We Power NYC
This year’s crop of We Power NYC Youth Ambassadors are as diverse, vibrant and creative as the city they represent.
They come from all 5 boroughs, speak a variety of languages, and reflect the many ethnic, cultural, and gender identities of NYC!
Meet the Ambassadors
Jahlil Allah works with We Build The Block on teaching people the importance of voting, and how to vote.
Nikita Chernin is an avid reader and chess player. He loves science and technology. He is also a boy scout eager to achieve the Eagle rank!
Siara Chowdhury is 16 years old and baking is her one true passion. She also loves reading books and believes that books are way better than movies.
Eleanor (Ellie) Fecko is a freshman at NEST+m high school. She is very passionate about politics and is excited to be a We Power NYC Ambassador. Previously, She has done occasional phone banking and canvassing to get out the vote.
Kaisha Handa is a 15-year-old, Queer South Asian woman from Jackson Heights, Queens! She is extremely passionate about advocating for immigrant rights and immigration reform. Some of her hobbies include crocheting, and doing henna designs on her friends and family.
Labiba Iqra is a Bangladeshi-American Teen wanting to create a better world for us through the power of politics!
Caroline Ji is a senior at Stuyvesant High School. From working with grassroot agencies to making housing rights accessible to all, to attending public forums regarding land use on behalf of her local government, she views public service as an intrinsic aspect of her identity. She is inspired by NYC Votes’ mission to cultivate civic engagement in youth, and as a We Power NYC Ambassador, she is excited to amplify this mission to and with her community.
Camila Jimenez is currently a high school sophomore. She is passionate about making sure people's voices are heard and hopes to learn more about voting. She feels so excited to be a part of We Power NYC and advocating for voting rights.
Ryan La Barrie is a junior at the Williamsburg High School of Arts and Technology. He hopes to learn more about community development and how we can all work together to amplify the youth voice through political engagement.
James Lherisson is a sophomore at Hunter college. They are the Civic engagement Chair of the BSU of CUNY, a Team Leader for the Black Male Initiative at Hunter, and excited to work with the new ambassadors.
Angelina Lopez is a 15-year-old highschooler with a passion for advocacy. She believes “Your voice is valid, your voice is heard, and you deserve basic human decency.”
Ana LuoCai is a senior at the Macaulay Honors College at the City College of New York (CCNY) where she studies political science and public policy. This is her second year participating in the We Power NYC program and this year she is working as Ambassador Mentor! She’s super excited to be back helping New Yorkers tap into civic engagement.
Valeria Menendez loves to read, is a huge Marvel and Harry Potter fan, and also loves trying fun makeup looks. Her favorite colors are Green and Orange. She is also a huge fan of Whitney Houston.
Felicia Trestin is a junior in the classics institute at Tottenville High School. She is excited to help people get their voices heard, and to work with NYC Votes to make this possible!
Nafisatou Tunkara is a senior in high school, and is passionate about educating others on the importance of voting. A goal of his is to increase voter turnout in his community as well as encourage people to participate in not only the more popularized elections but local ones too. He is also passionate about women’s rights, black issues, and mental health.
Nathaniel Valdivieso is a poet, musician and spoken word artist who has shared his work on stages such as the world famous Apollo Theater, Vineyard Theater, New York historical society, and more. He enjoys fighting for issues he cares about through art and is an avid member of programs such as Urban Word NYC and Developing Artists.
