Cheryl is acting director of IREX's Leadership Practice and project director for the Strengthening Independent Media in Syria (SIMS) program.

As acting director of the Leadership Practice, Cheryl leads IREX’s overall strategy and learning agenda for leadership development globally. She manages a portfolio of fellowship and leadership development programs that support leaders in more than 100 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia, and the Americas with a team of more than 90 staff. Cheryl is also the project director for the Strengthening Independent Media in Syria (SIMS) program and leads a dedicated team based in the Middle East who support independent voices and the media ecosystem to provide Syrians with news and current affairs programming. Previously at IREX, she has served as deputy director for IREX’s Leadership Practice since 2018 and had overall responsibility for the Impact Fellowships Summit, a learning and networking event IREX convenes to bring leadership development and fellowship practitioners together. Cheryl was also the chief of party providing overall strategic guidance and oversight for a USAID-funded Mandela Washington Fellowship follow-on program which supported young African leaders to increase their leadership and technical skills. Early in her career at IREX, Cheryl managed aspects of several media development projects implemented in the Balkans from 1998 to 2000.

Matt is a graphic designer and creative thinker. A recent graduate from the Art Institute International in Kansas City where he was born and raised. His strategic thinking, idea conceptualization, and multi-faceted design competence is seen in materials from website creation to logo development. While still a student, his work drew clients from corporate and not-for-profit spheres;These include: GolfTeeDesigns, LinnStar Transport, KC Copters, Kansas City Friends of Jung, Broadmoor Bistro, and MINDDRIVE.

Justin has been involved with Youthlinc since 2008 when he joined the Thailand team as a mentor. Since then, he has been on a total of 12 Youthlinc trips, including a multi-time team leader, to Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, Kenya, Fiji, and Madagascar. Justin was selected by the Board or Directors to become Executive Director in 2016 when our Founder, Judy Zone, retired after 17 years. Before becoming the Executive Director, he was Real Life Director and International Service Director. Locally, he has volunteered with refugee and under-served youth and adults and formed a civic engagement club in the Salt Lake City School District. Prior to working at Youthlinc, Justin was a high school teacher in English, history, and business. He taught at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education and at West High School. He has an International Business degree from Westminster College, an English degree from the University of Utah, and a Master’s of Teaching degree from Westminster College.

Brian Peterson-Roest has been an elementary teacher in Rochester Community Schools for 24 years. He has a master's and Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership/Administration from Oakland University and is an Adjunct Professor. Brian was personally honored by President Barack Obama for receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2012). He was also a recipient of the Michigan Science Teacher of the Year Award (2011), the Humanex Excellence in Teaching Award (2015), the Justice, Equity Diversity, Inclusion Award (2021) and was chosen as one of Crain’s Notable LGBTQ in Business Leaders (2021). Brian founded the non-profit organization Bees in the D. Bees in the D is devoted to the education and conservation of honeybees and other pollinators in the Detroit area. The organization has over 220 hives at 70 different locations in Southeast Michigan and offers many workshops and classes throughout the Detroit area that share about the importance and misconceptions of honeybees and pollinators.

Gianne Doherty and Jay Weeks founded Organic Bath Co. out of a need, and have continued to grow the company using only clean ingredients. When Gianne had a serious reaction to her favorite conventional beauty products, Jay went to work creating a highly effective moisturizer made wholly of natural ingredients. Inspired by Gianne’s globe-trotting childhood and the home remedies used by her Belizean mother, Jay turned to shea butter from Ghana, argan oil from Morocco and almond and jojoba oils, formulating a decadent body butter safe for Gianne’s newly sensitive skin. Since then, the two have become passionate advocates for health, wellness, and accessible, safe skincare. Upon discovering that women—and particularly women of color—are marketed toxic personal care products, they have made a commitment to creating a straightforward, unisex bath and body line using nothing unnecessary, harmful or synthetic—just what’s essential.

Khadija works in the Artisan Products sector leading Kaj Expressions Ltd. The fellow is a professional jewelry designer who recently pivoted into the digital course industry to teach small business owners how to grow their businesses. For their handmade jewelry, customers are middle-to high-income women who want to feel confident and beautiful. They are also the first lionfish jewelry creators in Belize and the entire Caribbean. Customers of the digital course are small business owners who need help streamlining their business and learning how to increase their revenue. This service is unique because there is no other company in Belize offering these products and services. Coming to the YLAI Fellowship, Khadija’s top business challenge is Finance. Khadija won the YLAI Solution Pitch Competition and is now the 2022 YLAI Ambassador.

Lauren McDanell, VP of Strategy & Growth at SEED SPOT, has deep respect and gratitude for the impact-driven entrepreneurs who take community problems head on with their innovative products, services, and technologies. Lauren leverages her experience supporting hundreds of early-stage startups (from Minnesota to Madagascar!) to set strategic vision for SEED SPOT and build the internal architecture of resources, partnerships, and worldclass support systems that has earned the nonprofit organization the title of World Top 5 Private Business Accelerator and Top 3 Social Innovation from UBI Global. Lauren has been featured at conferences, in news media and startup blogs, and has led innovative corporate training programs at American Express, Booz Allen, and EY, and at major global conferences including SOCAP and Net Impact. Prior to SEED SPOT, Lauren served as Program Director for Tallwave’s High Tide tech startup accelerator program, performed venture` due diligence at Tallwave Capital, and joined one of the programs’ ventures, LocalWork.com, as Director of Marketing.

Ludymila is a YLAI 2021 Alumni. She graduated in Computer Science at UFAM and exchange modality at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. She has received awards in hackathons, and presented articles at international conferences. She also works in the public service, developing applications that provide innovation and services for the population. She is lead organizer of GDG Manaus and Jungles Dev (a community for promoting diversity and inclusion in the IT field and promoting Tech events) and Women Techmakers (a program for female empowerment in IT). She loves nature, sports, dogs, coffee and to see her code making a positive impact in people's lives.

Yoelvis Medero Lunar is a Music Teacher and Educator, with more than 12 years of experience in the development of music and culture in Belize. He is currently the Founding Director of Allegro Music School in Belize, an institute dedicated to train the next generation of musicians. He received a Degree in Humanities with emphasis in Music Education including development in voice, completion of his Flute Grade 8 and Flute ALCM Diploma from London College of Music. Additionally, he is pursuing an MBA in Arts and Innovation with emphasis in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, and Community Development from “The Global Leaders Institute”. During his YLAI Fellowship in 2021, Yoelvis collaborated with City Latin Jazz Orchestra, was one of the Semi-finalists for the Pitch Competition, and was awarded with a Collaboration Grant to implement a Jazz 101 Masterclasses in between KC Latin Jazz Orchestra and students in Belize. As an active Fellow and Alumni, he is currently the Alumni Advisory Board 2021-2023 Chair. Yoelvis is committed to the development of the YLAI Alumni network by fostering initiatives that can strengthen the alumni community.

A native of Huntsville, AL, Kezia is well-known in her community. Kezia was one of Global Ties Alabama's first outbound Central American Youth Ambassadors in 2014 and was selected as an Emerging Leader in 2020 for Global Ties U.S. She graduated from Oakwood University in 2021 and is currently pursuing her master’s at Troy University in International Relations. She has a love for global service and is continuously seeking new opportunities to show the world is a classroom. Kezia is determined, persistent, and determined to educate others through cultural awareness.

A native of Utah, Gary has a B.A. in International Politics from Utah Valley University, focusing his studies on the Middle East, Arabic, Islam, and Conflict Resolution. He speaks Finnish and Arabic, has lived in Finland and the Middle East, and has traveled throughout Europe. His prior work includes Utah International Charter School and internships with two refugee resettlement agencies in Finland. He believes, in the words of E. Gene Smith, that "every culture is a precious flower that deserves to be preserved and cultivated. It will make us more human.

Deanna is described as a trailblazer and dynamic speaker who is at the forefront of social change. She is an accomplished author, educator, business leader, and social justice champion who speaks to over 50,000 people annually. She is the Founder and Chief Change Agent of Flying Elephant, an umbrella organization for four social ventures, all of which are dedicated to shifting power to marginalized communities. Through Uplifting Impact, she empowers businesses and individuals to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces by offering consulting, coaching, and training - including a bi-annual Virtual Summit that draws more than 500 attendees. Delivering keynotes and trainings to entrepreneurs and teams who want to align their work to their purpose, Deanna’s Purposeful Hustle brand teaches the method and the mission by the book of the same name, which has sold more than 10,000 copies. Story to Tell Books, a children’s book imprint, features positive narrative and visual images of children of color, including three books authored by Deanna. Lastly, Birth Coach Milwaukee provides doula services to birthing people who otherwise could not afford it.

Roshan Paul is currently the Director of IREX's Leadership Practice. Prior to this, he has been an award-winning social entrepreneur and impact leader with over 20 years of global experience on 6 continents. He co-founded Amani Institute, the leading career development organization dedicated to social impact working across the global south, which trained and guided 10,000+ people from 65+ countries under my tenure as CEO. He has written three books, have done 2 TEDx talks, and spoken at more than 50 universities and other major institutions around the world, including a commencement speech at a major university. He has also been interviewed in Fast Company, The Huffington Post, Vanity Fair, Forbes, and CNBC Africa, among others.

Emmanuel P. Silverio, also known by his artist name Emm Silverio, is a highly accomplished artist and entrepreneur hailing from the Dominican Republic. With a distinguished background in the music industry as a musician, educator, and business owner, he has made significant contributions to the world of music. In 2017, Emmanuel founded Attico Music and Arts, a company dedicated to creating new opportunities for emerging artists from the Dominican Republic and Latin America. Through Attico, he provides a range of teaching and music production services, with a focus on cultivating talent and supporting the artistic growth of aspiring artists.

Yoelvis Medero Lunar is a Music Teacher and Educator, with more than 12 years of experience in the development of music and culture in Belize. He is currently the Founding Director of Allegro Music School in Belize, an institute dedicated to train the next generation of musicians. He received a Degree in Humanities with emphasis in Music Education including development in voice, completion of his Flute Grade 8 and Flute ALCM Diploma from London College of Music. Additionally, he is pursuing an MBA in Arts and Innovation with emphasis in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, and Community Development from “The Global Leaders Institute”. During his YLAI Fellowship in 2021, Yoelvis collaborated with City Latin Jazz Orchestra, was one of the Semi-finalists for the Pitch Competition, and was awarded with a Collaboration Grant to implement a Jazz 101 Masterclasses in between KC Latin Jazz Orchestra and students in Belize. As an active Fellow and Alumni, he is currently the Alumni Advisory Board 2021-2023 Chair. Yoelvis is committed to the development of the YLAI Alumni network by fostering initiatives that can strengthen the alumni community.

Priscila Aguilera, entrepreneur and pop singer song-writer. She has been the singer in some musicals like: Cinderella, Aladdin, The Sound of Music and more. She has participated as a performer in SESC Festival in São Paulo, GREC Festival in Spain, Festival de Artes escénicas in Loja, Ecuador.

She has composed a song for the Coreography “Al Pie de la Letra” for the National Dance Company in Quito, Ecuador.

She also has a business background and is the founder of Puente lila, a Brand that empowers Entrepreneurs with Marketing Services.

Phillip Kellman is a man, passionate about the Kingdom of God. This man is on a mission to spread the love of Jesus through the arts. He envisions his life as a story book. Day by day he fulfills his goal of inspiring others to walk their journey with faith. Through unfolding the chapters of his mistakes and short comings, he’s constantly developing strategies to overcome life’s hurdle and renewing hope in the future. Phillip has a heart for youth development. He sees women and men of upcoming generations as the leaders and vocalists of our global nation. His aim is to direct their focus to Jesus by distributing this knowledge in relatable formats. A message from Phillip follows: “we all have many different assignments but one mission. This is to spread the message of Jesus Christ.”. As an entrepreneur Phillip has engaged in various business sectors from food distribution to education. Currently Phillip’s main assignment, just happens to be music