First Inaugural Meeting was held in March 2024. During this historic gathering, certificates were presented to the Youth Council members by officials from both Frederick City and County, marking a celebratory acknowledgment of their dedication and hard work.
The Youth Council is a dynamic group of representatives aged 12 to 24, dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people across Frederick. Our council members reflect the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our community, ensuring that youth representation is a vital part of local government, and nonprofit sectors. By acting as leaders and advocates, the Youth Council plays a crucial role in shaping the community and ensuring that the voices of Frederick’s youth are heard. Join us in fostering a brighter future for all young people in Frederick!
Chair
Hi! My name is Brooke Lieberman. I currently serve as the FCPS Student Member of the Board for the 2023-2024 school year and Chair of the Inaugural Frederick Youth City Council. Student leadership, and the opportunity to make change are things that truly inspire me and encourage me to be a leader. By serving on The National Student Board Member Associations Executive Council, I have been able to gauge perspective from students all over the United States and have had the opportunity to connect with politicians to discuss bills directly affecting students. Through serving on this council, I hope to create more leadership opportunities for students as well as expanding mental health resources for the youth of Frederick!
Vice Chair
Hi all, my name is Thomas Evans! I’m passionate about amplifying and empowering the voices of the Latino community and hope to represent these voices as a Youth Council member. I hope to introduce various leadership and personal finance initiatives to empower youth from all backgrounds to lead their communities here in Frederick. As a member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, I also look forward to acting as a liaison between this council and other Maryland county councils, collaborating on various legislative considerations and initiatives. In my free time, you can catch me playing the piano, cooking, or writing in an open field. I look forward to working with you!
Secretary
Hello, My name is Carter Davis. I am passionate about coding and hope to teach more people as a Youth Council member. I aim to reach out to many different organizations to teach people about coding. Let’s all help make sure that we can all code to have a better world in the future!
Timekeeper
Hello! My name is, Kiya Marshall. Something that truly inspires me is any form of art; whether it’s music, writing, drawing, etc, it all stands out well to me and it inspires me to be creative. What I aim to accomplish in the youth council is happiness for all youth’s in our county. I hope I can inspire others to aim for the same goal with my ideas!
Peacekeeper
My name is Paolo Roberto Bonarriva, it is an honor to be part of this organization. My passion is in the performing arts and drama, but my goal in Youth Council is not limited to this focus alone; I would like to push for greater career and extracurricular choices. Whether it is in the fine arts or in new STEM programs, my hope is to collaborate with the city towards the betterment of existing programs and the creation of new ones to ensure our city’s next generation will have a foot in the door in whatever they wish to pursue.
Member
Hi, I’m Alaina Bowie! I’m passionate about community service, and as a Youth Council member I hope to inspire other teens to get involved in a cause they care about. I saw a need in my community to help families with pets who face food insecurities, so I created the Pet Pantry at my local food bank. When I heard about middle schoolers needing help with their studies, I developed the Helping Hawks Tutoring and Mentoring Program, where high school students serve as tutors for middle school kids. If you can’t find a cause, you can always create one!
Member
Hi, I’m Anushka Tyagi! I’m passionate about social justice and mental health awareness, and I hope to inspire positive change in our community through my position in the youth council. I look forward to working with local groups and organizations on community-based projects aimed at improving the city of Frederick. Inspiration for positive change can be found everywhere, and I’m ready to work together with my community to create it. Whether it be the arts, academia, or preserving our natural resources, I’m devoted to ensuring that we make the most of our environment!
Member
Hello Everyone! My name is Breanna Brea Ochoa. I've been interested in government and policy for as long as I can remember. I aim to get more young adults interested in government, as they are the future of our country.
Member
Hello! My name is Hannah Meredith, and I am deeply passionate about service, particularly in the realm of youth development. My dedication extends to financial literacy, especially for college-bound students. I aim to empower them with knowledge about various post-graduate paths like community college, trade school, and university. It is important to provide education on student loans and their long-term impact post-graduation. By empowering young minds with comprehensive knowledge, I aspire to equip them with the tools necessary to make informed decisions, navigating the complexities of higher education and financial responsibilities with confidence and success.
Member
My name is Jose Doradea, and I am passionate about philosophy, psychology, mythology, and laws. As a member of our youth council, my aim is to inspire others to enhance their intellectual abilities. In today’s world, knowledge is the most potent tool, but unfortunately, it is often overshadowed by misinformation. Therefore, I aspire to partner with organizations that share the same vision and assist in promoting intellectual growth among individuals.
Member
Hi, I’m Judah Shaool. I play drums and tennis in my free time and also love to ski in the winter. I hope to be an entrepreneur one day and I am currently working on opening a school store at West Frederick Middle. I’m also West Frederick’s first 6th grade president. I’ve lived in Frederick my entire life and with my two little sisters. By getting involved in our government in Frederick, I’d like to contribute to our next generation’s career pathways. I hope to increase awareness of all the different careers in Frederick, including letting kids explore starting their own businesses one day!
Member
Hello, I am Oluwanifise(o-lu-wa-ni-fish-ae) Otesile(ho-te-shi-lay). What ignites my passion is being of help, it can be as simple as listening or finding a bottle of water. But, in these little acts I become very passionate about the activity, and do the best I can to ease the person of the task/burden they came to me with. As a member of the Youth Council I hope to be of use to the youths and elders of the community by volunteering with them, listening to their issues, and finding ways to solve said issues so positivity can be amplified in Frederick.
Member
Hi, I’m Rachel Spencer, and I am a dedicated advocate for spreading love and serving others. Passionate about making a difference, I serve as a Frederick Blessings In A Backpack Program Mission Ambassador, and I’m an Ambassador Level Girl Scout! With internship experience in the US House of Representatives, representing MD-06, as an intern for Congressman Trone, I aspire to obtain a J.D., pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer, and eventually enter politics. I am honored to serve as a member of the inaugural Frederick Youth Council, where I am ready to inspires teens to volunteer in their community and find their service passions. A quote I live by is, “Spread love everywhere you go and let no one come to you without leaving happier’, guides her purpose in life,” Mother Teresa!
Member
Hi, My name is Sydel Anku. I am a positive leader dedicated to creating change in broken communities and eventually I want to bring change to corrupt government systems. I want to empower the youth community through mindset transformation. I believe the mind is a very powerful tool and it is a gift. When one knows how to obtain and retain knowledge, with the help of wisdom they can be impactful. I believe dedication and intentionality can achieve greatness. Let’s chase our dreams together!
Member
Hello! I am Quinn Bannister (She/They). I hope to use my seat on the youth council to raise awareness and support the mental health of my generation and advocate for LGBTQ+ acceptance and rights. I plan to act as a bridge between the Frederick queer community and our elected officials to not only raise awareness for our problems but also suggest youth created solutions. Being young is stressful and my goal is to alleviate some of that unnecessary stress through my work here.