Samantha Herrera was born and raised in Miami growing up in communities where family’s suffered from housing and food insecurity, evoking a strong passion to advocate for their community, especially when it comes to amplifying youths voices, which they feel often go under heard. They joined with the mission to strengthen their skills to continue serving their community, while contributing ideas to ensure positive youth focused events and resources. 

 In their free time they enjoy spending time in The Everglades or the closest Pine Rockland or Hardwood Hammock they can find to in take the diverse ecosystems SFL has to provide.

Celina Wesley is a 21-year-old who joined YVAC because it aligns with her goals of creating an impact in her community. Upon receiving her nursing degree and working as a nurse, she plans on opening a free clinic in the Bahamas to provide much-needed care to its residents. In her spare time, Celina likes to read and bake.

Dani is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and vocalist with over 9 years in music education and 4 years in social justice programming. A first-generation American of Cuban and Brazilian descent, they teach youth at Teeny Violini and advocate for unhoused youth through YVAC. Dani integrates musical improvisation with storytelling and modern folklore in theater and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, focusing on intergenerational healing.

Mel De Miami is a multidisciplinary artist native to Miami. She co-founded the outreach and engagement team and is dedicated to making information and resources more accessible to youth in digital spaces. During her free time, Mel likes to write music and collaborate with other artists.

Nakeyshia St Pierre joined YVAC to support community-driven change and help create opportunities for youth. With her background in advocacy, she saw the Secretary role as a meaningful way to contribute. She focuses on outreach to programs, businesses, and banks to secure funding and build partnerships that sustain YVAC’s work. Outside of YVAC, Nakeyshia enjoys time with her two children, playing video games, and watching baseball.