Change Makers: Youth Leadership & Community Impact

Join us for Change Makers on Nov. 20, where we'll highlight the voices and actions of Oakland youth and student advocates. Through conversations on leadership, empowerment, activism, and resilience, we’ll explore the remarkable ways young people are driving meaningful change in their communities.

Moderated by The Oaklandside, this event will explore youth-led movements and spotlight some of the innovative systems that empower young leaders to break boundaries and drive transformative change. First, we’ll sit down with Oakland school board Student Director Max Simmons, The Oaklandside’s Education Equity Reporter Ashley McBride, and District 5 school board Director Jorge Lerma to discuss the battle for Oakland’s youth vote, campus culture, education equity and so much more.

Then, we’ll dig into some of the systems and programs that empower and uplift Oakland’s young people in a conversation with Bay Area Urban Debate League Executive Director Mya Whitaker, student organizer and filmmaker Aliyah Sharif, Northeastern University’s C2C Regional Director Alli Chagi-Starr, and Oakland Kids First Executive Director Lukas Brekke-Meisner.

In addition to these inspiring community conversations with local changemakers, we’ll get to enjoy a live debate by students from the Bay Area Urban Debate League, showcasing their skills in action.

This event is possible in part by the support of Northeastern University.

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More about our guests:

Lukas Brekke-Meisner:
Lukas Brekke-Meisner is an experienced youth advocate and organizational leader with 18 years of experience in the fields of youth development and organizing and is Executive Director of Oakland Kids First. He Co-founded the Oakland Youth Vote Coalition with student organizers and adult allies who led a successful campaign to win voting rights in school board elections for 16 and 17 year-olds in Oakland. Lukas was featured in the documentary First Friday, season 5 of Netflix’s Last Chance U, and is a recipient of an Oakland Pillar award from the City of Oakland & Fam 1st Foundation and the Oakland Soul award at the Oakland Indie Awards.

Alli Chagi-Starr:
Regional Director of C2C and NU Oakland Summer Youth Employment Program lead, Alli Chagi-Starr, has held leadership roles at East Bay College Fund, Green For All, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Art in Action Youth Leadership Program, and other organizations focused on youth development, college access, sustainable economy, and social equity. Prior to helping to launch C2C, Chagi-Starr worked at the City of Oakland’s Workforce Development Division helping to expand investment strategies toward youth opportunities, public service, and clean energy careers . She earned her MBA focused on Social Impact at Mills College.

Jorge Lerma:
Born and raised in Oakland, Lerma calls himself a lifelong educator and teacher. He currently serves as Co-Chair of Oakland’s Children’s Initiative (Measure AA) Oversight Commission, funding and overseeing the implementation of the First Five and Oakland Promise programs. Director Lerma is a member of the African American Latino Alliance, (AALA) and President of the Educational Coalition for Hispanics in Oakland (ECHO) an organization comprised of parents, teachers, instructional aides, and paraprofessionals who have served or are familiar with the needs of all students from Oakland’s native, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. He’s a Bilingual Bicultural Mexican American (Chicano) who attended Oakland schools throughout his early educational career, from kindergarten through high school. His two children also each attended OUSD schools.A graduate of Oakland High School, Lerma is also the District 5 representative to the City’s Community Policing Advisory Board. He says he’s committed to working for all students across Oakland.

Ashley McBride:
Ashley McBride writes about education equity for The Oaklandside. Her work covers Oakland’s public district and charter schools. Before joining The Oaklandside in 2020, Ashley was a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News and the San Francisco Chronicle as a Hearst Journalism Fellow, and has held positions at the Poynter Institute and the Palm Beach Post. Ashley earned her master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University.

Aliyah Sharif:
Aliyah Sharif, is an Yemeni-American born and raised in Oakland, California. A recent graduate from Oakland Technical High School, Sharif is currently a freshman at the University of San Francisco, majoring in Biology. Aliyah wants to become a Physician Assistant, with a strong interest in healthcare and community wellness. Her experiences include internships in health leadership, youth wellness, and filmmaking and is passionate about promoting health equity and social justice through education and community engagement.

Max Simmons:
Maximus Simmons is a junior at Oakland High School in the Law & Social Justice pathway. Simmons is the Student Director on the Board of Education, representing every student in OUSD. With a background in Restorative Justice (RJ) he held circles at two national restorative justice conferences while also helping set up RJ at Oakland High. As Student Director Max Simmons will amplify student experience and ensure that the school district provides the resources and support needed to ensure all students graduate with a clear mind and ready for success.

Mya Whitaker:
Mya is the first Bay Area Urban Debate League Champion. She received her Bachelor's degree in Communication from San Francisco State University. As an Emerge graduate, her long-term plan is to run for Congress. Mya organized a roundtable for youth to speak directly to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Superintendent Antwan Wilson. Students came together to speak to powerful policy makers about their education. Mya makes a difference & empowers Oakland youth.

Host or Publisher The Oaklandside