Kelsey 

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Project Manager/Youth Advocate

Kelsey is a Madison native who is dedicated to ensuring young people have access to information and support! Kelsey ensures this by managing the YAB's social media and website! In her free time, Kelsey likes to spend time learning about astrology, crystals, and the history of social issues. When she's not working for the YAB, she's spending time with family and preparing for her future! She joined the YAB in July, 2022! 

Rachel 

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Youth Program Lead

Rachel is an artist, writer and advocate for disabled and homeless youth. Her advocacy is grounded in her own lived experience of homelessness as a teen. She works as a consultant for several organizations that address youth homelessness on a national level, including Youth Collaboratory and True Colors United. Outside of her homelessness work, she writes and draws comics! 

Lilly 

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Local Policy Lead

Lilly is a senior at UW Madison pursuing a BSE in the Elementary Education program, with a focus on Early Childhood Education/ESL. They are currently serving as the YAB Project Implementation Lead. They've lived in Wisconsin all their life, and moved to Madison for college about 3 years ago. They joined the YAB in July of 2022, after participating in a listening session hosted by the YAB. This empowered them to want to help make a difference for homeless youth & young adults in Dane County. They are very passionate about housing equity, educational access, and early childhood development. In their free time, Lilly enjoys creating art, grabbing treats from local coffee shops, and spending time with their two cats.

Robert

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Async Lead

Robert is a recent Edgewood College graduate. He graduated with a BS in Psychology with a concentration on social work. He interned at Connections Counseling and during his internship he was licensed as a Substance Abuse Counselor in Training. He is passionate about decreasing the stigma and judgment around substance use and addiction. He joined the YAB to gain more knowledge about system interaction and to create accessible resources for Dane County youth facing or experiencing homelessness. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and writing music. He joined the YAB in June 2023!

Deja

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YAB HR Lead

Deja has been with the Youth Action Board since 2021 and has dedicated herself consistently to every area of the YAB Development and Activities! Seriously, From her support in raising funds and awareness, to her perspective in policy creation, to sitting on the HSC Board, Deja does it all! Outside of the YAB, Deja is a bubbly, fun, loving person who enjoys spending time with her friends and close family! She loves traveling, trying new things, and addressing social issues straight forward!

TaMaya

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YAB Communications Lead

TaMaya is a bold and brave youth-leader with experience organizing and strengthening youth groups.

She is fluent in both English and Spanish and leads as our bilingual communications specialist, bridging communication where the system has yet to meet the needs of those impacted by language barriers and translation gaps. TaMaya never waivers from her fierce, honest and insightful dedication to serving young people authentically. She's always ready to try something new,

make a networking connection, or throw an event!