The Power of Young People

Join us in this episode of The Power of Young People as we speak with trailblazing youth leaders Pooja Tilvawala and Jacob Weissman. Discover how organizations like the Youth Climate Collaborative and Young Planet Leaders are harnessing creativity, storytelling, and innovative technology to empower young changemakers. Dive into candid conversations about mental health, intergenerational collaborat...

Join host Amy Meuers on this inspiring episode of The Power of Young People as she chats with Ahmenra, the remarkable third-grade CEO Kid! Despite her young age, Ahmenra has already started her first business, Noodle & Company, and launched the Aero Queens Initiative to inspire young girls to pursue careers in aerospace engineering and STEM. In this conversation, Ahmenra shares her journey of...

In this episode of The Power of Young People , we sit down with Falisha Raval, an 11th-grade powerhouse and leader of Dear Asian Youth Houston . Join us as Falisha shares her transformative journey of advocacy and leadership, highlighting the vital role of empowering underrepresented voices in today’s society. Discover how digital platforms can serve as powerful catalysts for storytelling, enablin...

Hear from Natasha Agarwal, a 17-year-old powerhouse and founder of the nonprofit Believe in Books. Join us as we delve into Natasha's journey from observing the dire need for literacy resources during the COVID-19 pandemic to spearheading a national movement that has successfully distributed over 175,000 books to underserved children. We explore the critical role of youth leadership in advocating...

In this inspiring episode of The Power of Young People podcast, we sit down with trailblazing young leaders Nora Sun and Mila Henry to discuss their revolutionary efforts in the mental health advocacy. A sophomore at Harvard, Nora launched mercuri.world to break down language barriers in accessing mental health resources. Eighth grader Mila created MH Boxes , a heartfelt initiative providing menta...

Join host Amy Meuers as she dives into the world of innovative science education in this episode of The Power of Young People. Listen in on her conversation with Saanvi Dogra, founder of Science Nexus—an impactful nonprofit on a mission to make STEM accessible to underserved communities. Saanvi shares her personal journey and the revolutionary approaches Science Nexus employs to engage youth throu...

In this episode of The Power of Young People , we delve into the topic of safe driving through the lens of youth leadership. Featuring three passionate members from SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), this conversation sheds light on the pressing issues of distracted and impaired driving that affect teens today. Listen in as these young advocates have used their experience with NYLC&#39...

Join host Amy Meuers in this episode of the Power of Young People podcast, where she sits down with young leaders Kayla Pilgrim and Dylan Keith Humphrey from the Made By Us Youth 250 Bureau. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, they explore the pivotal role that youth play in shaping our democratic narrative. Kayla and Dylan delve into their personal journeys and share insights on how yout...

Join us in this episode of The Power of Young People where we dive deep into the global water crisis with Andrew Reese, the Director of School Programs at the Thirst Project. Discover how a young student’s spark can ignite a movement as Andrew shares his transformative journey from student leader to a full-time advocate for clean water access. With 785 million people lacking safe drinking water, A...

In this episode of The Power of Young People, host Amy Meuers talks with Aanyaa Arora, a passionate senior at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science . Aanyaa is not just a student but a dedicated advocate for inclusivity and a champion for special needs students. Together, they explore her transformative journey from peer tutor to grant recipient, discussing how she successfully implemented...

Join host Amy Meuers in this episode of The Power of Young People , where she sits down with Spencer, a remarkable sophomore from the Dalton School and the founder of Eloquence Academy. This nonprofit is on a mission to democratize access to academic debate for rural and underserved students, having already made a profound impact on over 1,300 lives. Hear about Spencer's incredible journey, from n...

In the latest episode of The Power of Young People , we chat with Shreya Prabhu, a high school senior and the visionary founder of the Female Factor podcast . Dive into Shreya's incredible journey as she creates a platform aimed at empowering young women through the art of storytelling. In this conversation, Shreya opens up about her passion for female empowerment, the vital role of mentorship, an...

In this inspiring episode of the Power of Young People podcast, we meet with three more winners of the 2024 Gloria Baron Prize for Young Heroes: Varin, Elizabeth , and Cash . These passionate young activists are on a mission to combat climate change, champion sustainability, and inspire their peers through community service and innovative solutions. Listen in as they share their extraordinary jour...

Join us in this inspiring episode of The Power of Young People as we sit down with Milan Varma, the president of Food4Philly —a student-led nonprofit combating food insecurity in Philadelphia and around the country. Milan shares his empowering journey into activism, detailing how Food4Philly encourages young people to make a difference in their communities through organized food distribution event...

Join host Amy Meuers in this episode of the Power of Young People podcast as she sits down with four remarkable young leaders who have been honored with the 2024 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes . These inspiring individuals are on the frontlines of innovation and change, tackling issues that range from cancer research and environmental sustainability to food security and youth empowerment. He...

In this episode, we dive into the transformative work of the DASH program in Duluth, Minnesota, where youth are celebrating 9/11 Day with NYLC's Youth as Solutions program by stepping into leadership roles and creating a sense of community within their schools. Join us as we engage with passionate guests from the program, who share their personal journeys navigating the challenges of high school a...

Join us in this insightful episode of “Power of Young People” as we sit down with Sam Giles, a high school junior and the founder of the Maggie Walker Project. Diving into the pressing need for financial literacy in vulnerable communities, with a spotlight on the African-American experience, Sam shares his personal journey, the motivation behind his nonprofit, and the transformative impact of fina...

Join us on this inspiring episode of The Power of Young People podcast as we dive into the world of sustainability with Yalini Gopalswamy, the visionary founder of EnVi Crochet. Discover how Yalini is weaving art and environmental action together by selling crochet flowers and pet hats to fund tree planting in deforested regions. She shares her personal journey, influenced by her mother and nurtur...

Join us for an enlightening episode with Jahnavi Rao, the president and founder of New Voters, a youth-led organization dedicated to comprehensive civic engagement for young people across America. Jahnavi shares her personal story of how the 2016 election sparked her passion for political engagement and led her to create an organization that inspires and equips high school students to register and...

In this inspiring episode of "The Power of Young People," we welcome Maren, a passionate student from Roosevelt High School and a member of the Minnesota Civics Crew, a group funded by NYLC's Youth as Solutions program. With the upcoming elections generating buzz, Maren shares her journey into civic engagement, sparked by a simple classroom poster encouraging students to become elect...

In this episode of The Power of Young People , we chat with Zara, the inspiring young founder of Lemons Learn, a youth-led multinational nonprofit dedicated to empowering adolescent girls through education. Discover how Lemons Learn is breaking barriers, fostering leadership, and making a global impact, one girl at a time. Listen in as Zara discusses the importance of educating girls, the challeng...

In this episode, we sit down with Anusha Upadhyayula, a rising senior from San Jose, California, who turned her passion for South Asian dance into a platform for cultural celebration and education. Anusha shares how she founded BollyBE, an organization dedicated to bringing the vibrancy of South Asian culture to her community through dance. Learn how she tackled the lack of representation, honed e...

The NOMOS Project is a student-led nonprofit organization that aims to provide financial literacy education to young students. The inspirational co-founders, Sindhuja, Aarya, and Aarav, started the project to explore and gain experience in the world of business and finance. Hear about their work with different elementary and after-school education programs, helping young people understand basic mo...

Join us for an inspiring episode with Mary, a remarkable young person who is making waves in environmental activism. At just 16 years old, Mary was honored as the youngest Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist, and her dedication to the planet is nothing short of extraordinary. From tackling harmful algae blooms in the Great Lakes to championing reforestation with Tree Plenish, Mary's innovative...

Learn about AmeriCorps VISTA program - a program that encourages national service by connecting service-minded individuals with nonprofit organizations around the country! Hear from NYLC’s own AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers, Nadia Kruzel and Becky Cole, on what drove them to this work, the impact they’ve had on NYLC in their time with us, and why they believe in the work of service, volunteering, and...