Arjahnay Bouie (she/her) is 24 years old; and a conquerer of human trafficking and youth homelessness, which she experienced multiple times between the ages of 18 and 22. Arjahnay joined the YVAC because it is important to her that young people with lived experience have a voice in decisions that impact their lives. To provide the voiceless a voice. “I am passionate about advocating for housing stability, informing youth about the importance of becoming mentally, physically, and financially stable, trauma-informed support, and creating REAL change for youth and families facing homelessness.”

Ashley Dauphin (she/her) comes from a Haitian background from the Fort Lauderdale / Broward area where she spent majority of her years until moving to Little Haiti in Miami. Ashley joined YVAC because she has always been passionate about serving those facing homelessness and adversity. Ashley believes that her calling on this earth is to do just that, and that is why YVAC's mission is important to her. “I hope that throughout my time at YVAC, I am able to truly reach out to our community and impact their lives in a positive way.”

Ava Bonny (she/her) currently serves an Academic Advisor at Florida International University and graduated with her Masters in Human Resources Management. Ava joined YVAC because her passion is to contribute to solving housing injustice. Miami Homes for All's commitment to providing resources to the homeless population in South Florida and advocating for policy changes to proactively prevent homelessness is what drew Ava to this position. “I hope that my impact working with MHFA as a YVAC fellow can have a profound positive impact on homelessness population in SoFlo!“

Giovanny Sims (he/him) is a Miami native with a background in public policy, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Giovanny earned his undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Duke University and completed his Master’s in International Real Estate at FIU here in Miami. His experiences have given him a well-rounded perspective on how policy, development, and community impact intersect. Giovanny joined YVAC because he believes in advocating for solutions that are both equitable and sustainable, and that allow the people who keep this city running to continue living here. “Outside of my work, I love creating digital media and I’m passionate about the arts in all its forms. I believe creativity plays an important role in shaping strong, inclusive communities.”

Mykell Johnson (she/her) was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She currently attends Miami Dade College, where she is majoring in nursing. Mykell joined the YVAC team because she understand firsthand what it is like to be a homeless youth, and she is passionate about preventing others from experiencing those same hardships. “I am proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community, as representation truly matters.”

Samu Herrera (he/she/they) was born and raised in Miami, and grew up in communities where family’s suffered from housing and food insecurity. Samu joined YVAC with the mission to strengthen their skills to continue serving the community, while contributing ideas to ensure positive youth focused events and resources. “This is my second year in this position, and I am excited to continue the work.”

Tyolla Gilmore (she/her) is 23 years old, and was born and raised in Miami, FL. Tyolla joined YVAC because she is willing to put her best effort into bring awareness to youth homelessness and wants to make change in the city, as well as the world. “It’s important to me because I could almost see myself every time I see a youth struggling to find the next meal or the next couch to sleep on with no real support, it hurts to see some like that. To know I got out of that, means they can too, and that’s why it’s important to me .”

Zeta Gil (she/her) is 18 years old, and is a disability advocate and nonprofit founder. Zeta joined YVAC because she has a deep passion for advocacy and a strong drive to uplift and empower other youth, especially disabled youth whose voices are often overlooked. YVAC gives her the opportunity to share lived experience, build collective power, and work alongside other young leaders to push for meaningful, systems-level change. “Since 2020, I have fostered over 300 kittens and puppies, providing care for animals with a wide range of medical and behavioral needs. In 2024, I founded Kitty Puppy Alliance, a nonprofit focused on supporting low-income families with pets by providing resources that help prevent unnecessary surrender and housing-related displacement.”