BYOP: The Council

the council

The Council is an elected body that is responsible for all affairs of BYOP at the Boston-area wide level. It makes sure that BYOP is moving ahead on organization-wide issue campaigns and trainings. The Council attends and plans trainings, retreats (some overnight), weekly meetings and actions. Each council member serves for 7 months (December to June).

Each chapter elects representatives to serve as a liaison between that chapter and the organization-wide level. In addition, at-large Councilors, The Campaign and Unity Chairs, are elected by the whole body at an annual election in the Fall.

Irvin Bailey



Irvin is Chapter Co-Councilor for O'Bryant!

Vasta Coombs



Vasta is Chapter Councilor for CASH at Hyde Park!

Cristian Feliciano Cumbas
	Cristian is Chapter Co-Councilor for Snowden!


I came to BYOP to participate and learn in an organization that is truly youth led and youth run. My first taste of BYOP was to be remembered--it was the picture of Ernesto Guevara, the first thing you see in the office. That welcoming image captivated me and made me want to join BYOP to become a better organizer. My role in BYOP is to co-facilitate the Snowden chapter with Dana. The chapter's current campaign is to lengthen our school lunch as well as to change the timing in which the lunch is set up. BYOP has the role of showing how collective leadership can have a stronger effect on the youth than that of one person leading the group. My whole purpose in organizing is to show that youth do have the power to make progressive change in communities and schools as a real collective--not as one person spreading ideas to others. And to show that making small changes can have the effect of moving the community towards reform. Organizing as an example. Never leading, always grouping.

Dana Mendes
	Dana is Chapter Co-Councilor for Snowden!


This is my first year at BYOP, but not my first year organizing. I was involved with BYOP through the United Youth and Youth Workers Of Boston. My first time coming to BYOP was for for Games Day hosted by the Design Studio 4 Social Intervention. I am a student at Muriel S. Snowden International High School, and I am a Chapter Councilor. Currently we are working on our campaign to extend our lunch period, which is only 25 minutes. The reason why I organize is simple...I like to make change where change is needed. I feel as though if I can identify a problem then I can work to fix it. Too many people sit back and wonder why things happen the way they do and never make an effort to fix things. I am not one of those people. That's why I organize.

Wendy Merlain Aridou



Wendy is Chapter Co-Councilor for O'Bryant!

Vassia Vaneus
	Vassia is Chapter Councilor for CRLS!


My name is Vassia Vaneus & I am a senior at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. I am a dancer, organizer and a certified nursing assistant with a goal to make a difference in other people's lives. I have been an organizer in BYOP for about 4 years and the Cambridge Counselor for 1. I first got interested in BYOP when my friend who was already a member told me about it. I'm someone who always wanted change to be possible, especially for young people in this world. Once I joined BYOP I realized that a lot of things ARE possible with youth because organizing is one of the best ways to bring everyone together and make a difference. I hope to see more younger people standing up for what they believe in with motivation from me and other youth organizers.

Cambridge Chapter Councilor: Maintains the relationship and communication between the CRLS chapter and BYOP; Mobilizes chapter members in BYOP-wide campaigns, trainings and activities; Acts as a leader within the chapter (i.e. having relationships with chapter members)

O'Bryant Chapter Councilors: Maintain the relationship and communication between the OB chapter and BYOP; Mobilize chapter members in BYOP-wide campaigns, trainings and activities; Act as leaders within the chapter (i.e. having relationships with chapter members)

Snowden Chapter Councilors: Maintain the relationship and communication between the Snowden chapter and BYOP; Mobilize chapter members in BYOP-wide campaigns, trainings and activities; Act as leaders within the chapter (i.e. having relationships with chapter members)

Hyde Park Chapter Councilor: Maintains the relationship and communication between the Hyde Park chapter and BYOP; Mobilizes chapter members in BYOP-wide campaigns, trainings and activities; Acts as a leader within the chapter (i.e. having relationships with chapter members)

Campaign Chair: Builds relationships with local, state and federal officials; leads strategizing for issue campaign(s); mobilizes membership for actions; builds relationships with other organizations and allies