YOU(th) Belong

Youth Leadership & Community Collective

YOU(th) Belong is a dynamic, youth-centered leadership and intergenerational community program for young people ages 13–25 across Metro Atlanta. Designed for today’s evolving social landscape, the program blends advocacy, creative expression, and leadership development to empower young people to shape their communities and their futures.

At its core, YOU(th) Belong is grounded in a youth leadership development model that supports participants in building the skills, confidence, and relationships needed to lead with purpose. Through monthly gatherings, leadership cohorts, and collaborative projects, young people develop competencies in:

  • Self-awareness and identity expression

  • Communication and storytelling (including creative arts and digital media)

  • Community organizing and advocacy

  • Collaborative leadership and team-building

  • Civic engagement and social impact strategy

To ensure youth voices remain central, the program includes two leadership bodies:

  1. Youth Advisory Council (ages 13–17) – shaping program design and peer engagement

  2. Youth Steering Committee (ages 18–25) – guiding strategy, partnerships, and community initiatives

Our meetings and programs are grounded in the leadership of young people and supported by a caring team of mental health practitioners, educators, creatives, and youth advocates who help nurture, guide, and strengthen their growth as leaders.

YOU(TH) BElong Leadership

Tim’m West

Founder and Visionary

  • Tim’m T. West (he/they) is an award-winning educator, poet, hip-hop artist, and advocate whose three-decade career bridges classrooms, concert stages, and community movements. A graduate of Duke, The New School, and Stanford, he has transformed personal narrative into public service at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice. Living openly with HIV since 1999, Tim’m has led national efforts to dismantle stigma through art, education, and mentorship—holding leadership roles with AID Atlanta, Houston’s St. Hope Foundation, and Chicago’s Center on Halsted. A former faculty member at The New School and Cal Poly Humboldt, he also launched Teach For America’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Initiative, shaping inclusion across 50+ regions. Now Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, he advances youth advocacy, research, and intersectional leadership through programs like the Georgia Youth Advocacy Fellowship, National Youth Advocacy Corps, and IGNYTE Symposium. Widely recognized as a pioneer of queer hip hop and named one of 31 Icons of LGBT History Month, Tim’m recently received the Stanford Pride Trailblazer Award for his enduring commitment to equity and liberation.

ANtHONY “AJ” MIze

Director

  • Tyrique Wilson (he/him) is a passionate advocate and nonprofit professional dedicated to uplifting communities and creating meaningful opportunities for growth. With years of experience supporting marginalized groups, including individuals living with HIV and inner-city youth, he approaches his work with compassion, care, and a deep understanding of the challenges people face. Tyrique blends his love for the arts with community service, designing programs that encourage self-expression, healing, and confidence. Known for his warmth and collaborative spirit, he has facilitated workshops, group sessions, and events that leave a lasting impact on those he serves. His commitment to advocacy is matched by his ability to connect with people on a personal level, inspiring trust and engagement. Through his work, Tyrique continues to make a difference by bridging the gap between resources, support, and the individuals who need them most.

SOLAnGE TRAN

Visionary Storyteller

  • Amore D. Sierra Cano (she/her) is a first-generation Mexican-American transgender woman of color and advocate dedicated to cultivating leadership, visibility, and empowerment through purpose-driven platforms. She serves as the Founder and Executive Director of her nonprofit organization, The Sovereign Impact Collective, which exists to cultivate and empower mission-driven leaders by providing inclusive and accessible opportunities for skill development, leadership training, and community support. Leveraging pageantry as a platform for advocacy, Amore continues to champion equality, social justice, and human rights within the transgender community. Through her leadership and advocacy, Amore is redefining representation while empowering the next generation of leaders to lead with intention and impact.

our STEERING Committee

Our first cohort draws young adults from all over the state with about half being in the Atlanta metro area and the other half from across Georgia, as well as students, young professionals, creatives, and advocates who call Georgia home, but reside elsewhere.  

Our 2025-26 Fellows

  • Anthony Anderson is a first-year graduate student in African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and a first-generation college student originally from Gary, Indiana. His research explores the history of Black labor movements during Reconstruction and their enduring impact on unionization and Black work today. He is particularly interested in the intersections of Black literature and film with concepts of freedom, identity, and labor. Drawing inspiration from Toni Morrison’s Sula, Anthony engages the theory of the “manufactured artist without an art form” to examine how art, culture, and work are shaped by structures of power. With professional experience in education, operations, and public health advocacy, he brings a strong background in policy analysis, compliance, and community engagement. Through the IGNYTE Fellowship, he seeks to further bridge academic research and community-driven strategies to support Black voices and leadership in contemporary social and cultural spaces.

  • Hunter Buchheit is a sophomore at Emory University studying U.S. History and Business Administration. Over the past several years, he has worked within the Georgia non-profit and journalism spaces, working to empower the next generation of youth leaders and storytellers. During his time as a Policy Analysis Intern for the ACLU of Georgia, Hunter researched upcoming policies related to the issue areas most important to him, including LGBTQ+ rights, students' rights, and educational freedom. Hunter has also interned for Georgia Equality and the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project, delving into queer advocacy and learning from trailblazing Georgia organizers. He is deeply invested in Georgia politics, and he served as a Narrative Team Co-Lead at the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, wherein he participated in on-the-ground canvassing and outreach efforts and created a multi-week journalism education program for Georgia high school and college students. As a current Editor for The Emory Wheel, Emory University's only student-run newspaper, and a freelancer who has been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rough Draft Atlanta, NPR-WABE, Teen Vogue, and StudentNation, Hunter uplifts the stories of community members and youth activists. And last summer, Hunter served as an intern for the Truth + Transformation team at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, participating in the selective Emory University Ethics and Servant Leadership program. For the past three years, Hunter has served on the Board of Directors for VOX Teen Communications, a youth-led organization through which he has mentored dozens of metro Atlanta teen writers. Looking to the future, Hunter hopes to work at the intersection of policy and storytelling.

  • Demetri Burke is an Atlanta based artist with a primary focus in painting. He received his degree from Georgia State University with a BFA in Studio Art. His work has been shown nationally in galleries, museums, publications, and public spaces. Highlights include his 2022 solo exhibition– And Then We Heard the Thunder at Mint Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia– as well as having artwork published in New American Paintings South #155, being a featured illustrator in 2023’s The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families by Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer, an Adult Swim x Living Walls public artwork commission, and being a featured artist in the Artsy Post-War and Contemporary auction. Burke is also a 2023 Queer Art Fellow Alumni and previous 2023-2024 artist-in-residence for the Midtown Heart of the Arts Residency in Atlanta, Georgia. Recent acquisitions include his work being collected in Coca-Cola’s Fine Art Collection, featuring artists like Auguste Rodin and Andy Warhol. His artworks are such materials that are examinations of his own life, present and past, and repeat themselves in theme: Black like the skin and still like the clouds.

  • Born and raised in Baltimore, Diamond Faith brings the grit and grace of her hometown to every beat she touches. Now rooted in Atlanta, she’s blending the raw honesty of hip-hop with the sensual flow of R&B, crafting a sound that feels both intimate and unshakably confident. Her songs, like the vibey “High” and the sultry “Slow”, pulse with emotion, revealing an artist unafraid to be vulnerable while still standing in her power. Beyond the music, Diamond Faith’s work is deeply community-centered, from organizing for AIDS Walk Atlanta to feeding the homeless and serving with the Public Defender’s Office, she channels her art and her actions toward empowerment and justice. More than just a move, her leap from Baltimore to Atlanta signals a rebirth — a fearless creative stepping fully into her own rhythm.

  • Kavarious Finch is a media production professional, storyteller, and youth advocate committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly within Black and LGBTQ+ communities. A graduate of Belmont University, Kavarious has built experience across media production, digital strategy, and creative development, working with organizations and artists at the intersection of culture, advocacy, and entertainment. As a C.R.I.B.B. Fellow, his work focuses on using storytelling as a tool for social impact, representation, and community empowerment. Through his creative practice and advocacy efforts, Kavarious is passionate about shaping inclusive narratives, fostering youth leadership, and creating spaces where authenticity and equity thrive.

  • Joi Gala is a dedicated student and emerging leader with a strong commitment to community service and academic excellence. She actively engages in campus and community initiatives that promote education, mentorship, and health equity. Through her involvement in service-oriented programs she seeks to build meaningful relationships with professionals who inspire her growth and impact. Joi is passionate about advocating for underserved communities and advancing awareness around public health and social responsibility. She consistently demonstrates initiative by pursuing mentorship, leadership opportunities, and service projects that align with her long-term goals in healthcare. With a balance of academic dedication and community engagement, Joi strives to create lasting, positive change both locally and beyond.

  • Jaila Hatch is a junior Political Science major, Economics minor on the pre-law track at Spelman College. She is deeply committed to advocacy, legal equity, and community empowerment. Jaila serves as Co-Chair of Afrekete’s Political Awareness and Action Committee, where she has helped organized mutual aid initiatives and educational events centered on social justice and Black queer diasporic resistance. She is an active member of Morehouse Moot Court developing strong legal research and oral advocacy skills. Beyond campus, Jaila has mentored young Black girls through The Brains with Beauty Project, a mentorship initiative where she supports and uplifts young Black girls. She aspires to become a public defender dedicated where she can advocate for underserved communities and work to make the legal system more equitable and accessible.

  • Anicya Haywood (she/her) is a first-year at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and a recent graduate of EE Smith High School in Fayetteville, NC where she attended their Science and Math Academy where she was a starter on the Varsity Soccer team and the Auxiliary Dance Team for the Magnificent Marching Machine Band. An advocate for Voting Rights, especially in North Carolina, she has helped register people to vote and voted in her first election in November 2024. A prospective Psychology major at Spelman, she is joining the Georgia Youth Advocacy Fellowship on the backs of her NYAC project, Black Girl Democracy, which is working to provide voter education and awareness to Black girls who will vote for the first time in the next two years. Anicya is also concerned about women’s rights and believes that bodily autonomy should extend to areas like the Crown Act, which protects students' rights to wear or treat their hair however they desire, without the threat of racial discrimination or loss of access to school, participation in activities, and inclusion in opportunities inside and beyond typical classrooms.

  • Hannibal Hendrix is a dedicated advocate and emerging leader committed to equity, diplomacy, and community empowerment. They are a Georgia Youth Advocacy Fellow, where they engage in policy-focused organizing and civic education aimed at expanding access and representation for marginalized communities. Hannibal has actively participated in national advocacy spaces, including the HBCU Queer Leaders Summit, and has helped convene conversations around transgender visibility, remembrance, and justice. Their long-term vision includes pursuing a career in diplomacy as a United States ambassador, grounded in human rights and international cooperation. In addition to public service, Hannibal aspires to establish a scholarship foundation honoring Bayard Rustin to support future changemakers. Through organizing, education, and service, Hannibal consistently works to turn advocacy into lasting, community-centered impact.

  • Montenez “Monte” Lowery (he/him) is a multidisciplinary Black American artist and writer based in Atlanta, GA. Working primarily with alternative photographic processes, his practice explores Black identity, memory, and loss, with recent work examining colonial infrastructures, photography’s role in shaping racial narratives, and contemporary cultural appropriation. Lowery’s work invites viewers to reflect on the past while recognizing their place within ongoing histories.

  • Royce Mann is a lifelong Atlantan, spoken word poet, experienced community organizer, and former candidate for the Atlanta Board of Education. His prior experience includes serving as Legislative Director for March for our Lives Georgia, as a Student Activist Coordinator for Amnesty International, as Youth Engagement Coordinator for Sen. Raphael Warnock’s re-election campaign, and as a Lead Campus Organizer and Georgia Deputy State Director for the RISE Education Fund. Royce remains active in numerous community and political organizations, including the Atlanta Democratic Socialists and the Young Democrats of Georgia. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University where he was a recipient of the Woodruff-MLK Jr. Scholarship. In his spare time, Royce enjoys traveling, watching movies, and cheering on the Braves and the Hawks.

  • Leo D. Martinez is a Black Dominican American and trans femme artist from Harlem, NY, now residing in Atlanta, GA. She has published her non-fiction in Electric Literature; and her fiction in Plantin Magazine, ¡Pájaros, lesbianas y queers, a volar! Anthology, and Aster(ix) Journal. She also works for the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) as a Grant Coordinator. You can find her contemplating by the riverbank, walking her dog, or on Instagram @leyesoy.

  • Garrett Mason, III is a multidisciplinary artist, youth advocate, and community leader based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has collaborated with national youth advocacy initiatives through Point Source Youth, contributing to storytelling projects that center the lived experiences of system-impacted young people and uplift their journeys, access to resources, and future dreams. Garrett has spoken in spaces across the United States about the importance of unrestricted direct cash assistance, drawing from his experience helping co-design and amplify Point Source Youth’s Direct Cash Transfer program and its impact on youth autonomy and stability. Through his work with Southern Legal Center for Youth, he supported expanded access to free legal aid in the South, increasing awareness of young people’s rights and access to affirming legal services such as name change and gender-affirming care. As a ballroom house father, Garrett offers mentorship, care, and resources, cultivating spaces where young people can heal, feel deeply connected, creative, and experience chosen family across both ballroom and everyday life. Across his advocacy and creative practice, he is committed to elevating youth voices, honoring lived experience, and advancing social justice through person-centered leadership and joy.

  • With beloved familial connections in Atlanta, Elijah McRae is a community advocate and faith-driven leader based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the founder of the Jamelle Moral Law and Education Church. The Church’s mission is to educate the public on procedural rights, due process, and lawful governance rooted in moral law and human dignity. Its work includes Family Court process oversight education, community workshops and curricula, and promoting accountability through transparency.

  • Emanuel 'Manny' Palax Ocampo is a sophomore at Central High School dedicated to youth empowerment, advocacy, and community service. As the Founder and Chair of the Carroll County Youth Board of Commissioners, he leads initiatives that amplify youth voices in local government, growing the board from 11 to 30 members within a month. Emanuel serves on several statewide and national advisory councils—including HealthMPowers, GUIDE Inc., Silence the Shame, and NoFiltr—where he advocates for adolescent well-being, mental health awareness, and digital policy reform. A member of his school’s Mock Trial, and Model United Nations teams, Emanuel demonstrates leadership across civic and academic settings. Recognized for his strong communication skills and ability to connect diverse communities, he has completed over 70 hours of community service and continuously seeks to create meaningful impact. Through his work, Emanuel exemplifies youth leadership grounded in compassion, responsibility, and action.

  • Jared Pierrette an Electrical Engineering student at West Georgia Technical College with a strong commitment to community service and youth advocacy.served as an Academic Tutor with Literacy Lab–Sheltering Arms Educare in Atlanta, where they provided individualized literacy instruction to preschool students using trauma-informed and early childhood education best practices. Through this role, they gained hands-on classroom experience while supporting students’ reading development and emotional well-being. Jared has also contributed as a Camp Counselor at a Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Summer Camp, leading engaging activities and facilitating age-appropriate discussions on mental health, resilience, and coping strategies. In addition, they volunteered with the Douglas County Core Opioid Addiction Awareness initiative, educating youth on prescription drug safety and substance abuse prevention. Their experiences reflect a strong dedication to education, public health awareness, and creating supportive environments for children and young people.

  • Jayden Pierrette is a Duke University undergraduate studying Public Policy and Sociology, with strong interests in finance, law, and social impact. They serve as Student Director and Board Member of Echo-NC, a youth entrepreneurship nonprofit focused on expanding economic opportunity and environmental sustainability for young people. Through this role, Jayden designs and leads programming that connects students to mentorship, resources, and real-world entrepreneurial skills. They are also Vice President of Community Affairs for the Public Policy Majors Union, where they work to build inclusive spaces and strengthen student engagement. Jayden previously interned with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation as a Business Diversity and Government Affairs Intern, supporting equity-focused contracting initiatives and public-sector collaboration, and have secured a competitive Compliance internship with BlackRock. Their advocacy is shaped by their identity as a child of Haitian immigrants and their commitment to racial justice and equity-centered policy reform, with a long-term goal of bridging finance, public policy, and community empowerment.

  • Freddi Rogers (they/them) is a first-year student at Agnes Scott College who is interested in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as Anthropology, Human Rights, and Sociology. Originally from Brookhaven, GA, they were active in the GSA at Dekalb School of the Arts and co-founded a group called Gayme Day with their twin sister and dad who is pastor where youth played games and had boba or coffee while talking about issues facing queer and allied youth. A dynamic leader, Freedi was part of the youth leadership team at the Oak Grove UMC Youth Group and on the committee for queer inclusion. Finally, Freddi is a first-year representative on the Exec Board of ASCEND!— an organization that works to creative events that are inclusive of queer people.

  • Caleb Sprowl is a 2025 graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology. A dedicated researcher and advocate, Caleb served as the President of Morehouse MoreGreen, leading initiatives at the intersection of environmental sustainability and community health. His professional journey includes extensive research experience at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute and the Quave Research Group at Emory University, where he focused on the intersection of biology and public health. Beyond the laboratory, Caleb is a Scientific Diving Trainee with "Diving With a Purpose" and a lifetime member of the NAACP. He is committed to utilizing his scientific expertise to advocate for equity and advancement within the African Diaspora, focusing on how environmental and biological research can empower underrepresented communities.

  • Vik Williamson is an eclectic individual that finds themselves engaged in the enrichment of many unique cultures. He is active in a variety of environments- from competitive bodybuilding and social activism, to musical performance across numerous venues and churches. Lately, he has been called to serve his community as a website developer, assisting small businesses and organizations in magnifying their presence. Vik spent some of his most developmental years in the Gwinnett County Public School System, attending the Collins Hill District from grades 5 through 12. His journey was heavily affected by the opportunities that GCPS provides to be exposed to an expanse of fine arts, cultural exploration, and personal development. He now seeks to aid Georgia's educators with further enhancing this experience and support for LGBTQ students as part of Georgia Safe Schools Coalition Board of Directors.