Meet the Team and Comissioners

Thomisha Wallace serves as the Executive Director of the Youth Empowerment Commission established through AB 46. Joining the state from the private sector, Thomisha brings experience of program development and evaluation, project management, leadership development, community outreach, curriculum development, and public speaking. Prior to joining the State, Thomisha was the Youth Advocate Program Manager at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families, where she leveraged her lived experience as a former at-risk youth to empower, advocate, and support the Youth Advocate team and community they serve. In this role, Thomisha was as a liaison between community, County, and State level Child Welfare Leadership, where she championed policy change that was rooted in equity and inclusivity.

Driven by her passion to empower and strengthen community resiliency and expansion, Thomisha has served as a Cultural Broker within the mental and behavioral health systems to inform changes in policies, practices, and services that impacts marginalized communities and youth. Thomisha has served as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant on various projects and is a current member of the Center for Excellence Advisory Committee with the University of California, Davis Human Services Department. Thomisha received her BS in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Sociology from California State University, Sacramento, and her Master’s in Social Work, with an emphasis in community development from Georgia State University.

Raynell Davis Walker is a Retired Annuitant with the Racial Equity Commission and previously worked as a Contract Analyst with the California Department of Public Health before retiring in 2016, after 38 years of service. She also spent 13 years with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly the California Department of Correction) working closely with prison planning, construction, and activation staff. Raynell brings a long background in community service. She is deeply involved in her church and does community work in Oak Park and Middle Town Sacramento, including a monthly neighborhood canvassing called Community Peace Walks. The Community Peace Walks are in connection & collaboration with the Sacramento Police Department (SacPD) in an effort to bridge the gap between community members and SacPD to restore a broken trust as a result of violence around the world and locally against people of color.

In addition to her community service, Raynell is a Certified Life Empowerment Coach and a participating author of “Stand Up Be Heard, Vol. II”, stories of 15 Fierce, Bold & Courageous Women Living in their Purpose.

Raynell holds an AA-Degree in Community Services from American River College, Sacramento

Jennifer Serrano serves as the Senior Program Analyst for the Youth Empowerment Commission. She began her career in government at the local level, working for the 58th district as a Program Coordinator for four years. In this role, Jennifer designed and facilitated a six-month program aimed for high school junior and seniors, guiding them through the process of presenting a bill before the California State Assembly. She collaborated with a variety of corporation heads to enhance access to internships, employment opportunities, and extracurricular activities for youth pursuing higher education. Her trajectory in public service continued as she transitioned to state government. She interned with the Governor’s Office for Business and Economic Development as a Cal-in-Sac Fellow, where she served as a legislative analyst. In this position, she focused on California business legislation, critically analyzing and highlighting significant legislative changes that impact businesses throughout the state. Her career in state government progressed as she joined the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research as an Executive Analyst. In this role, Jennifer supported the Director and Chief Deputy Director, managing all aspects of correspondence and serving as a liaison to various agencies under the office. Jennifer holds an Associate’s Degree from Cerritos Community College and transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.  

Shae Dellamaggiore is a dedicated advocate for youth across California, using their own lived experience to drive systematic and practice change since 2022. Shae is a youth advocate for California Youth Connection, ACEs Aware, and The Catalyst Center advocating for system-impacted youth and youth mental health. Shae currently attends University of California, San Diego studying Cognitive Science.

Raj Bhutoria is a dedicated advocate for California’s youth, committed to empowering and transforming the lives of young people across the state. From a young age, Raj has been a staunch proponent of civic engagement, emphasizing the importance of youth voice and participation. His journey began at 14 with a simple yet powerful message: “We may not have a vote yet, but we have a voice.” This early passion for advocacy has since shaped his career and commitment to the future of California’s youth. (line break) Raj’s extensive experience in public service includes his role as Chair of Congressman Ro Khanna’s Student Advisory Committee, where he focused on key issues such as youth mental health, career readiness, and racial equity. His work with notable figures like Senator Tim Kaine, CA State Senator Bob Wieckowski, and Congressman Mike Honda has further refined his skills in legislative advocacy. Raj also gained valuable insights into the legal system’s impact on at-risk populations through his work in the Alameda County Hall of Justice. Additionally, he founded a student-run media enterprise, offering early career opportunities and professional development for young creatives. (line break) Raj graduated cum laude from Claremont McKenna College with a B.A. in Economics and a sequence in Computer Science. At his time at CMC, Raj received the Terri Van Eaton Financial Economics Fellowship and served as a Gould Humanities Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa member and Appel Writing Fellow. Raised in Fremont, CA, in the heart of Silicon Valley, Raj has received recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature for his contributions to community advocacy and youth empowerment. Committed to improving his community through entrepreneurship and technology, Raj currently works in San Francisco, CA, to create job opportunities for photographers nationwide through an online marketplace. (line break) Raj is deeply passionate about addressing youth mental health, ensuring college affordability, enhancing career preparation, and promoting student civic engagement. He believes that addressing these interconnected issues is essential for creating a supportive environment that enables every young Californian to reach their full potential. Raj is dedicated to breaking down barriers to opportunities for young Californians and advocating for comprehensive solutions that support their well-being, educational achievements, and future success.

Madyson Chung Lee (She/her), is a student at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Her academic interests range from Politics and Anthropology to Asian and Asian American Studies. She is involved on her school campuses student government, the Scripps Associative Students, as well as the Asian American Sponsor Program. Madyson is passionate about education equity and civic engagement and bridging gaps in access for students. She previously worked as a communications lead for California Assembly Bill 367, which mandates that all 6-12 California schools provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms. In her free time, Madyson enjoys working as a barista at her local coffee shop and singing in her consortium’s acapella group.

Shae Dellamaggiore is a dedicated advocate for youth across California, using their own lived experience to drive systematic and practice change since 2022. Shae is a youth advocate for California Youth Connection, ACEs Aware, and The Catalyst Center advocating for system-impacted youth and youth mental health. Shae currently attends University of California, San Diego studying Cognitive Science.

Aidan Lin-Tostado (he/him) is a Taiwanese- and Mexican-American, queer, 21-year old youth raised in California and current living in San Diego. He co-founded Our Time To Act, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in 2018 and served as Executive Director during its rise as a powerful youth organizing force in San Diego. He now serves as the President & Chair of the Board of Directors. Aidan also works full-time at Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international civilian protection nonprofit building community capacity for Unarmed Civilian Protection. He is honored to serve on the California State Youth Empowerment Commission, the City of San Diego Youth Commission, and the San Diego Youth Homelessness Consortium Steering Committee. Aidan has received recognition for his work in the community, including the 2022 Community Service Award from San Diego Pride and the 2022 Bridge Builder of the Year from the API Leaders of the Year Awards. He is a student at UC San Diego and a 2024 McNair Scholar.

Collin McCarthy is currently a second year law student at the University of San Francisco School of Law. Collin just finished his summer internship working at the Santa Clara Superior Court where he interned for multiple judges and was exposed to Civil, Criminal, and Family Law trials. Previously, Collin worked 4 summers at Cotchett, Pitre, & McCarthy LLP where he worked as a case assistant helping attorneys with trial preparation and deposition work. Collin hopes to pursue a career in civil litigation where he can represent individuals that experience wrongdoings. Collin graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2023 while majoring in Political Science and minoring in History. During his first two years at Loyola Marymount, Collin competed as a baseball player for his school at the division one level.

Jessica Mi is a resident of San Francisco and serves as an alternate on the California Youth Empowerment Commission. In her full time work, Jessica is a Sustainability Specialist at Autodesk, an engineering software company. In her role she manages and reports on climate data to work towards achieving the company’s climate goals. She is a member of California Youth Connection and advocates for foster youth rights with a focus on Asian American foster youth. Mi graduated from Stanford University where she earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Earth Systems and a Master of Sciences in Environmental Policy. Her hometown is Castro Valley in Alameda County, California.

Born and raised in Sonoma County, CA, Trevor Merrell grew up exposed to the widening disparity between life for the left behind and life for the wealthy and well-connected. Having gone from a comfortable middle-class life to becoming homeless shortly after his parents’ separation, Trevor learned from an early age how one stroke of bad luck entirely beyond one’s control can radically transform the rest of a person’s life. After spending much of his upbringing in an environment full of childhood risk factors (substance use, violence, and unstable living conditions), he experienced the consequences of adverse childhood experiences firsthand. Upon graduating high school, Trevor found himself with few options and little hope for the future. In the hopes of finding direction and a better life, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2018 and became an Electronic Intelligence Analyst. He attended signals intelligence training in San Angelo, TX, before being permanently stationed aboard Camp Pendleton in California. He served until 2022, at which point he was honorably discharged from active duty service as a Corporal (E-4). After completing his term in the Marine Corps, Trevor returned to Sonoma County to live with his family and pursue his dream career in healthcare. He was soon appointed to become a Central Committee member of the Sonoma County Democratic Party, an opportunity through which he rallied the local party to support improving staffing ratios for mental health providers. He championed a public school safety effort to provide more mental health resources to students and families to combat emerging instances of violence on Sonoma County campuses. Lastly, he went to bat in defense of LGBTQ+ youth when local nonprofits became the targets of homophobic and transphobic attacks. Later that year, he stepped down from his committee position to serve the County of Sonoma as a Human Rights Commissioner for their fourth district. As of 2024, Trevor now serves as an Officer-at-Large of the county commission. He also works as a Registered Behavior Technician, working with children who have developmental disabilities to help them in learning healthy coping strategies in addition to social and independent living skills. Now blessed with the opportunity to serve the state of California as a Youth Empowerment Commissioner, Trevor aims to use his lived experience as a catalyst for change. He is a strong advocate for public investment in mental health treatment, affordable housing, the expansion of disability rights and resources, and the reimagination of public schools to better serve the needs of today’s younger generations. Coming from a background in both public service and healthcare, his vision is driven by an inherent belief in the goodness of people and the importance of our institutions laying the groundwork for individuals to make positive life decisions. As he sees it, it is essential that government bodies refine their focus towards the prevention of problems rather than perpetually battling them once they’ve already occurred. Trevor Merrell brings a dense lifetime of experience, persistence through hardship, well-tested leadership abilities, and a pragmatic focus on making tangible change to the Youth Empowerment Commission. He is honored to serve the state of California, and thrilled to fight for the futures of our young people.

Giselle Morris, a rising college freshman from California’s Central Coast, is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and environmental sustainability. With a strong record of academic achievement, she has been actively involved in school and community theater, where she volunteered her summers to mentor young performers. As an Algebra Academy mentor, Giselle coached underserved middle school students, helping them excel in mathematics. A registered Democrat, Giselle is dedicated to fostering civic engagement and has served as vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and treasurer of her local Key Club. She also actively served as a voice at city council meetings in an effort to champion equity in water and sewage treatment and responsible growth to protect the most vulnerable in her community. Beyond her activism, Giselle enjoys traveling and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, enriching her perspective and advocacy work. Enthusiastic about her role on the commission, she is committed to making a meaningful impact both regionally and beyond.

As a Youth Advocate, I have made it my job to share and represent the lived experiences of youth from all walks of life. As a former foster youth, former homeless youth, first generation college student, LGBTQ+ youth, and disabled youth, I have experienced significant adversity in my life thus far. I am empowered to share my experiences and echo the experiences of countless other youth across the state for the purpose of inciting positive change. My experiences have guided me towards advocating in legislature. As a proud Californian, I embrace the shared responsibility we all have to improving the well-being and success of California’s youth. I proudly and boldly testify my lived experiences in legislature to humanize the data and bridge the gap between youth and the legislature.

Adelina Ramirez is a high school senior who is actively involved in her school and community by being a dedicated and confident leader. As early as the 8th grade, Adelina’s year-long community service project raised awareness about Chicano Park, a National Historic Landmark housing the country’s largest collection of outdoor murals commemorating cultural resilience and community activism. In partnership with her school administration, she successfully secured funds for Latinx themed books for both the campus library and school curriculum. In July of 2021, Adelina participated in the leadership cohort of Girls Inc, and was interviewed by media outlets, widening outreach for women’s empowerment advocacy. Adelina is in the Aaron Price Fellows Program, a rigorous four year fellowship founded by Price Philanthropies focused on youth, civic and leadership engagement. Through this fellowship, Adelina traveled to Washington DC to meet with notable politicians on Capitol Hill including Senator Alex Padilla, Representative Sara Jacobs, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and had the distinct honor to meet and speak with Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Adelina was selected as a UCSD intern, working with the Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment & Teaching Excellence, where she supported underrepresented K-12 students through outreach and educational programs. Adelina serves on San Diego Unified’s Racial Justice and Equity Committee, collaborating with the Board of Education to ensure district policies are equitable for marginalized students. She emceed and was a student speaker at SDUSD’s first annual Latinx Heritage Month Flag Raising. Similarly, she was a SDUSD Student Equity Ambassador where she initiated district projects and introduced action based solutions to district leaders, promoting youth advocacy and student leadership. Adelina is a writer for The Wing- a districtwide publication that elevates underrepresented student voices. Adelina was also a student panelist alongside community activists and political leaders for the Voice of San Diego’s Politifest hosted by the University of San Diego, where she spoke on several social issue topics, including education reform and public policy. Adelina was selected as a Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center intern, working to create and promote community events curriculum, further building on leadership skills including self determination and empowerment advocacy. In 2023, Adelina was also awarded San Diego County Public Defender’s Office 25 Most Remarkable Teens Award in Social Justice, recognizing her leadership and civic engagement in youth advocacy for social equity. Her unwavering commitment and dedication to social justice has led her to look forward to growing as an agent of change by majoring in public policy and becoming further involved in government politics.

Avanti Ramraj is a 3rd-year undergraduate student at Stanford University, majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Public Policy, where she holds leadership roles in organizations including Stanford Women in Medicine where she is a director on the executive board. Avanti is deeply involved in research as a Clinical Research Assistant at the Brooks Lab at Stanford Medical School and contributes to saving lives via Stanford’s Emergency Medical Service team as a certified EMT. Avanti has a strong background in public service, having interned with the California State Treasurer’s Office since 2019, where she supported COVID-19 relief efforts and played a key role in state-level initiatives. She also interned for the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association and worked with the non-profit SIRUM (Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine) to expand healthcare access for underserved communities. Her international experience includes serving as a US Department of State Youth Ambassador to Ecuador and Colombia, where she worked on youth and community development projects. As a leader in STEM education, Avanti founded the STEM Universal Reach Foundation, a non-profit organization that teaches robotics and STEM fields to underprivileged children globally. Her commitment to youth education is also reflected in her role as a coach and mentor for over 200 students in speech and debate. Avanti has received numerous accolades for her achievements, including being ranked 4th in California and becoming a National octafinalist in International Extemporaneous Speech. She also co-founded and led the Thunderbots, a community robotics team that won prestigious awards such as the Inspire Award at the First Lego League International in Izmir, Turkey, and the Global Innovation Award for Best Design, competing against over 5,000 teams from 50+ countries. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Avanti is a TEDx speaker and organizer, where she has mentored and coached speakers at multiple TEDxYouth events. Her speech titled “Brown Girl in the Ring” advocates for increased representation of women in STEM fields. Avanti’s diverse experiences and numerous awards highlight her commitment to making a meaningful impact in healthcare, education, and youth empowerment, both locally and globally.

Andrea Terrones is passionate about politics and public service. After graduating from UC Riverside with a B.A. in Political Science, Andrea worked at a personal injury law firm where she expanded her legal expertise and sought justice for wrongfully injured clients. She was also a Researcher at the University of California, Riverside Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center collecting data on Mexican Labor in the Inland Empire in 2023. During college, she led a variety of civic engagement efforts within her student government, scheduling lobbying meetings at the local and state level, establishing higher education partnerships with community organizations, and promoting beneficial legislation with the University of California Student Association (UCSA). Andrea also founded Womxn in the Law to provide resources to underrepresented women of color pursuing careers in law or public affairs. Andrea continued to advocate for marginalized communities as an Organizing Fellow for Golden State Opportunity, a non-profit dedicated to ending poverty by providing Californians with the tools to build financial well-being. Her cohort helped reach 1.8+ million low-income and working class Californians. During her free time, Andrea volunteers as a Youth Teen Ministry Leader at her local church, plays tennis and spends time with her family. Andrea is determined to make the most of her time as a Commissioner and is excited to strengthen the relationship between California youth and policymakers.

Jocelyn Weinstock is a high school student based in Los Angeles. She has committed herself to service since she was old enough to volunteer. Her areas of focus are educational equity, the unhoused community, animal rights, and youth mental health. Through her work with Alexandria House, High Rise Tutoring and School on Wheels, she has actively supported Los Angeles youth receive educational support and mentoring. She believes that by bringing our communities together in service we will bridge the divides in our country and solve for many of our societies greatest challenges.

Sarah Yee, of Granite Bay, is a Harvard freshman passionate about amplifying stories of underrepresented and misrepresented communities through slam poetry, journalism and advocacy. She is a California Youth Crisis Line Counselor and former intern for the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association’s (APAPA) Youth Leadership Academy and former State Controller Hon. Betty Yee. Yee is member of Key Club, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Journalism Education Association of Northern California.