C&S Announces New Youth Advisory Council Members

C&S has named six new members to its Youth Advisory Council. The group brings together young people ages 15–24 from across the United States, who will advise C&S on strategy, programming, and decision-making.

Throughout their two-year term, council members share ideas, feedback, and lived experiences with C&S leadership to help shape programs, priorities, and direction. They also serve as youth ambassadors by participating in events and engaging audiences across C&S platforms.

The Youth Advisory Council is a key part of C&S’s commitment to centering young people in its work. Launched in 2024 as a pilot with five founding members, the council was designed by young people themselves, who developed its bylaws and structure. Since then, the YAC has contributed recommendations to inform C&S initiatives, met with organizational leaders, and presented at national conferences.

Meet the Members

Tarun Batchu, 17 | Powell, OH
Tarun Batchu is a high school senior at Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio, focused on social entrepreneurship and using technology for civic, environmental, and equity-driven impact. He is a Carnegie Young Leaders Fellow, team lead, and co-founder of the Powell Youth Council, where he builds scalable youth policymaking models through legislative sandboxes, roundtables, and policy hackathons. His work spans climate advocacy with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, global engagement through the United Nations Association of the United States of America, and interdisciplinary research, connecting innovation, governance, and community-based solutions aimed at translating technical ideas into measurable public impact.

Emily Brubaker, 15 | Anchorage, AK
Emily Brubaker is a lifelong Alaskan who is passionate about advocating for healthcare, environmental safety, spaces for youth voices to be heard, and more. She has advocated for rare disease healthcare in Congress for almost a decade. Brubaker is the team lead for The BioGlitter Initiative, part of Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness, focusing on reducing the amount of microplastics used in Alaska. Since winning the National Civics Bee in 2024, she has also been a strong advocate for civic knowledge and participation for youth. Brubaker is dedicated to supporting youth leading positive change in their communities.

Kaitlyn Cui, 21 | Lake Forest, CA
Kaitlyn is a UCLA senior studying Political Science and minoring in Public Affairs and Digital Humanities at UCLA. Her experiences and interests span youth empowerment in policymaking and making youth civic engagement more accessible through creative approaches, including but not limited to education, organizing, community-engaged research, digital activations, and partnering with cultural organizations and institutions. Through the Youth Advisory Council, she is eager to develop her public voice, explore policy innovation and social entrepreneurship, expand inclusive infrastructure to sustain C&S’s impact and youth alumni engagement nationwide. Kaitlyn is happy to chat about community-engaged research, arts & culture policy, and the intersection between technology, social justice, and civic mobilization.

Trey Jackson, 20 | London, KY
Trey Jackson is a senior at the University of the Cumberlands, majoring in Accounting and Finance, from rural Appalachia. He will begin law school at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in the Fall of 2026. Trey has held internships in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. District Court system, and various local, state, and national advocacy organizations. A licensed real estate agent, he serves on the Bluegrass REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Committee. He also holds leadership roles as Chief of Staff for his university’s Student Government Association, Vice President of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Honor Society, and Co-President of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Clementina Jose, 24 | Woodhaven, NY
Clementina Jose, LMSW, is a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy at Trevecca Nazarene University. After earning her master’s in social work and becoming licensed at just 21, she discovered her purpose in bridging education and mental health. Clementina is passionate about transforming how underserved communities access and experience mental health care, striving to build spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Kevin Lopez Cruz, 20 | Lanham, MD
Kevin Lopez Cruz, a first-generation college student, aspires to occupy a space between the academy, public service, and civics (at-large) as a professor of English one day, and is proudly pursuing his B.A. in English at Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest HBCU. Kevin is passionate about bridge-building and has led cross-institution partnerships to expand experiential learning opportunities for students, including efforts to charter a chapter of the Maryland Student Legislature at Bowie State and hosting a meet-and-greet with Joseline Peña-Melnyk, the Maryland House of Delegates’ newly elected Speaker. Kevin is especially interested in how structured dialogue and civic education can reduce polarization and strengthen communities. He is an alum of America in One Room: The Youth Vote, hosted by Close Up and partners, and the YSLI Fellowship, hosted by Democracy House.