Meet The YGs
Read more about each of our Cohort 2 Youth Grantmakers below!
Photos of Cohort 2 by Baltimore’s Promise
Amy
Amy Villanueva, 17. A senior in high school, Amy is already making an impact in Baltimore: “Giving back to my community brings me immense joy, and I eagerly seize opportunities to contribute positively.” In addition to volunteering to aid the city’s homeless population through her church, Amy has held internships in the fields of public health and education. After witnessing firsthand the imbalanced playing field for residents in her low-income community, Amy was interested in becoming a Youth Grantmaker because she wants to collaborate with others in the community and enhance opportunities for success among Baltimore’s youth: “I firmly believe that achieving equity is crucial in breaking down the barriers that hinder the progress of marginalized communities.”
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camiera
Camiera Turner, 23. Camiera is dedicated to improving the lives of Baltimore City residents in every aspect of her life. By becoming a Youth Grantmaker, she wants to expand her knowledge base to help others, particularly by learning how grants work to push policy advocacy. “I want to gain knowledge so that I can use it and take it … within the field where I’m working right now.” Camiera is an active volunteer and holds jobs in the adolescent behavioral health field and with the Baltimore Youth Action Board. She believes that multiple minds are necessary for creating the best possible outcomes. In her role as a Youth Grantmaker, she will be looking for programs that nurture positive mental health among Black and Brown youth.
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Levy
Levy Johnson, 24. Bio to come!
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terrance
Terrance Perry, 19. Terrance strives to lead by example: “I like being a positive influence on the younger children because they see what I'm doing to make the world a better place and it helps them stay on the right track.” Terrance is a student at Baltimore City Community College. He also plays football with the Baltimore Lightning. Terrance is active in his church and frequently takes part in mission projects. He was driven to apply for the Youth Grantmakers because it is a way that he can help address gun violence: “I really want to contribute in any way possible to keeping our youth off the streets and engaged in activities via after school programs or camps.” His hope for the city is that it will be “full of happy and enthusiastic youth that don’t have to walk around with the weight of the world on their shoulders.”
tyreek
Tyreek Robinson, 18. Tyreek, a high school senior, is always looking for ways to lift others up, such as starting his own endeavor to create free marketing materials for youth entrepreneurs at his school. He holds many leadership roles at school, including as captain of the step team, vice president of his class, and president of his school’s branch of Genders and Sexualities Alliances. He also plays tennis and bocce. Tyreek is seeking ways to use these leadership skills to impact the community at large: “An issue I am very passionate about is something that I live through every day and that is the issue of teens growing up too fast. This issue isn’t really dealt with because in most cases it is uncontrollable, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is very damaging to our communities.”
Assi
Aissata “Assi” Sy, 19, is a returning Youth Grantmaker. “Seeing the impact when young people are given the chance to make decisions that will impact their future—and experiencing that myself—was so eye opening…this I believe is the best way to ensure that we as young people are the writers of our futures.” Assi is determined to continue learning and aims for a career that involves organizing groups and empowering youth. She recently joined Baltimore’s Promise at a national convention to discuss her role as a Youth Grantmaker. “I hope that more and more programs adopt the philosophy of letting young people make decisions, learn through testing and doing, and have a seat at the tables when they are being discussed.” Assi brings her experiences as a West African to the table: “I try to rep that a lot,” she said. “No matter where you’re from, you can accomplish a great deal of things. You just have to put your mind and your heart to it, and you can do it.”
camila
Camila Calero, 17. Camila so appreciated the nurturing, supportive atmosphere of Cohort 1 of the Youth Grantmakers initiative that she is returning for Cohort 2. Though she started “on the shy side,” Camila has been inspired by her more outgoing fellow Cohort 1 members. "Being a Youth Grantmaker has helped me in so many ways. I have learned how to approach situations differently with the groups I am a part of." At school, Camila is a member of SOMOS, a cultural activism group, and Intercambio, which supports students learning English. She would like to apply what she has learned as a Youth Grantmaker to expand on her activism at the systemic level, connecting English learners across Baltimore with the resources they need. Being a part of Cohort 1 helped Camila see Baltimore in a new light, and it has only fueled her passion for the city: “My time as a Youth Grantmaker has taught me to keep fighting for Baltimore.”
taj
Taj Robinson, 17. A high school student with passions for community and social awareness, Taj is returning for his second turn as a Youth Grantmaker. Taj wanted to join the Youth Grantmakers because “when I think about myself, I see someone who wants change but doesn't have the influence on how to deliver that change.” Taj recognizes how much personal and professional growth he has gone through since starting as a Youth Grantmaker—and recognizes that there is always more to learn. As he enters Cohort 2, Taj is interested in expanding his knowledge of the business and financial sides of grantmaking. This will help him as he enters college next year, where he plans to major in accounting and minor in business.
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tony
Tony Wilson, 16. A high school athlete and aspiring engineer, Tony is excited to join the Youth Grantmaker team and help empower youth in Baltimore. He views leadership as “not just about achieving personal success but also about encouraging and supporting others in their growth and development.” He describes himself as a good listener, taking the time to engage and understand the thoughts and feelings of others, which he thinks will help in his role as Youth Grantmaker. In a poem titled "Project Baltimore,” he wrote of his hope for his home: “In a city of youth, vibrant and alive, / Where dreams take flight and hopes survive, / There lie challenges, trials, and strife, / But together, we'll weave a tapestry of life.”
young elder
Jaela “Young Elder” Morris, 22. Young Elder is a recording artist who uses her craft to share the lived experiences of youth in Baltimore City. When she’s not cutting hair, Young Elder is studying social work at Coppin State University. She acknowledges that she has access to love, community, and education—and that not everyone does. “That is why I take my education very seriously, because I know, with the right access, change can happen.” She is an optimist who tries to do good whenever possible, whether it’s organizing neighborhood cleanups or building a safe space for others to open up in: “My love for Baltimore, it runs deep, and I try to just help one person at a time.”