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Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board

Last updated: 12/5/24

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The Getting to Zero (GTZ) Program's Youth and Young Adult Advisory Board (YAYAA) is a collaborative that provides opportunities for Santa Clara County students ages 14 to 24 to be involved in GTZ planning and to gain valuable experience and knowledge in topics related to STI and HIV prevention and education.

How to join

Recruitment for the 2024-2025 YAYAA Board cohort is now closed. 

To stay up to date on YAYAA Board recruitment and current activities, subscribe to the Getting to Zero monthly newsletter.

Learn more about the board

Over the course of the academic year, the members will participate in various activities including program and materials development, creating social media content for public health channels, community health promotion and outreach, career development, and networking opportunities among public health staff and peers. They will also meet virtually every other month to review materials created, coordinate with public health staff, and engage with guest speakers. 

The members are united by their commitment to health promotion and working towards the GTZ Program’s mission of meeting the goals of zero HIV-related stigma, zero new HIV infections, and zero HIV-related deaths. We look forward to collaborating with a new group of talented students from diverse backgrounds and identities. 

For additional information about the YAYAA Board, please email [email protected] .

Meet the current cohort of the YAYAA Board!

Reha Shah Cartoon Image

Hi! My name is Reha, and I’m a recent graduate from Santa Clara University with dual degrees in Biology and Public Health. I’m passionate about community engagement and committed to reducing the stigma surrounding discussions of sexual health through my work with the YAYAA Board. I’m excited to collaborate with others, continuously learn, and contribute to educating my community. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and drawing.

Roy Lao Cartoon image

Hello! I am a Junior at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto and I’m excited to be part of the YAYAA board. My interests lie in biology and I look forward to using my knowledge to help push out science-based initiatives to make the community better. In my free time I enjoy rowing and springboard/platform diving.

Micah Chung cartoon image

Hello! My name is Micah, and I'm a freshman at Evergreen Valley High School. I'm very passionate about public health issues and am looking forward to making a positive impact on our County. I have a special interest in public policy and political science and am a member of the San Jose D8 Youth Council Committee. My favorite animal is a shark!

Neel Kashi cartoon image saying Hi!

Hello! I am a senior at Evergreen Valley High School and I am excited to join the YAYAA board as I always like finding new ways to support my community. I am very interested in biology/public health and I hope to utilize these passions to accomplish GTZ's mission. In the future, I want to become an endodontist who can merge the dental field with public health. In my free time, I enjoy playing the guitar, doing research, and shopping with friends.

Adya Seker cartoon image

Hi! I'm Adya Seker, a 9th grader in the Getting to Zero Initiative in Santa Clara. I am the 2024 Division B Science Olympiad National Champion, a finalist in the American Mathematics and Poetry competition, and a two-time Scholastic Gold Key winner of Poetry. My hobbies are playing competitive soccer, reading books and poetry, and dancing. I'm excited to work in the GTZ and help make a difference in our community.

Sandhya Kumar cartoon image

Hi! My name is Sandhya, and I am currently a sophomore in high school. I am incredibly excited to serve on the YAYAA Board this year and collaborate with other board members on our contributions to the Getting to Zero Initiative. I also hope to create meaningful impact in my community by spreading more awareness about public health issues among the youth, and more. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer and going on hikes with my dog

Alisha Ahuja cartoon image

Hey! I am a senior at Leland High School. I love to read and go to the gym. I am very passionate about making a difference in my community. One day I hope to do environmental research and work on helping our planet. I hope that by learning about public health I can further inform myself on diseases and the environment's connection to them.

Tanischa Gopinath cartoon image

Hi! I am a junior in high school, and I am so excited to be a member of the YAYAA board! I joined this board to gain experience in public health while also raising awareness in my community. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and baking.

Sahngwie Yim cartoon image

Sahngwie Yim is a senior at The Harker School. She is passionate about the intersection between healthcare and policy. She is excited to deliver public health education and learn about more healthcare topics. Outside of YAYAA, she enjoys debate, crocheting, photography, and singing.