Youth ACT! 2025

Aubrey Brown (she/her)

North Carolina, Grade 11

  • Fun Fact: One fun fact about me is that I write a lot of poetry. Typically about real world problems or just things that I find inspiring or pretty. I try to pay attention to the outside world and find the beauty in even the violent things. 
  • Why I joined Youth ACT!: I loved everything that it stood for. I had the privilege of getting to take part in the Youth summit and dismantle contest and I fell in love with A Call To Men’s message. I knew that I wanted to take part in something that could help encourage young people to attempt to make a difference and give them a chance to have their voices heard. 

 

Carlos Argueta (he/him)

New York, Grade 9

  • Fun Fact: I like collecting shoes. My favorite is the Jordan 11s Retro Win Like ‘82’
  • Why I joined Youth ACT!: I joined A Call To Men so that I can help spread awareness to certain social justice topics but also to further my knowledge. This is so I can help a friend or family member and give them the right advice. 
  • Quote: “Hey there! My name is Carlos, and I’m a freshman from New York. I believe that promoting healthy masculinity and preventing racism is the key to a better future. This internship is an amazing opportunity to spread awareness about certain social justice topics to people from kids to adults. When I’m not working on school work, I enjoy playing soccer, lifting weights, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. I am excited to be able to make a difference in the world!”

Isabella Nascimento Silva-Pinto (she/her)

Connecticut, Grade 12

  • Fun Fact: I am a filmmaker and I have created 3+ original short films.
  • Why did I join Youth ACT!: I joined Youth ACT! because, in the past few years, I have been actively committed to helping dismantle various systems of oppression from anti-immigrant sentiment to racism. I believe that only through promoting healthy interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships will we be able to mobilize people to fight for a better world without -isms. Through working with A Call to Men, I hope to help youth from across the country develop a better relationship to themselves and the community around them. I’m excited about being part of Youth ACT! and helping create a better tomorrow for people of color, minorities and LGBT folks. 
  • Quote: “Hi, my name is Isabella (she/her) and I’m a senior from Connecticut!  I’m really passionate about bridging social inequalities, protecting the rights of minority groups, and celebrating differences between people. So, I joined the Youth ACT! board to help create a better future by promoting healthy gender expression and supporting minorities in the United States. When I’m not grinding AP Eng Lit homework, I like watching movies, playing Volleyball, designing posters for my room, and brainstorming topics for my next short film! I’m excited to see what we do in the next few months with A Call to Men :)”

Marwa Tawakalyar (she/her)

Virginia, Grade 12

  • Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I’m a total car enthusiast! My dream ride is the BMW M4 Comp. 
  • Why did I join Youth ACT!: I joined the Youth ACT Cohort to develop leadership skills as well as being a voice for the voiceless, standing up for marginalized communities and advocating for a positive change. This opportunity aligns with my passion for social change, allowing me to enhance leadership and organizational skills.
  • Quote: “Hello! I’m Marwa, a senior from Virginia. I’m deeply passionate about addressing gender inequality and advocating for equality in all aspects of life. This internship is an exciting opportunity for me to engage in meaningful discussions and drive positive change. Besides academics, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and my cat, as well as staying active through regular workouts.I’m excited to be part of this community and look forward to collaborating with like-minded individuals to create a lasting impact.”

Mukesh Ramanathan (he/him)

North Carolina, Grade 10

  • Fun Fact: I enjoy making art using acrylic paint and watercolors. My last piece of art is this painting of a landscape as I love the world around us and nature as a whole. We are surrounded by nature and we need to appreciate it much more.
  • Why I joined YouthACT!: I joined so that I can bridge the gap between racial and gender equalities to make sure everyone feels at home
  • Quote: “Hi! My name is Mukesh (he/him) and I’m a sophomore at North Carolina. I believe that promoting healthy masculinity is not only essential for a better society but also for a socially better one. When I’m not doing work I love drawing and working with people who support social justice efforts. Can’t wait to help out!”

Rich Addo (he/him)

New York, Grade 12

  • Fun Fact: I have a great talent for drawing, I also like writing creative stories. 

  • Why I joined YouthACT!: I joined youth act because I saw an opportunity for me to provide solutions to problems that were prevalent in my life as well as the life of others like me

  • Quote: “Hello, my name is Rich (he/him) and I’m a senior from New York. I joined Youth ACT! Because I have opinions that I believe I couldn’t voice on my own and finding an organization of like minded people help me find an environment in which I can grow and execute my ideas and solutions to issues. In my spare time I enjoy drawing, listening to music, watching movies, specifically mafia movies, as well as playing basketball and working out.”