FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 8, 2021

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria today announced the following appointments to the Citys newly revamped Youth Commission.

I am excited to appoint this group of smart, talented, and community-oriented young people to the Citys Youth Commission, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Its been years since the Commission was active and Im looking forward to the important recommendations the Commission will provide to the City to make sure we are appropriately supporting and serving young people.

The new appointments are as follows:

Perla Alcazar Pulido is a senior at Gompers Preparatory Academy with plans to pursue a degree in Engineering. She is currently involved with MANA de San Diego, Hermanitas, a youth mentorship program, Barrio Logan College Institute, a college prep program, and Star Pals Making Changes, a community service program. Pulido is also a Youth Ambassador for the U.S. through an exchange program under the organization Amigos. Pulido is a resident of Chollas View.

Devin Green is a motivated student currently attending Idea Center High as a senior. His strong work ethic and organizational skills have shined bright throughout the Southeastern area of San Diego. To date, Green has performed over 400 hours of volunteering through the Blue Heart Foundation, March of Dimes, Feed the Hungry, and Breast Cancer Awareness 5k. Green is a resident of Skyline.

Elisa Delle Monache has been actively involved in the University City community for several years. Her background includes having served as President of the University City High School Democrats, Co-President of Casas De Luz where she helped build homes in Tijuana, Mexico for families less fortunate and was a three-time regional champion in synchronized swimming. She functions in various leadership roles and has an exceptional standing as a 4.33 AP student at University City High School. Delle Monache is a resident of University City.

Charlie Nieto is a resident of Pacific Beach where provides emerging leadership in his community. Mr. Nieto currently serves as Chair of the Community Enhancement Committee on the Pacific Beach Town Council. He is also a talented graphic designer where he donates his talents toward non-profit organizations based in Council District 2. Mr. Nieto currently is a student attending San Diego State University where is pursuing a bachelors degree in Business Administration Marketing. Nieto is a resident of Pacific Beach.

Avery Wulf is a resident of Point Loma where she is very dedicated to giving back to her community. Her volunteerism experience includes currently serving as the Vice President of the Associated Student Body at Point Loma High School, a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony, and an active volunteer for the Girl Scout Troop #4920. Wulf is a resident of Point Loma.

Beret Dernbach was born and raised in San Diego. She attended high school at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts with concurrent enrollment at San Diego City College. She now attends the University of California San Diego, majoring in Political Science International Relations, with a minor in Law and Society. She is a Provost Honors recipient for her academic achievements and is Director of Professional Development for the pre-law fraternity, Kappa Alpha Pi. Dernbach is a resident of Bankers Hill.

Daxton Gutekunst is a resident of District 3 and is a rising junior at the Bishops School. He has served as the schools Science Olympiad Team Captain, co-founded the Machine Learning Club, is a member of the Speech and Debate Team, and has served as his classs representative on the schools Discipline Committee for three years. He has been recognized as a Davidson Institute Young Scholar and was selected to serve as an ambassador. He is also a member of the UC San Diego School of Medicine Center of Community Health Youth Advisory Council where he advocates for equity in education. Gutekunst is a resident of Bankers Hill.

Chantel Perry is a scholar at Gompers Preparatory Academy. She currently is a summer intern at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation under the Neighborhood House Association Black Youth Initiative. There she provides administrative support to the administrative, communications and programs teams. Perry has also served as a team crew leader for the American Diabetes Association Camp Wana Kura. She has received special recognition from the American Diabetes Association for her contributions to the organization. Perry is a resident of Webster.

Diego Soto Lopez is a scholar at Gompers Preparatory Academy who wants to be an engineer and is currently taking an engineering course at San Diego Mesa College while serving the community. He currently is providing feedback on transportation solutions to the Urban Collaborative Project on the 2021 SANDAG Regional Plan. After attending a Circulate San Diego Walk Audit to create traffic calming measures on 47th street, he saw the need to organize a clean-up as well. He currently is assisting with organizing the Scholars Clean-Up in order to ensure that scholars have safe pathways to school. Lopez enjoys finding solutions to help serve his peers and the community. Lopez is a resident of Webster.

Anusha Kadiyala is a youth activist and Youth Attorney at the COMPACT Youth Court based out of Escondido, a program dedicated to providing an equitable environment for youth offenders to be represented by their peers. She is a frequent volunteer at the North County Food Bank and an avid debater. Kadiyala is a resident of Black Mountain Ranch.

Kenan Pala founded Kids4Community a non-profit dedicated to working with local charities and volunteer organizations to encourage children 5 and up to become charitably involved. He is also chair of the Lucky Ducklings Youth Advisory Board, another nonprofit with the mission of driving youth participation in community issues, particularly in helping address the issue of Youth Homelessness. He is also a varsity athlete on Francis Parker Schools Cross-Country team. Pala is a resident of Rancho Bernardo.

Maria Fernanda Freaner is a current high school junior and resident of District 7 where she has extensive volunteer experience at City Tree Christian School with Teachers and pre-school students. Freaner plans to pursue a career in filmmaking to tell the stories of individuals of diverse backgrounds. Freaner is a resident of Serra Mesa.

Andrew Levikow is a current high school senior and resident of District 7 where he is an active leader at Patrick Henry High School. He is one of three students who serve on the schools site council and was also the only student member of the interview panel for the hiring process to find Patrick Henry Highs new principal during his junior year. Levikow currently serves the youth in his community as a volunteer Little League Umpire for the Mission Trails Little League Minors Division as well as Co-President of Athletes Training Athletes, which trains special needs students for annual Special Olympics competitions. Levikow is a resident of San Carlos.

Jesus Martin Gallegos-Munoz is currently a student at the University of California, San Diego, from District 8, studying International Studies and Latin American Studies with a focus on the border. He has served as a College Outreach Ambassador and has volunteered with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, the Center on Policy Initiatives as an Economic Justice Fellow. Currently serving as a District 8 intern, Gallegos-Munoz has assisted with constituent service and casework, helped in organizing community events and walked door to door in the community to inform residents of city services. Gallegos-Munoz is a resident of Otay Mesa West.

Oscar Rendon is currently a San Diego City College student, from District 8, studying International Relations and pre-law. While in school he has served as the Associated Student Government President, San Diego Community College District Student Trustee and an Associated Student Government Senator with Lions Club International and Shriners International. Rendon also has experience as the Project Coordinator for the Familia Trans Queer Liberation Movement, providing resources and support for program participants and their families. Rendon is a resident of City Heights.

Fartun Adan recently returned to San Diego as a graduate of UC Berkley from District 9, obtaining a Bachelors in Sociology. She recently served as the Organizing and Community Development Director with bridges Multicultural Community Center where she oversaw the development and execution of bridges fellowship class, coordinated strategic visioning for the organizations campaigns, and managed day-to-day communications for the Recruitment and Retention Centers $1.5M renovation project. Adan has also been involved with the Black Recruitment and Retention Center at UC Berkley, Mid-City Community Advocacy Networks Youth Council, and the City Heights Area Planning Committee where she previously served in a youth seat. Adan is a resident of City Heights.

Evelyn Gomez is a current Hoover High School student from District 9. She is inspired, engaged, and determined. She is a representative for the Class of 2023, is active in student organizations, and has impressive dedication to her academics and sports. This past summer, she worked as an assistant to the Eviction Prevention Case Manager with City Heights Community Development Corporation, supporting tenants with rental assistance. In addition to her data tracking and administrative duties, her involvement extends to other numerous spaces including Reality Changers, where she served as a delegate; Cesar Chavez Service Club, as both President and Vice President; Radys Children Hospital, as a volunteer building clinical hours; and other organizations such as Ocean Discovery Institute, San Diego Canyonlands, and Aaron Price Fellows. The daughter of immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico and a self-proclaimed product of City Heights, Gomez is passionate and invested in her people. Gomez is a resident of City Heights.

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