legacy makers
Future leaders in motion, creating change where it matters most.
A poet whose words have reached global stages, using storytelling to fight literacy gaps and educational inequity.
Salome Princess Ahudiya Agbaroji made history as the National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States for 2023–2024, becoming the first of Nigerian descent to hold the title. She has performed on some of the world’s most visible stages, from the Golden Globes and NFL Halftime Show to Rupi Kaur’s world tour, while also lending her voice to civic leaders advancing justice, literacy, and opportunity for overlooked youth. A Vans global ambassador and U.S. Department of State Arts Envoy, Salome now brings that same intention to her studies in Technology, Media, and Society at Harvard College.
A scholar-athlete who stacked historic firsts and trailblazing leadership before stepping onto UCLA’s campus.
Brooklyn Paige Moore made history as Ontario Christian High School’s first African American Valedictorian, graduating at the top of her class with a 4.6 GPA. The day before commencement, she added two Associate Degrees with honors from Chaffey College, having completed college-level coursework while carrying a full high school schedule. She also broke ground as the school’s first Black varsity cheer captain. Brooklyn now takes all of that excellence with her to the University of California, Los Angeles.
An activist who mobilized thousands and built a nonprofit so youth voices would never be dismissed again.
Three days after graduating high school, Tiana Day founded Youth Advocates for Change. What came before that was just as striking: in 2020, she led a peaceful march across the Golden Gate Bridge that drew more than 50,000 people behind a single message, Lead with Love. The nonprofit she built from that momentum trains and supports young people to advocate, organize, and lead in their communities through programs, workshops, and spaces designed to make youth feel seen, heard, and valued. Tiana speaks, organizes, and mobilizes with the conviction that youth leadership is not future tense. It is now.
An entrepreneur who turned grief into purpose while leading with integrity across school, music, athletics, and service.
At 12, Sebastian Lewis lost his mother. In the years that followed, he found baking, and in it, a way forward. That calling became a business, and that business became a blueprint for how he moves through everything: with intention, resilience, and care for the people around him. Sebastian balances entrepreneurship with a full college course load, competing as an athlete, and pursuing music. Those who know him best describe a leader who lifts others as he builds, because he understands that a real legacy is measured by how you treat people, not just what you accomplish.
An award-winning poet and storyteller whose voice and creativity amplify underrepresented narratives.
Selah Johnson knows what it means to come back stronger. After earning an honorable mention at the California Poetry Out Loud state finals, she returned in 2025 and won, claiming both the LA County and California State championships with her performance, precision, and growth. A student at The Archer School for Girls, Selah brings that same intentionality to her work beyond the stage, using words and media to surface community stories that deserve to be heard. Her voice is not just an instrument. It is a point of view.
An elite U.S. figure skater who shattered barriers in figure skating, proving that Black excellence belongs at the highest levels of the sport.
At Skate Canada International in 2022, Starr Andrews made history as the first African American woman to win an ISU Grand Prix medal in singles, joining a short but powerful lineage of Black women who have reshaped figure skating’s story. That moment was years in the making, built through training, recovery, and the quiet perseverance required to carry both personal ambition and collective representation. Starr competes with the kind of athletic precision and artistic command that wins medals, and with the kind of presence that changes what young skaters believe is possible for them.
Scholar and culture-shifter who founded her campus BSU and uses leadership to strengthen belonging.
Malia Locklin is a straight-A scholar from Southeast Los Angeles who saw a gap in belonging and built something to fill it. As the founder and first president of her school’s Black Student Union, she created a space where Black students could feel seen, protected, and proud, in an environment where such representation is anything but guaranteed. Her leadership moves conversations from silence to action, holding
space for accountability while helping peers find their voice. Through writing and
poetry, she names truth, honors identity, and makes change feel possible rather than
distant. Malia is just getting started.
Youth organizer who redirected school safety resources from policing to student support.
Kahlila Williams helped change school safety in Los Angeles. Through public testimony, rallies, and organizing, she joined efforts to shift how LAUSD treated Black and Brown students. She pushed decision-makers to replace policing with counselors and trauma-informed care. That pressure led to millions of dollars being shifted from school police to student support, turning community demands into policy. As an education policy scholar, Kahlila now advances research and policies for safe, supportive, and equitable schools where safety, belonging, and dignity are non-negotiable.
An advocate who transformed a painful experience into action, pushing for curriculum change and creating pathways for students to feel protected and seen.
Destiny Helligar turned harm into heroics. After experiencing racist attacks in middle school, Destiny became an advocate spotlighting how harmful language can be normalized in school settings. Through her stewardship, which led to the formation of the Destiny Education Project, she focused on advocating and protecting students who face institutional racism. Alongside her activism, she is also a creative, pursuing theatre, film, and digital production while developing as a writer and performer. By using her voice to change systems and using her art to tell stories that reflect truth and possibility her legacy is the best of both worlds.
Service-centered leader blending faith, mentorship, and community care, committed to building dignity and belonging wherever he serves.
Noah Daniel is a first-generation American student leader whose impact is rooted in service, faith, and steady character. Known for consistently showing up for others, mentoring younger students, contributing to campus community, and emitting leadership that is proactive, not performative. Noah’s story reflects discipline and compassion as he balances academic responsibility with a commitment toward a future centered on helping people thrive, resilience, and community responsibility. Currently, Noah is affiliated with Bishop Montgomery High School.
Twin teen founders who turned a $400 idea into a viral, community-celebrated business.
Chazz and Chaze Clemons are twin entrepreneurs from Long Beach who turned summer break into a real business story. With $400 saved from working at their family’s gas station, they launched Glizzy Street, a bacon-wrapped hot dog stand that began with a quiet first day and quickly exploded after a viral moment online. What followed was not luck. It was discipline: operating nightly, managing inventory and customer flow, all while balancing school responsibilities and building a brand the community rallied around. Their momentum has earned local recognition and national attention, including media features and opportunities that most adults never reach. Glizzy Street is more than a stand, it’s proof that we are all capable of building something valuable when family support meets work ethic and vision. The twins are continuing to grow the business with plans for expansion, using their platform to represent the next generation of entrepreneurship.
Historic student leader elected to bring youth voice directly into Board of Education decisions.
Amaya Hazard made history as Inglewood Unified School District’s first-ever Student Board Member, stepping into a role created to ensure students have a direct voice in district leadership. Her election represents trust earned through consistent campus leadership, strong character, and the ability to represent peers with clarity and responsibility. Amaya’s story is both academic and civic. As she continues to build a legacy of advocacy, shaping policy, culture, and opportunity for thousands.
Youth entrepreneur who turned anti-bullying into a movement, using fashion to challenge colorism.
Kheris Rogers turned a painful childhood experience into a global message of self- love. After being bullied for her dark brown skin, she fought back by affirming what others tried to shame, building confidence not only in herself but in thousands of young people who saw their story in hers. She launched Flexin’ In My Complexion, transforming an empowering phrase into a fashion and advocacy movement that gained rapid national attention. Kheris made history as the youngest person to present at New York Fashion Week, and her platform has been amplified by major cultural voices and media outlets. What makes her legacy stand out is the purpose behind the brand: she uses visibility to help others reclaim their identity, speak kindly to themselves, and reject standards that diminish Blackness.
