The 2009-2010 ESLI Youth Advisory Board includes:
NANILOA CASTEEL
Independence High School, Class of 2010
Naniloa Casteel (aka Nani, Little One or Po after the smallest telletubby – get the litte theme?) is passionate about science, health and medicine and is aspiring to one day be an anaestegiologist. She became active in global and environmental issues when she was about 11 years old. With her father Naniloa used to pick up litter in her local neighborhood. Since her father moved to Brazil she has been working hard in following his good examples. Naniloa joined ESLI with the great desire to further develop her global and environmental awareness, improve her leadership and event organizing skills as well as learning how she, as a youth, can help spread environmental awareness. She can also semi-drive a tractor and enjoys having picnics at the beach with friends!
DIANA CHIU
George Washington High School, Class of 2010
Diana Chiu was born and raised in San Francisco. After attending Mercy High School for her freshman year, she transferred to Washington HS and became very active on campus. For the past three years she has been a paddler on the school‘s dragon boat team as well as a facilitator in the STEM club (Students and Teachers for Environmental Momentum). She was also a youth adocate and youth justice organizer in MOJO (Movement of Justice Organizations). Diana joined ESLI with the hopes of learning more about environmental justice, climate change, and how to be more green. She is excited about learning and growing with ESLI’s YAB team.
GIER HERNANDEZ
Philip and Sala Burton High School, Class of 2010
Originally from the Philippines, Gier moved to Visitacion Valley in San Francisco three years ago. He is a 2nd year member of the Youth Advisory Board. He volunteers with Environmental Traveling Companion, which provides accessible outdoor experiences for both disadvantage and disabled youth. He is also a member of the Student Conservation Association – helping to maintain and conserve National Parks through service and education, and a part of BuildOn, a non profit organization dedicated to community empowerment by engaging students in local community service, global education and fund raising to build schools in developing countries. Gier has been awarded the Gladstone Institute’s National Student Leadership Conference Scholarship, and the Environmental Traveling Companion Scholarship.
DE’ANTHONY JONES
Mission High School, Class of 2010
De’Anthony is passionately committed to environmental justice, youth justice and employment, education, and equal rights. A proud Fillmore native with a long resume of community activism and extracurricular activities, De’Anthony is committed to representing San Francisco youth from every community across the city and using his relationships with elected officials and city workers to make more lasting policy changes. He is serving his second year as a member of the San Francisco Youth Commission, appointed by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and representing District 5. He is also a 2nd year member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Environmental Service Learning Initiative (ESLI).
CHRISTINA LAI
Washington High School, Class of 2011
Christina Lai loves art and the role of sustainable energy in the green movement. She has been a regular member of STEM (Students and Teachers for Environmental Momentum) since the winter of her sophmore year. In her spare time she very much enjoys doing visual arts (especially drawing and sketching) listening to music, writing, and sleeping. Last year she succeeded in merging her interests in art and the environment through a portable sustainability-themed mural on Washington’s campus. Christina joined the YAB to further develop her event planing and leadership skills, learn as much as she possibly can about environmental service advocacy and ultimately apply what she learns from the YAB experience to the greater good of her environmental leadership origins at STEM.
MEAGAN LE
Lowell High School, Class of 2010
Meagan Le is currently a senior at Lowell High School. She belongs to a dual cultural heritage: British and Vietnamese. She enjoys dancing, doing gymnastics, and taking mixed martial arts. After taking an envionmental science class during her junior year, she had an eye opening realization. She recognized the importance of protecting the environment because despite of race, religion, and economics we are all responsibe for some impact on the earth. As a result Meagan joined the Youth Advisory Board to spread awareness of how human activities affect the environment. She also hopes to take away a greater knowledge of how to advocate for and create innovative solutions to save our planet.
PAUL PASCUAL
Abraham Lincoln High School, Class of 2012
Paul Pascual (aka P-Boruh) is a SF Bay Area native who enjoys playing basketball and going to the gym. While school didn’t always interest him, he was committed to living a succesful life and happened to meet a great mentor in ESLI Coordinator/Educator Vanessa Carter. Inspired by Vanessa’s passion and encouragement, Paul joined the ESLI YAB knowing it will help him improve his public speaking skills, support his desire to get into a good college and deepen his love for the environment.
GRISELDA RUIZ
Abraham Lincoln High School, Class of 2012
Born and raised in San Francisco, Griselda loves being different and making a difference! She joined ESLI’s Youth Advisory Board interested in what positive change she could help bring about for the earth, her community and herself. She is happy to be part of ESLI and looks forward to all the YAB activities!
LUPITA TRONCOSO
Abraham Lincoln High School, Class of 2011
Lupita Troncoso is a 16-year-old native of San Francisco, living in the Sunset District. She is a 2nd year Youth Advisory Board member of the Environmental Service Learning Initiative (ESLI), as well as a member of the inaugural class of Abraham Lincoln High School’s Green Academy. Lupita is also currently involved in the Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) program, educating peers on safe sex, the effects of alcohol and drugs, and health awareness. Outside of school she is a part of the dance company Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco
REYNA MALDONADO
Mission High School
Bio coming soon!