Meet Our Speakers
Zikora Akanegbu (she/her/hers)
Founder of GenZHER
Zikora Akanegbu is the 16-year-old founder of GenZHER, an entirely student-led organization aimed at empowering Gen-Z girls worldwide. Her goal? Changing the world and creating activists out of the next generation by informing them about the world’s happenings to spark conversations. She believes in the power of youth to change the world.
Thanasi Dilos (he/him/his)
Co-founder of Civics Unplugged
Thanasi Dilos is 18 years old, and a co-founder of Civics Unplugged, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) social enterprise whose mission is to empower the leaders of Generation Z to build the future of democracy. He is also one of National Geographic's Young Explorers, working to create platforms for youth-led work around the globe. Thanasi is passionate about investing in the future of education, youth empowerment, and our democracy.
Primo Lagaso Goldberg (they/them, he/him)
Multimedia Creative and DEI Advocate
Primo Lagaso Goldberg is a multimedia creative and DEI advocate based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through writing, art, community building, youth leadership, and policy work they hope to design and create systems, experiences, and spaces where marginalized communities (particularly queer and trans* people of color) can feel validated and safe. They are interested in exploring the ways co-design principles and restorative justice practices can meet for the betterment of the communities and diasporas they call home.
Aiyana Ishmael (she/her/hers)
Student Representative for the Online News Association’s Board of Directors
Aiyana Ishmael is a Spring 2021 graduate of Florida A&M University (FAMU). She currently serves as the Student Representative for the Online News Association’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Ishmael is a freelance journalist with published pieces in Teen Vogue, Essence, Poynter and The Nation. In March of 2020 Ishmael placed in the Hearst Journalism Awards, Sports Writing competition for her piece: “Coaches’ Kids: Life Behind The Saturday Night Lights.” As a journalist, Ishmael wants to ignite conversation and create change through storytelling. She is a vibrant journalist interested in feature reporting with a passion for covering culture and underrepresented communities.
Zoë Jenkins (she/her/hers)
Founder and Executive Producer of Get Schooled Podcast
Zoë Jenkins is a 17-year-old changing systems and loving forward. She is a storyteller, facilitator, founder, constant learner, and pie-baker. Zoë is the founder and Executive Producer of Get Schooled podcast with the Kentucky Student Voice Team, an organization elevating Kentucky students as partners in education research and policy. As a part of her podcasting work, she was named a 2020 National Geographic Young Explorer. Zoë was an inaugural fellow with Civics Unplugged and serves as the Chair of the Civics 2030 Steering Committee. Zoë also founded DICCE, which creates curriculum and resources for Gen Z to be more culturally responsive, empathetic, and equity-driven. As a part of DICCE, Zoë has facilitated workshops with high schools and universities including Stanford's d.school.
Merk Nguyen (she/her/hers)
Co-host of Adult ISH Podcast
Merk Nguyen is a self-described “cis sis with a knack for puns and alliterations.” She currently co-hosts and produces Adult ISH, a culture/advice/storytelling podcast by YR Media & Radiotopia. If she’s not on the show advocating for mental health help (or mentioning her cartoon VO dreams), Merk voices LV in Ooh! You’re In Trouble — a podcast for tweens by Mortified Media & TRAX.
Based in LA, but born and raised in the PNW, Merk’s the proud daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. She’s also a left-handed lover of cats!
L’Oreal Thompson Payton (she/her/hers)
Senior Mental Health Editor at YR Media
L’Oreal Thompson Payton is the senior mental health editor at YR Media, a national network of young journalists and artists. She’s also a freelance writer whose work has been featured in publications such as Bitch, Bustle, HelloGiggles, People, SELF, Shondaland, Well + Good and ZORA, just to name a few. To learn more, subscribe to her weekly motivational newsletter at LTintheCity.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @LTintheCity.
Omar Rashad (he/him/his)
Lead Data and Investigations Reporter, Mustang News
Omar Rashad is a California-based journalist reporting on the intersections of housing, higher education and state legislation. He is currently the lead data and investigations reporter at Mustang News, the student-run newspaper at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is also a reporting fellow covering higher education at the CalMatters College Journalism Network. Rashad is a proud community college graduate and can be found with a cup of green tea at most times during the day.
Nina Roehl (she/her/hers)
Newsroom Fellow at YR Media
Nina Roehl is a student journalist from San Francisco, CA. She is currently working towards her degree in Communications with a double minor in Human Sexuality and Marketing from San Francisco State University. She is also a Newsroom Fellow at YR Media where she produces both written and audio pieces for publication. Her work has been featured on YR Media, KQED, and KCBS.
Nygel Turner (he/him/his)
Co-host of Adult ISH Podcast
Nygel Turner, 25, is an Oakland, California-based creator of Not Your Father’s Podcast and YouTube series Not Your Mama’s Kitchen. Nyge is the only person in Oakland who has never lost an argument. He will never own the red Jeep of his fantasies.
Mia Uzzell (she/her/hers)
Managing Editor of FAMU’s magazine, Journey
Mia Uzzell is a sophomore student journalist who currently serves as the managing editor of Florida A&M’s award-winning magazine, Journey. She has written for Essence and MEFEater and Teen Vogue. She also works as an opinions editor for her university’s newspaper, an on-air news reporter for WANM 90.5, and a documentary filmmaker for her campus’ media company. In her free time, she reads with 40 girls across the nation each month over at Virtual Book Club, a digital space for lovers of literature yearning to discover themselves.