We are excited to announce eight incredible young people have joined our efforts as Youth Advocates this year. This group ranges in age from 18 to 27 and includes youth based in both Northern and Southern California. All are pursuing higher education, and each bring their own unique experiences and skills to our mission of advocating for foster youth and young people facing homelessness across our state. Here’s a bit more about these extraordinary advocates in their own words.
Alicia Moana Lozoya
“I’m motivated by underdogs – people who face significant barriers yet still find a way to rise above them. Their resilience reminds me of what’s possible.”
I am a graduate student at California Baptist University pursuing my master’s in public administration. I also work for a local THP housing organization, providing mentorship and teaching independent living skills to foster youth. Contributing to conversations, policy discussions, and decision-making processes that center youth has shown me how important strong advocacy can be. When I first found out about JBAY, I was encouraged to discover that organizations like this were actively working to improve outcomes for students like me.
Izel Casillas
“I would like to share my story and be a representation of success from the support provided to foster youth. I also would like to use my skills and life lessons to hear and help others.”
I am a first-year student at UC Davis, studying environmental policy with the goal of becoming an environmental lawyer. I love to hike, snowboard, and rock climb. I am part of the Guardian Scholars and Investing in the Success of Foster Youth programs on campus, which is how I heard about JBAY. I am looking forward to advocating for mental health resources and educational opportunities for foster youth like me.
Jada Martin
“Being a youth advocate aligns with my commitment to ensuring that no young person ever feels unaccompanied in circumstances beyond their capabilities.”
I moved to California for college and am now a senior at UC Davis, where I am studying sociology and human development. I plan to attend law school to become a child advocacy attorney. I am inspired by those who have gone through experiences similar to mine and have made beautiful lives for themselves. It is incredibly motivating and grounding to be connected with that sort of representation.
Jonah Colon
“I believe prevention, mentorship, and advocacy are essential to breaking cycles of hardship.”
I am pursuing a career in social work with a focus on supporting youth and families in my own community in Sacramento and beyond. My goal is to work directly with youth and families to promote stability, guidance, and opportunity, and I see advocating with JBAY as a meaningful step toward building a career centered on lasting, positive change. I hope to open doors for others who may not always see themselves reflected in certain spaces.
Ka’lee Matthews
“I always want to advocate for people who don’t have a voice, but also people who are just like me who’ve been through the system. I’m all about putting on for them, supporting them, and guiding them to what’s best overall, but also showing how to create connections when opportunities become available.”
I attend Los Angeles Trade–Technical College, where I am majoring in public relations. I also work at the Young Women’s Freedom Center as the Lead of Operations. The challenges I have faced in life have motivated me to uplift others and create systems that offer support, safety, and opportunity for all. A friend referred me to JBAY and I am excited to use my leadership, organization, and communication skills to support others in meaningful ways.
Mercedes Jackson
“I like being hands-on. I like helping youth connect to resources, making confusing processes feel simple, and finding ways to build trust.”
I am a student at Mount San Antonio College in LA, pursuing a path in sociology focused on social work, policy, and advocacy. There is a moment I think about a lot. I was leading a listening session for youth and one girl kept glancing at the door like she wanted to leave. When she finally spoke, her voice shook, but she kept going. She said nobody ever asked her what she thought before that day. That moment stuck with me because I know what it feels like to grow up without spaces where your voice matters. I want young people to feel understood instead of overlooked.
Serena Bracy
“Becoming a youth advocate means standing up not only for myself, but for every foster child who deserves dignity, stability, and hope. That responsibility is what inspires me the most.”
I am an animal science and management major with a minor in education in my fourth year at UC Davis. I am passionate about amplifying the voices of foster youth and expanding access to higher education. My friends and educators have inspired me throughout my life, challenging me to pursue opportunities I never thought possible. I am proud to be a first-generation college student and summer abroad student, an ambassador for the College of Agriculture at UC Davis, and now to be an advocate for foster youth.
Bayley Craig
“I am proud that I did not let my situation define my future and I set out to create a better future for myself and other foster youth in the state of California.”
I graduated college cum laude and am now a MSW Title IV-E recipient at Sacramento State University. I am proud to be returning for my second year of youth advocacy with JBAY. Last year, I provided testimony for SB 624, which successfully passed into law to expand access to the Foster Youth Tax Credit across California. I am also an intern with Sacramento County in Informal Supervision and a longtime camp counselor at SOAR for Youth, a camp for teenage foster youth.
Stay tuned for updates on Lobby Day, where Youth Advocates joined us at the Capitol to generate support for this year’s proposals.