2023 Impact Awardee Daniel Dae Kim’s Anti-bullying Advice. | Image via Act To Change
NEW YORK—This spring, the Filipino Young Leaders Program’s (FYLPRO) Tayo project will host four Act to Change Youth Ambassadors across the United States.
Geared toward high school students, the four youth ambassadors to work with Tayo are:
Izaiah Chua – 10th Grade – Tennessee
Karmel Lucas – 10th Grade – Northern Mariana Islands
Serena Mackay – 10th Grade – New Hampshire
Jaylen Rabago – 11th Grade – Hawaii
This group will work on a capstone project to assist Tayo in creating a grant database and marketing campaigns. They are part of a cohort of 19 high school students in the 2024-2025 class.
Over an 8-month journey, ambassadors participate in leadership development, mentorship, innovation, and community partnerships. The program culminates in their capstone projects being presented in May in New York City.
Tayo previously served as one of three mentorship sites for Act to Change’s Fall 2022 Youth Ambassador Program.
The Act To Change’s Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a transformative initiative that leverages the strengths, creativity, and leadership potential of AAPI youth to develop impactful, community-driven solutions to bullying and social exclusion.
Izaiah Chua is originally from the Philippines but immigrated to the United States and is now a sophomore in Tennessee. She is a TNSTRONG Ambassador Alum, Chairperson for FCB Youth Leadership, and a graduate of the UChicago Emerging Rural Leaders Session. Using her leadership, service, and public speaking skills, Izaiah uses her platform to advocate for a nicotine-free generation and foster inclusivity, resilience, and progress.
Karmel Lucas is a sophomore from Saipan, MP. They dedicate themselves to promoting Filipino diversity and AAPI representation; Karmel wants to raise awareness of Saipan’s cultural heritage and promote love and honor for the unique qualities of the AAPI community by involving herself in the community.
Serena Mackay is a newly immigrated sophomore from Manchester, New Hampshire. Grounded in their Filipino roots, they advocate for systemic change and liberation, believing the fight against prejudice is a collective struggle. Serena channels this passion through leadership in campus journalism, graphic design, and debate and is now working to establish a nonprofit encouraging Filipino youth, both locally and abroad, to engage in civic and sociopolitical matters.
Jaylen Rabago is a junior from Kapolei, Hawaii, who is passionate about merging social justice and computer science. Motivated by her dedication to inclusivity, she strives to create innovative technology that tackles societal challenges, fosters equity, and drives meaningful change for marginalized communities.
Act To Change is a national nonprofit organization working to end bullying for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth. It is building on its history of success over the past years. It aims to continue empowering students, families, and educators with the knowledge and tools they need to become active anti-bullying ambassadors in their communities.
Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), is an innovative data hub that empowers Filipinx/a/o communities by collecting data, fostering partnerships, publishing culturally relevant insights, and developing leaders to create an equitable and sustainable future.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
