BYOP: The Council

The Youth Council

The Council is an elected body that is responsible for all affairs of BYOP at the city-wide and chapter levels. It is responsible for making sure that BYOP is moving ahead on organization campaigns and trainings; attending and planning trainings; and leading retreats, weekly meetings, actions, and events. Each council member serves for 7 months (December to June) and is elected democratically by BYOP’s youth member base.

The Youth Council is made up of At-Large Chairs and Chapter Councilors. Each chapter elects its own Chapter Councilor to serve as a liaison between that chapter and the organization-wide level, and to lead the chapter meetings, campaigns, trainings, and actions. At-Large Councilors are elected by the entire BYOP membership at an annual election in the Fall, and coordinate the section of BYOP’s organizing for which they serve a position. The 2011 At-Large Position categories are Health, Safety, Education, and Transportation.

Amatullah Mervin


	AEJ Club Co-Councilor & Transportation Justice Chair
My name is Amatullah, I am 18 and a senior at Cambridge Ringe & Latin. I became a BYOP member in the summer of 2007 with my best friend Deandra Atherley. As a member I was always given the opportunity to find some of the most important things needed by the people in my community, and over time have sat in meetings and done actions on behalf of violence prevention, equitable education, transit justice, and more. I was recently hired on to the YOT and in February I was elected as the Youth Council's AEJ Club Co-Councilor and Transportation Justice Chair. Since I first came to BYOP I felt a sense of being a party of a family, even before I knew that one day I would work here and really call my co-workers family. BYOP led me to respect and love that there is a power in youth who genuinely believe they can change the world.

Asia Medley


	The City School Chapter Councilor
Hey everyone! My name is Asia and I am 18 years old and a senior at City on a Hill. I joined BYOP in 2010 when I attended the Spring Retreat and was hired in the summer of 2010 as a YOT member to start a new chapter at my other job, The City School. Since I have been working here, I take what I learn to my organization and chapter. I have learned to be a better facilitator and take my new skills back to the communities I am involved in. I have also been a part of YOUNG and the Massachusetts Youth Jobs Coalition.

Deandra Atherley


	Education Justice Co-Chair & AEJ Club Co-Councilor
Hey all, my name is Deandra Atherley and I’m eighteen years old. I am a senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin high school. I became a member of the Boston-area Youth Organizing Project in the summer of 2007. Now I am on the Youth Council as the Education Justice Co-Chair and the AEJ Club Co-Councilor. When I am not at BYOP, I mentor freshmen and middle school volleyball players to help them prepare for the transition into high school volleyball and play for my school's Varsity Lacrosse team. I’m a part of BYOP to learn more about youth empowerment and help make positive changes in the world through organizing. The BYOP community inspired me and changed my outlook on the world.

Eric Concepcion


	Community Mobilization Chair
Hello viewers, my name is Eric Concepcion and I am an 18 year old student attending Brighton High School. I am a member on the Youth Council here at BYOP. I got involved here from a friend who got me an interview several years ago, and have stayed ever since! This February I was elected as the Education Justice Co-Chair for the 2011 Youth Council.

Naeyjalite Baez


	Health Justice Chair & Safety Justice Co-Chair

Shakeen Stewart


	Brighton Chapter Councilor & Safety Justice Co-Chair
My name is Shakeen Stewart and I am the BYOP Brighton Chapter Councilor and the Safety Justice Co-Chair. I am 18 and a senior at Brighton High School. I joined BYOP as a citywide member in 2009. Since I joined BYOP I have supported the Youth Way campaign, the 2010 STI, the Fall Retreat, the YOUNG Launch, and the AEJ Regional Meeting. By June I hope to have a successful Brighton Chapter up and running, and help the movement for violence prevention in Boston with the Design Studio for Social Intervention's Lets Flip It campaign.

Tài Tăng


	OBryant Chapter Councilor
Hi Everyone! My name is Tài Tăng, I'm 19 years old. I'm a senior at the John D. O'Bryant High School of Mathematics and Science. I became a member of BYOP at the end of my sophomore year. I joined BYOP when they were working on actions for the Youth Way on the MBTA Campaign. After that action week, I joined BYOP during their STI 2009 (Summer Training Institute) as a member, I fell in love of BYOP since then. During my junior year of high school, I joined BYOP on their weekly chapter meetings at OB and weekly BYOP city-wide meetings. Being a member of BYOP, I learned a lot about youth leadership, youth empowerment, and youth qualities. Recently, I was hired by BYOP to be the O'Bryant Chapter Councilor for my senior year. I'm very excited to run this position this year and I'll look forward to meet new BYOP members this year at O'Bryant!!!

Thaina Dessin


	Snowden Chapter Councilor
Hey! My name is Thaina B.K.A Tiny. I’m a senior at Snowden international High School; I will be graduating in 2011. I’m Snowden Chapter Councilor. I’m a basketball player and I love to eat BK that’s my favorite meal of the day. I became part of BYOP when the Snowden Chapter was doing an MBTA action in Copley Square in 2009, and I loved what they were doing so I became more interested in fighting for youth justice because in the future I want to be able to say that I made a change and that it was all because of BYOP!

All Youth Council members are elected democratically by their peers, and must meet qualifications including BYOP membership and involvement, leadership experience, and organizing skills in order to qualify as candidates.