Youth Leadership PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ADVISORS
Youth Leadership Program Director
Annu Luthra
Annu’s family moved to Seattle in 1982 and she participated and performed in IACS/IAWW events from the start of the organization back in the late 1980s. As a teenager, IAWW (now IACS) was one of the platforms which gave her the opportunity to meet other kids with similar backgrounds and build lifelong friendships. Annu is passionate about volunteering to make a difference. She was the PTSA treasurer for two years at Newcastle Elementary and joined the IACS executive board in 2012 to give back to the community. She has served on the IACS board as Secretary, Vice President, President and this is her ninth year as the Youth Leadership Program Director. Annu is also on the King County Children and Youth Advisory Board. Annu started her career working at Microsoft while majoring in Marketing at the University of Washington and held variety of roles over the years.Email: ypdirector@iaww.org
Youth Board Advisors
Dhara patel
Dhara received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Washington and is currently working as a Registered Nurse here in Seattle. She is also currently a graduate student hoping to get her Masters in Nursing with a focus in leadership and administration. In her free time, she enjoys working out, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.
Dhara was born and raised in the Seattle area and went through both the YC and YB program. She is looking forward to her second year on the advisory team and working with the youth. Dhara’s favorite part of the advisory role is meeting new faces and creating an environment which fosters learning and growing for those involved; she is excited to kick off this year with you all!
Sahara Nath
Sahara is currently a CX/Operational Specialist at a Seattle start up, Convoy. In addition to her full time job she runs a successful dessert catering business, “Cakes by Sahara”.
In her free time, she enjoys being active with soccer and working out, spending time with friends, traveling, and trying lots of restaurants.
As a child, Sahara enjoyed attending Camp Bharat, performing at IAWW/IACS events, and participating in the Youth Council. This will be Sahara’s 4th year as an Advisor. She truly cherishes all the connections she has made and all she has learned from working with the IACS youth. She is passionate about giving back to the community through the YB program and is looking forward to another fantastic year.
Sophia Klein
Sophie was born and raised in Alaska. She moved to Oregon to attend George Fox University and earned her bachelors of science in nursing. She currently works as a cardiac nurse in downtown Seattle and has a passion for helping people. She got married in 2021 and moved to Seattle with her husband so he could pursue a graduate degree in pharmacy.
In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors (especially with her dog), cooking, and visiting family whenever she has the chance!
This year, Sophie is looking forward to getting to know everyone in the YB program. She hopes to foster relationships and promote an environment focused on growth and learning.
Youth Advocacy Advisors
Amanda Tehaney
Youth Advocacy Coordinator
Amanda was born and raised in California. In 2020 her and her fiancé moved to Seattle and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest!
Amanda is currently a Masters student at the University of Washington. She was an intern with the program in 2021-22, working closely with the YA program. During the summer she worked with the YB team on their annual camp planning and at the camp. This year she continues on as an advisor as she finishes her last year of school. She looks forward to getting to know a new team!
In her free time Amanda enjoys hiking, being with her dogs, traveling, and reading.
Manasvi Karia
Youth Advocacy Advisor
Manasvi is a final year student in the dual Doctor of Pharmacy & MBA program at Washington State University in Spokane, WA. She was born & raised in Redmond and went through both the Youth Council and Youth Board programs. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes, and playing with her dog.
This is Manasvi’s first year with the advisory team and she is excited to work with the youth to advocate, empower, and influence the local community. She enjoys being a part of organizations that align with her passions and values. Manasvi also works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Communities in School of Washington, & attempts to further her research on ‘Opioid Misuse Among Teens’ by educating those that are interested and/or at risk.
Priyanka Sarnaik
Youth Advocacy Advisor
Priyanka has received her BA from University of Washington-Bothell, double majoring in Political Science and Global Studies as well as double minoring in Human Rights and Health Studies. In 2022, she received her Master's in Public Health with a concentration in management and policy from San Diego State University.
Priyanka currently works as a housing specialist at a non-profit in Seattle, with the goal of providing housing for those experiencing homelessness. Her hobbies include reading and spending time with family. Priyanka is excited to start her second year as an Youth Advocacy Advisor for the IACS Youth Leadership Program!
YOUTH Council and Youth Outreach Advisors
Aarav Khanna
Youth Council Advisor
coming soon
Divij Aswinkumar
Youth Council Advisor
Hi my name is Divij Aswinkumar and I am a junior at Tesla STEM High School. I have been part of IACS for 4 years now and have been a Youth Council and Youth Advocacy Member. As a member of these programs, I have learned a lot about how youth can really make an impact and a difference. This year I want to empower others so that they can do the same. I enjoy working with others and am looking forward to being a YC Advisor this year. In my free time I love to play soccer, watch movies, and sing/listen to music (Hindi and English).
Harsh Bhimani
Youth Council Advisor
Hi everyone my name is Harsh Bhimani and I am a YC Advisor. I am a senior in High School. I have been a YB for 3 years and was YB Vice President in 2021-22. The YLP program has contributed to so many of my favorite memories and I am super excited to continue this with the YCs this year! I like to listen to music and work out, as well as spend time with my family and friends!! I’m super excited for this upcoming year!
Kamya Raman
Youth Council Advisor
coming soon
Shivam Singhal
Youth Council Advisor
coming soon
Manav Balakrishnan
Youth Outreach Advisor
My name is Manav Balakrishnan and I am a YO Advisor this year. I am a senior at Redmond High School. I have been a part of the Youth Leadership Program for four years (two on YC and two on YB). I like listening to music, playing soccer, and hanging out with my friends. I am excited for this year as a YO Advisor because it is really great getting to see younger kids involved in the community. I am really excited to work with you all this year!
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Shivas Kumar
Youth Outreach Advisor
Hi everyone! My name is Shivas Kumar, and I am a High School Junior. This is my first year as a YO Advisor and I’m super excited! I was on YC and YB.
I am really excited to be a YO advisor and help guide the younger kids through middle school!
Sanjana Nath
Youth Outreach Advisor
My name is Sanjana Nath and I am a first-year YO Advisor. I am a senior in High School and have been a YC and YB for the past 4 years and served as the Youth Board Accounting Chair in my last year. I have loved being a part of the IACS programs and going to Camp Bharat since I was young so I am super excited to be able to give back, continue to stay involved with the community and work with the YOs this year. In my free time, I love to travel, spend time with my friends, family, and dog, and play tennis. I can´t wait to meet and get to know all of the YOs and have a great year giving back to the community.
Nihaar Movva
Youth Outreach Advisor
My name is Nihaar Movva and I am excited to be a YO advisor this year. I am currently a senior in high school, and was on the Youth Board for the past 2 years. Some of my favorite things to do are to play basketball and listen to music. I can’t wait to meet all the new YOs this year and help them grow as leaders!
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Vani Jain
Youth Outreach Advisor
Hi, my name is Vani Jain and I am a YO Advisor this year! I’m currently a Senior in High School and a Youth Board Alum. This will be my fifth year involved in the Youth Leadership Program! Some of my hobbies include listening to music, playing soccer, and going out to eat with my friends. I’m so excited for the opportunity to advise the YOs because I love this program and can’t wait to see what they do to help our community and grow as leaders.
Youth Board Leaders
Rishi Lakshminarayanan
2022-23 President
Hello! My name is Rishi Lakshminarayanan, and I am president of the Youth Board this year. I'm currently a junior and this is my second year on YB, although I've been a part of the IACS program as a YA and YC since seventh grade. Some of my favorite memories include bonding with other Youth Board members at camp and falling off the inner tube at retreat last year. Outside of school, I enjoy playing basketball with friends and listening to music. This year, I hope to bring the group together and give campers memories they will cherish.
Yash Buddhdeo
Vice PresidentHey everyone, my name is Yash Buddhdeo and I am a junior. This is my third year on YB and my eighth year working in IACS. I am looking forward to working with the board to produce fun and engaging events in the community and eventually planning camp which is always a highlight. My favorite memories are bonding with the YBs and I am so excited to plan them this year. Outside of YB, I love to watch shows such as the Good Place and play sports such as tennis and soccer. I would love to travel to the Maldives in the future because it looks so peaceful and serene. This year is going to be one for the books!
Aasha Parikh
Treasurer
Hi, My name is Aasha and I am a sophomore in high school. I love to draw, listen to music, and hangout with friends in my free time. This is my second year on the board and I am super excited for this year. One thing I am looking forward to this year is connecting with the community and the other members of the board.
Aditya Arora
SecretaryHello, I'm Aditya Arora, I’m currently a junior, and am so excited to be returning to YB this year. My favorite movie is either the Dark Knight or a Dog’s journey. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, taking naps, and playing basketball. My favorite camp memory has to be playing Holi from camp 2022. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone have a blast at camp this summer, and I can’t wait!
Meera Singhal
Public RelatonsHi, my name is Meera Singhal! I am currently a first-year YB and the YB PR officer. My favorite memory from YLP was the summer mela back in spring because of all the different booths. I am most looking forward to planning camp and bonding with all the campers during Camp Bharat this year. I enjoy reading and writing in my free time as well as playing volleyball.
Krish Doshi
Youth Council Lead Hi, my name is Krish Doshi and I'm a junior at Woodinville High School. Some of my hobbies are programming (yes, I am one of those kids) and spending time with the people I care about. This is my first year as a member of YB, but I'm excited for all it entails. During the past couple years, I've moved up the ladder and taken part in YC and YA, which I enjoyed very much. I really enjoyed being able to present about local and imported foods at camp last year as well as being able to help restore McAuliffe park. Overall, I'm looking forward to seeing the smiles on all of the campers' faces this year at camp!
Rohan Saraiya
Youth Council Lead
Hi, my name is Rohan Saraiya! I am a junior & 2nd year YB. I'm super excited to return to the board and attend my eighth year of camp this upcoming year. My hobbies include hanging out with friends, playing sports, listening to music, and being outside. Some of my favorite music artists are Taylor Swift and NBA Youngboy. A fun fact about me is I love trying new foods. Some of my favorite camp memories are campfire and late-night talks in Room 35. I look forward to making an impact on my community throughout this year and giving my campers a memorable experience at Camp 2023.
Shiven Kumar
Youth Council Lead
Hello, I am Shiven and this is my first year on YB and am very excited for this year! I am a sophomore and I have been to camp for 7 years. My favorite hobbies are playing basketball and listening to my favorite rapper which is Drake. My favorite camp memory is playing Kabaddi against my brother (even though I lost). This year my goal is to help the campers have a fantastic time at Camp Bharat!
Anagha Krishna
Youth Outreach Lead
Hi, my name is Anagha Krishna, and I am a freshman. In my free time, I like to play soccer or hang out with friends. This is my first year as a YB, and my third year going to camp. My favorite memory at camp would definitely be Garba. I am looking forward to meeting new people and going to camp!
Aneri Bhatt
Youth Outreach Lead
Hey! My name is Aneri, I am a Freshman, and this is my first year as a YB!! I was a YC last year and one of my favorite memories was getting to teach the dance workshop at camp. I’ve been to camp for two years as well, and my favorite memory from that is bhangra. A few of my hobbies include traveling, going to concerts, listening to music, watching netflix, and spending time with my friends. I am so excited to meet new people this year and give back to our community!!
Jaisal Vohra
Youth Outreach Lead
Hi, my name is Jaisal Vohra, and I am a junior. This is my second year on YB and my third year in the program. My favorite memories from camp are scary stories during campfire as well as garba. During my free time, I like to go on long, aimless walks, read, listen to music, and watch TV. Currently, my favorite TV show is All American. A fun fact about me is that I have been playing the violin for eight years. And this year, I am really excited to get to know new people and help out the community!
Aarav Talati
Social Media Chair
Hi, my name is Aarav Talati, and I am a Junior. This is my first year on the Youth Board and this will be my 5th year going to Camp Bharat. One of my favorite memories in the program was Garba. friends. In my free time I like to hang out with friends and listen to music. Some of my favorite artists are Kenrick Lamar, Tyler The Creator, and Lil Wayne. Something that I am looking forward to this year on YB is meeting new people. I am super excited for to be a part of the YB this year!
Mallika Sheth
Scribe ChairHi my name is Mallika Sheth and I am currently a junior at Interlake! This will be my second year as a youth board member and 9th year at camp. My favorite memory from the YLP program was coming back to camp as a YC and making so many new connections and getting to collaborate with different people! Some things I like to do for fun are ski, draw, and hang out with friends!
Shivraj Raichur
Accounting Chair Hello, my name is Shivraj Raichur and I am a junior at Shorecrest High School. This year will be my second year on YB and my 4th year in the YLP program. Over the past years I have been lucky to serve as a YC and as a YB. One of my favorite memories from the YLP program was camp and it is always something I am looking forward too. In my free time, I hand make greetings cards, hangout with friends, and eat food. One of my favorite things to do is travel. I am excited for another year on YB and see what more it has to offer.
Abhi Krishna
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Abhi Krishna. I'm a junior and this is my first year as a YB and my second year going to camp. Something I'm looking forward to this year is going to Camp Bharat and making new friends. My favorite camp memory is playing Kabaddi and Handball. Some of my hobbies are playing sports (especially basketball), listening to music, and hanging out with friends.
Akila Attringal
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Akila Attringal and this is my second year on YB! My favorite memory on YLP is when I spent time with my campers at camp last year. This year on YB, I am looking forward to bonding with my peers and executing the best camp yet! One of my favorite places to be is the Taco Bell drive through, other than that I enjoy watching movies, spending time with my friends and meeting new people!
Amara Paliwal
Youth BoardHi, my name is Amara Paliwal and I am currently a freshman. This is my first year as a YB, but i’ve been part of the IACS Youth Leadership Program for 4 years. This will also be my 5th year going to camp. Some hobbies I have are playing soccer, snowboarding, hanging out with my friends and listening to music! My favorite tv show is Grey’s Anatomy and one interesting fact about me is i love to travel and i’ve been to 14 countries! I am so excited to be a YB this year and pass on the amazing camp experience i’ve had to so many other campers.
Anvika Singh
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Anvika Singh, and I am a freshman currently. This is my first year in YB, and I have been a part of IACS for 6 years now. Some of my favorite memories in YLP/Camp Bharat are winning sports through a rock paper scissors tournament when the final game was rained out or playing cards at night in the Sher cabin with other girls. This year in YB I am most looking forward to building community and planning an awesome camp! In my free time I like to ski, read or write, or play Valorant with friends.
Avanti Bhandari
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Avanti Bhandari and I am a junior at Issaquah High School. This is my first year as a YB but my third year in IACS's youth leadership program. I spend my free time, volunteering at a hospital, working out, reading, and spending time with those I love. My favorite memories in this program have been camp and small community projects, and I am looking forward to the memories I will make with this year's board!
Jasleen Kapoor
Youth Board
Hi, I’m Jasleen and I am a junior. This is my first year as a YB, but I’ve been in the youth program since 8th grade. In my free time, I like hanging out with friends and playing basketball. My favorite camp memories were bonding and camp sports. This year, I’m looking forward to bonding with all the YBs and the retreat. I’m excited to be on the Youth Board this year!
Mahima Balakrishnan
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Mahima Balakrishnan, and I am a sophomore. This is my first year on YB and I'm super excited for camp. In my free time, I like to play piano, go on hikes with my dog, and read books. My favorite book is Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. I love watching musicals and my favorite TV show is Phineas and Ferb. One fun fact about me is that I can recite the alphabet backwards in less than 5 seconds. I am really looking forward to being on the Youth Board this year and can't wait to meet new people and further my outreach within the Indian community.
Meher Agarwal
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Meher Agarwal. I am in 11th grade. This is my first year as YB, I was previously a YC and loved being a part of it. My favorite memories from YLP are hanging out with my friends during free time at camp and sports of course. I am looking forward to planning camp for all the campers! In my free time, I love to exercise, play tennis, and hang out with my friends. I am so excited for a great year as YB!
Nikita Chopra
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Nikita. I’m a freshman and this is my first year on YB. My favorite memory is mosh putting on Garba night 2022. This year, I’m most looking forward to working with this group of people to make camp extraordinarily fun this year. In my free time, I debate, play chess, and watch too much Bollywood. Hope to see you at camp!!
Nikunj Bhotika
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Nikunj Bhotika. This is my first year on the Youth Board and I was YC in 2021. Some of my favorite activities that I’ve done in the YLP are making care packages and helping restore McAuliffe park. I'm looking forward to being a YB at Camp Bharat this year and doing projects like food drives. Some of my hobbies are playing Valorant with friends, shooting hoops after school and building Legos. I'm excited to meet new people and make the community a better place.
Rajiv Arvind
Youth BoardHello, my name is Rajiv Arvind, and I am a sophomore. This is my first year on Youth Board, and I'm so excited! I have one prior year on YLP, which was as a Youth Advocacy member. My favorite part from YLP is easily Camp Bharat, meeting new people and seeing old friends again. This year, the thing that I am looking forward to most is giving campers the best experience possible at Camp Bharat, and ensuring that they have the time of their lives, as I have every year that I go to camp. Outside of school, I enjoy watching TV, hanging out with my friends, and going on hikes.
Rajiv Rajesh
Youth Board Hi, my name is Rajiv Rajesh and I am a Junior at North Creek High School. I am very excited as this is my first time being a YB and I can’t wait to help the community and help run an amazing camp during summer. I want to help people learn about Indian culture as I felt like it took a while for me to learn about it myself. I like to spend my free time with my friends. We usually just talk for hours or we play basketball. I am very excited for this year and I’m sure that this will be an amazing year for everyone in YB!
Rishi Mehta
Youth Board Hi, my name is Rishi Mehta, and I am a Junior. This is my first year on the Youth Board, and my 4th year as part of the IACS YLP. I love running, cross country, and lacrosse. I also like to do photography. My favorite TV show is the Office, and my favorite YLP memory was helping set up and run carnival last year at camp. I'm so excited to meet and work with new people all year!
Ritvij Garg
Youth BoardHi, my name is Ritvij Garg, and I am a junior . This is my 1st year on YB and 3rd year in IACS YLP. My most favorite memories from YLP are the projects we do for the community. I am looking forward to helping the community more this year on YB. Some of my hobbies include playing sports, listening to music, and playing the viola. I am excited to be a part of YB this year.
Saanvi Datta
Youth BoardHi, I’m Saanvi Datta, and this will be my first year in YB! Previously, I’ve been in Youth Advocacy, Youth Outreach and Youth Council. One of my favorite memories from YLP is making care packages for the homeless. This year in YB, I’m looking forward to Camp Bharat and making new friends!
Sanya Sinha
Youth Board Hi! My name is Sanya Sinha and I am a freshman. This is my first year on the Youth Board and my third in the Youth Leadership Program. This will be my 5th year going to camp. My favorite memories from YLP was being in the camp sports finals in 2021 and garba night every year. Some of my hobbies are listening to music, hanging out with friends and playing tennis. Some of my favorite music artists are Daniel Caesar and Baby Keem. I am looking forward to making lots of friends this year!!
Shaan Saraiya
Youth Board My name is Shaan Saraiya, and I’m super excited to be part of YB this year! This will be my 1st year as a YB, but I have been in YLP since 6th grade, and I’ve gone to camp for even longer! Some of my favorite memories as part of IACS have been sports at camp and the great people I have met through both camp and YLP events. This year, I am definitely looking forward to giving back to my community and providing all campers and YLP members with the same fun experiences that past YB’s gave me. Outside of YB, I enjoy playing trumpet in band, playing with my dog, and hanging out with friends. I couldn’t be happier to see what this year holds!
Shruti Chadalavada
Youth BoardMy Name is Shruti Chadalavada! I’m a returning YB and I’ve been going to camp for 6 years. My favorite camp memory is definitely eating s’mores at campfire. Something I'm looking forward to this year is all our community events and making them the best possible, outside of camp obviously.
Youth Advocacy Leaders
Ruthu Mavnur
Youth Advocacy President Hi! I’m a junior in high school and the Youth Advocacy President this year. I’m extremely passionate about Equity in all aspects. Advocacy benefits me and my community by educating against inequality and providing resources to those in need. Some of my hobbies include badminton, piano, coding, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family. I’m excited to see the wonderful projects led by the advocacy teams this year, as well as get to know my YA teammates.
Tarisha Chokshi
Youth Advocacy Vice PresidentHello! My name is Tarisha, I’m a sophomore, and this is my first year on YA! Some of my hobbies include skiing, playing guitar, and hanging out with friends. I am in the equity advocacy team and I am most excited this year to work on my group’s advocacy projects and being able to spread awareness in our community. Being in the equity advocacy lets me contribute to our community and give to others and I am very excited to see how this year’s advocacy runs!
Srimedha Thummala
Youth Advocacy Secretary Hi I am Srimedha and this is my second year as a YA member. Last year, I was the co-lead of the homelessness and animal rights groups. This year, I am the Youth Advocacy secretary, and I am part of the human rights advocacy group, which focuses on a broader category of topics. I know that my advocacy, and collaboration with my peers, can make a positive impact on the community, whether it is by spreading awareness to positively change the understanding and perspectives of a person or by executing projects with various organizations and groups. I am excited about continuing to build a bond and connection with both the new and returning YA members. Outside of IACS, I love to practice martial arts with my friends, code, read fictional/fantasy books, and tutor.
Aadit Aggarwal
Youth Advocacy Public RelationsHi! My name is Aadit Aggarwal, and I am a freshman. I am one of the PR Officers for the 2022-23 Youth Advocacy. Some of my hobbies are playing badminton, tennis, and chess. A fun fact about me is my favorite food is pizza, especially with the pan crust from Pizza Hut. I am part of the Mental Health and Wellness advocacy team. My experience with advocacy has helped me gain more awareness of the problem and how we as a community can help fight stigma around it.
Manan Vora
Youth Advocacy Public Relations My name is Manan Vora and I am a senior in high school. This is my third year in YA and this year I am serving as one of the PR Officers. As part of the climate change team, I am excited to work on new projects and work with other passionate advocates. In my free time, I love to hike and play basketball. As part of the YA Team, I love seeing how we educate our community from young middle schoolers all the way to senior citizens. This year I am excited to help in the climate fight and make an impact.
Avni Panchal
Youth Advocacy Scribe ChairHi! My name is Avni Panchal and I am currently a freshman. In my free time I enjoy playing tennis, working out, listening to music, and spending time with those I love. I am also very passionate about supporting Human Rights! Human Rights Policy work gives me the advantage to learn and educate others by spreading awareness, as well as encouraging others to fight for equal opportunities!
Anand Krishnan
Youth AdvocacyHello, my name is Anand Krishnan and I am currently a freshman and this is my first year of YA. I am passionate about the Climate Change advocacy because it is a critical issue and am super excited to be part of this advocacy team. Some of my hobbies include playing guitar and coding, and I am excited to get working on the projects we have planned this year.
Ansh Chavda
Youth Advocacy My name is Ansh Chavda, and I am a Co-Lead for the climate change group. Some of my hobbies include learning new things and playing games with my friends. I'm excited to make a real change in our community when it comes to climate change! I'll work hard to benefit the community by learning and teaching others about climate change. I'm looking forward to this year as a YA!
Arjun Menon
Youth Advocacy My name is Arjun Menon and I'm a high school senior. I enjoy photography and spend my time reading, hiking, and fishkeeping. I am very passionate about advocacy and love the power it has to spark change. Not only does it teach me to be a more globally-aware citizen but it helps instill passion in members of the community. I'm very excited to finish my last year in YA on a high note, as the Mental Health advocacy team has a lot of great events in the works.
Dhruv Kasarabada
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Dhruv Kasarabada, and I am a sophomore at Redmond High School. I am a part of the Climate Change Team in YA. Some of my hobbies are playing soccer, reading books, and watching tv. I’m most excited about meeting new people in the YA team, and learning new things. Advocacy is important and beneficial to the community because it allows our voices to be heard and considered when decisions are being made.
Diya Reddy
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Diya Reddy and I am a senior this year! This is my second year doing youth advocacy and I am so excited to be part of the equity team this year! I hope to work with my team to educate ourselves and our communities! I am also excited to create conversations as well as opportunities to support people via fundraising and community workshops! In my free time I I love to read, paint, play soccer and participate in my school's Model United Nations club!
Drithi Pasupuleti
Youth Advocacy Hi! I'm a sophomore, and this is my 2nd year in YA! I like to sing and play piano, and I'm really passionate about mental health advocacy. It gives me and others in my community a voice, and I'm looking forward to all the projects and memories I'll make with my group this year!
Mihir Mishra
Youth Advocacy Hi there! My name is Mihir Mishra and I'm a senior in high school. I am most passionate about mental health and wellness, and my hobbies include singing, painting, reading, and crocheting. As a second-year YA, I'm most excited to continue collaborating with other youth to fight against mental health stigma in our community. My advocacy benefits my community by spreading awareness on pressing issues in the form of awareness posts and donation projects, through which I've worked to quantify mental health concepts and create actionable changes within the greater Seattle area. Bonding with last year's YA group was also so much fun, and I can't wait to see what this program year holds!
Neha Nedungadi
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Neha and I'm a junior who is part of the equity group. Some of my hobbies include coaching and participating in dance as well as reading and spending time with friends. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to educate myself and those around me about important advocacy issues that I feel strongly about, as well as building long lasting relationships with peers. My advocacy will inform the public about common issues regarding harmful stereotypes and misconceptions that we face daily. I hope that our work and dedication will make a change in our community.
Pranav Adhikari
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Pranav, and I’m a sophomore who is one of the co-leads of the Equity group. I enjoy painting, reading, and spending time with friends. This year I’m looking forward to connecting with my community and advocating for important topics within my community. My advocacy alongside my peers will help educate, inform, and create resources for those around me and provide insight to my community. I hope to help create change and to be part of something bigger than myself.
Pranav Alaparthi
Youth Advocacy Hi, I’m Pranav Alaparthi, and I’m in 12th grade. This is my third year on the YA climate change team! Some of my hobbies include soccer, piano, vintage coin collecting, and volunteering. This will be my first year in YA with almost no COVID restrictions, so I’m excited to see how we take advantage of that! I think advocacy is extremely important because it brings attention to important societal issues.
Rihtik Banthia
Youth Advocacy My name is Rihtik Banthia. I am in 9th grade and this is my first year on Youth Advocacy. I am passionate about animal welfare and am part of that advocacy team.. I want to have animals treated better in today's world and raise awareness around this issue. My hobbies are playing and watching sports.
Rishi Vora
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Rishi Vora and I am a sophomore in high school. I am a Co-Lead in the Climate Change advocacy group. My hobbies include biking, hiking, and coding. I’m most excited about seeing the change we can make in our community! Advocacy benefits my community by creating awareness for topics that may not get enough attention or that people are unaware about.
Riya Gupta
Youth AdvocacyHi, my name is Riya and I am an 11th grader and this is my first year in YA. Some of my hobbies include: hip hop, tennis, digital art, horseback riding, interior designing, boxing, and bowling. I am currently in the human rights advocacy group this year because I am passionate about human rights issues and other current events. It is important to educate ourselves and spread awareness in the community about these issues.
Rohan Kurup
Youth Advocacy Rohan Kurup is a senior returning to his second year of IACS Youth Leadership and is the Youth Advocacy Mental Health Lead. In that position, he guides his team in destigmatizing mental illness, normalizing self-care, and promoting mental health-related careers. Through these efforts, he hopes to preserve and rebuff the mental health of his community. In college, Rohan hopes to continue his mental health advocacy as a psychology major. Beyond behavioral science, his hobbies include baking, hiking, and fishkeeping!
Sahasra Chinthireddy
Youth Advocacy Hi, my name is Sahasra Chinthireddy and I am a part of Youth Advocacy this year! I’m currently a junior in high school and this is my first year being in one of the IACS youth leadership programs. I am passionate about advocating for Human Rights. I am an active member in the Human Rights advocacy group while leading and organizing upcoming projects and campaigns. In my free time I love to listen to music, travel, and hang out with my friends. I can’t wait for this year to meet new people and give back to the community!
Sana Chaudhary
Youth Advocacy Hello, my name is Sana and I am a Sophomore in High School. I enjoy playing tennis, listening to music, and hanging out with my friends and family. I am on the Equity Advocacy team, and I am excited to meet and work alongside the other Youth Advocates this year. I believe we all play a role in helping make our community an equitable place for all, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this team.
Satvik Desai
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Satvik Desai and I am in 9th grade. I am most passionate about Mental Health advocacy, and I am the social chair in my group. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, listening to music, running, swimming, and cooking. This year I am most excited to help people destigmatize mental health and mental health workers. My advocacy allows people to recognize that mental health plays an important role in people's lives and is a source of problems. Destigmatizing mental health workers is important to reduce negativity around careers in mental health and boost mental health in our community in general.
Srujana Kodavalla
Youth AdvocacyMy name is Srujana Kodavalla and I am in 12th grade. This is my third year in IACS Youth Advocacy and I am so excited for this program year! Some of my hobbies include dancing, reading, and hanging out with my friends. Advocacy has helped educate me and my community to form more diverse perspectives on a wide variety of topics. This year I am so excited for the new out of the box ideas that each group has come up with and the amazing advocacy work we will continue to do for this year.
Subhasheni Venkatesh
Youth Advocacy Hello, my name is Subhasheni Venkatesh, I’m the scribe chair for the equity team this year. In my free time I enjoy playing piano, video games, walking in nature, and listening to music. Advocacy benefits me and my community by spreading awareness and educating against inequalities people face. I’m most excited about working with my group members and am looking forward to our out of the box project.
Syon Mishra
Youth Advocacy Hey! My name is Syon Mishra, and I’m a freshman. I am deeply interested in the advocacy issue of Animal Welfare, and I am the group lead of my team. Some of my hobbies include playing sports, I dance, I do Musical Theater, sing Hindustani Classical music, and I play the drums. What I’m most eager to do this year in the IACS YA is to make a difference in the community regarding Animal Welfare, which essentially means putting in worthwhile and impactful efforts (educating, informing, hands-on projects, etc.).
