Proud Changemakers

Da’Taeveyon (he/him) is a remarkable Black queer activist and organizer whose work centers on combating censorship, civic engagement, and racial justice. Inspired by James Baldwin, he joined the NCAC’s Student Advocates for Speech program during his freshman year in Texas and quickly became its youngest-ever National Advisory Council member. He also served as the 2023 Youth Honorary Chair for Banned Books Week, leading national discussions, media interviews, and op-eds to protect intellectual freedom. Beyond anti-censorship efforts, he is now Director of Partnerships & Development at Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), and has helped register over 4,000 high school seniors to vote and amplify youth voices in policy and mental health advocacy.

Julia Garnett (she/they) is a fearless anti-censorship advocate whose work has made waves both in Tennessee and nationally. After speaking out at her school board meeting to defend a picture book about a Black child, she successfully earned a seat on her high school’s book review committee and founded a "Student Advocates for Speech" club. Recognized as the 2024 Youth Honorary Chair for Banned Books Week, honored by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House, and partnered with The Trevor Project on Pride campaigns, Julia uses her voice to ensure LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories remain accessible in schools and libraries.

Dilinna Ugochukwu (he/they) is a queer Nigerian-American poet and writer who uses literary art to challenge stigma and imagine queer possibility. Named the 2023 California Youth Poet Laureate, Dilinna’s work explores complex themes of identity, cultural displacement, and queer freedom. In poems such as “Poem About Boys Who Died Before They Were Born,” they reframe the closet as a space of temporary refuge and illuminate the difficult realities facing queer youth in places like Nigeria. Their writing not only gives voice to marginalized experiences but also offers hope and solidarity through powerful storytelling.

Kelsey Parker (she/her) is an inspiring queer entrepreneur and racial equity advocate. In response to the challenges faced by Black business owners during the COVID‑19 pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, she founded ThinkBlack in 2020, a digital platform that now supports over 10,000 Black-owned businesses nationwide. As a student at Florida A&M and a representative of the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, Kelsey has earned prestigious honors including the Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship, SBA Maryland Rising Star Student Entrepreneur award, and a Joe Manns Black Wall Street award, all while using her platform to uplift fellow LGBTQ+ and Black entrepreneurs. Her work fosters economic opportunity and encourages youth to embrace their identity and leadership.

Sameer (they/them) is a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ youth advocate, author, and anti-bullying activist working to make schools safer and more inclusive for queer and trans students. As a queer South Asian American, Sameer founded The Empathy Alliance—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth through education and policy change. They've trained thousands of educators and students on how to create affirming school environments and served as a GLSEN National Student Council member. Sameer also authored Read This, Save Lives: A Teacher’s Guide to Creating Safer Classrooms for LGBTQ+ Students, helping educators become better allies. Their work continues to uplift LGBTQ+ youth voices and inspire the next generation of changemakers.