Youth Advisory Council

Asa Bauer (He/Him)

Asa joined the Youth Advisory Council to help bridge community divides and build empathy. With a background in healthcare settings and student leadership, he brings a focus on thoughtful dialogue and strong communication to the team. A lifelong learner, Asa isn’t afraid to ask hard questions. Outside of his advocacy work, he enjoys attending Camp Newman, studying new languages, and taking Sudoku much more seriously than necessary.

Rica Mae Gandia (She/Her)

Rica Mae joined the Youth Advisory Council to connect with motivated leaders and raise awareness about the impact of violence. Through her experience in various school clubs and volunteer initiatives, she brings integrity and a collaborative spirit to the team. For Rica Mae, courage means seeking change with confidence. In her free time, she enjoys walking her two dogs, creating art, and watching anime.

Victoria Izabela Monsanto (She/Her)

A proud Filipina immigrant and youth advocate in Hayward, Victoria is passionate about uplifting underserved communities. She joined the Youth Advisory Council to amplify youth voices and use her personal story to inspire others toward social justice. Victoria believes that meaningful change is pursued through open dialogue and collective action. Outside of council work, she actively participates in community discussions, school events, and local volunteer initiatives.

Addy Raroque (She/Her)

Addy is a student at Design Tech High School who joined the Youth Advisory Council to explore perspectives different from her own. Driven by a desire to help others cultivate empathy, she focuses on building bridges between diverse groups of people. Addy believes that understanding someone else’s story is a vital step toward a more courageous community. In her spare time, she enjoys engaging in creative projects and exploring new interests.

Vy Ta (She/Her)

Vy joined the Youth Advisory Council to address the prevalence of violence and discrimination in her community. Drawing from her experience at a project-based learning school, she brings a strong foundation in leadership and a passion for advocacy to the program. Vy is dedicated to learning how to prevent social issues through active engagement. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and creating art.

Ishaan Vasudeva (He/Him)

Ishaan, often called Ishi, joined the Youth Advisory Council to help stop violence and create an engaging museum experience for his peers. Passionate about community change and standing up for what is right, he is eager to share new perspectives while learning the inner workings of a museum. Outside of his activism work, Ishaan enjoys listening to music, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.

Lucas Vincent (He/Him)

A designer and builder for his school’s robotics team, Lucas brings a technical and creative mindset to the Youth Advisory Council. He is deeply passionate about mechanical engineering and the culinary sciences, often spending his free time refining pastry recipes to share with others. When he isn’t in the kitchen or the lab, Lucas performs as a violinist with a local orchestra and enjoys exploring the intersection of art and logic.