

Leo talks with Shiden Tekle. Shiden is an anti-racism campaigner from South London and co-founder of Legally Black, which fights to dismantle the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of black people. He is also a part of a new campaign called The Halo Collective, which aims to fight harmful hair discrimination practices in schools and workplaces. Shiden Tekle  Twitter - @shidenteklee Hal...

On this episode, Leo talks with Chessy Prout, an author, advocate, and high school sexual assault survivor. In 2018 she published her memoir I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope, and co-founded the national non-profit called I Have The Right To with the goal to support survivors of sexual violence all over the world. Chessy Prout Twitter - https:...

On this episode, Leo talks with Michael Platt, a food justice advocate, baker, and social entrepreneur. He has a non-profit food access initiative called PLLATE (Power, Love, Learning and, Access, to Everyone). Please check out and support Michael's work. Michaels Desserts (and PLLATE) - https://www.michaelsdesserts.com/ Instagram | Twitter | Facebook See him on Operation Awesome - BYUtv (March 20...

On the first episode of 2021, Leo talks with Cole Middleton, a social and racial justice advocate and activist. Please check out Cole and the organizations he supports. Cole Middleton Twitter | Instagram Be the Bridge website National Center for Civil and Human Rights website

On this episode, Leo talks with young gun violence prevention activist Kayleigh Webb-Sanchez.  Please check out and support Kayleigh's work. Kayleigh Webb-Sanchez Twitter | Instagram | March for Our Lives "Generation Lockdown" PSA | You Know the Drill (PBS Short Film Festival 2020)

On this inaugural episode of the podcast, Leo talks with teen filmmaker, photographer, and artist Ella Fields. Please check out and support Ella's work. Ella Fields Website | YouTube | Instagram  

Generation Change with Leo Finelli will be launching soon! Across our country, Generation Z is standing up for justice and amplifying concerns about our future. This podcast will highlight Gen Z activists and creatives about their work for change.  Leo Finelli (he/him/his) is an amateur screenwriter and songwriter who explores and speaks on social justice topics through his art, on his podcast Gen...