Generation Change with Leo Finelli

On this episode we have Lexi Philips. Lexi is a college student pursuing a degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She speaks to students at elementary and middle schools about her cyberbullying experience, chronicled in her graphic novel, “Click.” Lexi hopes that sharing her trials and triumphs over bullies inspires hope in others as well as the courage to do the same. She is currently president of the Armenian Student Association at the University of California, Santa Barbara and plans to continue on to graduate school to become a Physician Associate.

Instagram: @lexi_philips

Lexi's Graphic Novel "Click" - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42117799-click

On this episode, Leo talks with Xander Martin, a teenage non-binary, theater obsessed queer rights activist. Xander's family started the Bowie Area Non-Binary & Transgender Gender Youth Alliance.

On this month's episode, Leo talks with Isaac Hertenstein, the founder of Students Teaching Finance, a youth-led organization with the mission of increasing youth financial literacy and combating economic inequality. Isaac is a passionate advocate for financial literacy education nationwide and empowers other high school students to teach financial literacy in their communities, sparking changes against inequity. You can learn more about Students Teaching Finance and form a chapter on its website, studentsteachingfinance.org, and by following on Instagram, @studentsteachingfinance

On this episode, Leo talks with Sophia Huynh, currently a freshman from Columbia University. She loves to involve herself with Social Justice, educating, creating open spaces for discussion, fundraising, and planning events based upon race, class, gender, food insecurity, and many other topics.

She is the Founder of Asian American Alliance and Co-leader of International club at the Paideia School, Sophia also served as a founding member of the DEI Committee and SDLI group (Student Diversity Leadership Initiative) which deals with the annual events of Race and Gender Day. In addition, Sophia worked on a podcast called JSAC STEMCast which is a non-profit organization aimed at helping youth become more interested in how STEM topics can be applied to our everyday lives.  On a different note, Sophia also enjoys listening to music (specifically Kpop), eating hotpot, and meeting people of different backgrounds.

Instagram: @thesophiahuynh

The JSAC Podcast Instagram: @jsacpodcast

Slam Poem

On this episode Leo talks with Brianna Chandler. Brianna is a college student who organizes in St. Louis, Missouri. Her areas of focus include abolition, climate justice, and more holistically Black liberation. She is a member of the River City Climate Collective and WashU Students for Black and Palestinian Liberation.

IG: @_bri_chandler_

Twitter: @_bri_chandler_

Brianna Photo courtesy of Whitney Curtis for the New York Times

On this episode Leo talks with Molly Smith, a 20 year old filmmaker from Orlando, FL. Her short film I Don't Know has screened at over 20 film festivals nationwide, winning 7 top awards. Her next film, Dear America has received over 600k views online, won a National Student Emmy in the PSA category and the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Youth Free Expression Film contest. Also an accomplished playwright, her dystopian political commentary play, God Bless America went on to win a Scholastic National Gold Medal and premiered on stage at the Be Original Theatre Festival in Orlando, FL, winning Molly the award for top playwright under age 24. Her writing was also recognized with a National Student Production Emmy in the writing craft category and a finalist nomination at NFFTY’s Story Starts Here competition. In 2020, she completed her documentary film Feminism: The Fifth Wave that went on to win the Jury Award at Her International Film Festival and will be screening at The American Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival in 2021. Molly’s goal is to use the medium of film and her passion as a writer to tell stories which spark conversations and change perspectives. In 2020, she was named a Cameron Impact Scholar for her work in social justice and impact filmmaking. She attends Yale University, studying film and writing.

YT ▶:  mollywoodfilms

Instagram: @mollywood.films

Website🌐: mollysmithfilm.com

Mina Fedor is the founder of AAPI Youth Rising. Mina is an 8th grader from Northern California. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, learning about all things neuro and spending time with her friends, family and many pets. Mina was recently named as a Top Five Time Kid of the Year for 2021.

Maxwell Wong is a member of AAPI Youth Rising and a 9th-grade student from Northern California. Maxwell enjoys reading, debating, playing video games, and spending time with his family.

About AAPI Youth Rising: AAPI Youth Rising is a youth-led non-profit organization whose mission is to take small actions to make positive change. In March 2021, AAPI Youth Rising organized a 1,200+ person AAPI Youth Rising Rally in Berkeley, CA to bring awareness to the increase in xenophobia against Asians in America. Afterwards, AAPI Youth Rising launched the ONE/180 pledge  asking schools and teachers across the country to teach at least one day of Asian American and Pacific Islander history and culture during the school year. Since then, the group has launched social media campaigns, phone banking efforts and art activist events including the Our Diverse Voices youth art showcase in support of ethnic studies. AAPI Youth Rising has also been selected as American Girl’s partner organization for the 2022 American Girl of the Year, the first Asian American Girl of the Year, Corinne Tam.

“We as Youth have a chance to build our future, to raise our voices, and demand change…Today, my call to action is for each of you to take one lesson home. With that call to action, make your voices heard.” – Mina Fedor

Instagram: @aapiyouthrising | @mina.fedor | @maxwellw_2025

#AAPIYouthRising

🌐 www.aapiyouthrising.org

On this episode, Leo talks with Bianca Jortner, a 17 year old high school senior from Connecticut. She is the founder and president of Youth Promise, a non-profit providing under-served youth with free, virtual educational services such as tutoring and classes. Her passions include medicine, writing, reading, photography, and activism.

Instagram @biancajortner | @youth.promise

📖 Bianca's book - Dreaming of Hiraeth 

Claire is a Los Angeles based artist, filmmaker and photographer.

At 15, she joined Adolescent, a media company focused on the creation of original content by youth for youth. She developed and directed short form content, serialized content, and documentary work with a focus on youth empowerment and human equality. By 18, her client list included Hasbro, Nike, Target, Disney, American Girl, Netflix and Ad Council.

In 2015, she was named one of SHOOT Magazine’s New Directors to watch.

Claire has recently focused her studies on a more interdisciplinary approach. She is currently working on projects which fuse installation, design, and video to create physical and digital spaces that challenge traditional narrative practices.

Instagram: @clairameli

🌐Website: www.clairejantzen.com

Desmond Napoles is a multi-awarded LGBTQ advocate, outspoken gay teen, genderfluid editorial and runway model, motivational public speaker, drag performer, designer, actor, singer, LGBT influencer, and published author. They are currently working on developing a private social network for LGBTQ+ youth.

https://www.instagram.com/desmondisamazing/

https://www.facebook.com/DesmondisAmazing/

https://twitter.com/desmond_amazing

https://www.youtube.com/c/desmondisamazing

https://www.tiktok.com/@desmond_amazing

https://www.snapchat.com/add/desmond_amazing