Young People to the Front

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Iziaih Choquette
On Youth Power, Systems Change, and Building a Future Beyond Survival
In this energizing conversation, host Tonny St. James is joined by advocate, consultant, and community leader Iziaih Choquette (they/them) to kick off Season 3 of Young People at the Front (YP2F).

Iziaih shares their journey from navigating youth homelessness in the Midwest to becoming a statewide and national voice for systemic change. With humor, candor, and unapologetic fire, they reflect on what it means to be “booked and blessed,” the struggles of tokenization, and how young people are reshaping advocacy from boardrooms to the White House.

From astrology to activism, this episode highlights Isaiah’s multi-hyphenate path: consultant, organizer, researcher, and relentless truth-teller. Together, Tonny and Iziaih unpack adultism, radical imagination, and the ongoing fight to create systems rooted not in crisis response but in dignity, equity, and care.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• Growing up in Nebraska and finding voice through advocacy
• Why many young people never envision life past 21—and why that matters
• Entering advocacy through housing instability and systemic barriers
• Adultism, tokenization, and how young people are leading real change
• The importance of redefining youth homelessness and prevention systems
• Lessons from Vienna’s social housing model and international approaches
• Balancing purpose, mental health, and community in advocacy work
• Radical good vs. radical hate: imagining new futures

Connect with Iziaih Choquette:

• LinkedIn: Iziaih Choquette
• California Homeless Youth Project
• Instagram: @Iziaih 

In this emotional and unflinchingly honest episode of YP2F, host Tonny St. James welcomes writer, filmmaker, and journalist Loe Renee for a conversation about what it means to survive—and thrive—after the foster care system.

From early experiences in group homes to a professional journey through film, journalism, and advocacy, Loe shares their story with striking vulnerability and clarity. Together, they unpack what it means to be a “shadow youth,” the unspoken gaps in the system, and how reclaiming childhood joy—through bouncy balls, Connect Four, and creativity—can be a radical act of healing.

This episode is a testament to the power of listening, the complexity of systemic inequity, and the dignity every young person deserves.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• What it means to be a "shadow youth" and why so many foster youth remain invisible
• Navigating group homes, legal ID numbers, and early adult responsibilities
• Why trauma-informed care must be more than a buzzword
• Transitioning from survival to expression through film and journalism
• The systemic failure of programs that aren’t led by or informed by lived experience
• Embracing joy, play, and community as survival tools
• Reimagining youth care: dignity, trust, and real support over performative fixes

Connect with Loe Renee:

Published Work: The Imprint – Loe Renee
Instagram: Coming soon
YouTube (Launching Soon): Late Night Loe

In this latest episode of YP2F, hosts Tonny and Robin sit down with Dr. Seth Pickens; a pastor, researcher, and Managing Director of the Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) at USC and explore the powerful intersection of spirituality, data, and homelessness policy. 

From his journey in ministry to launching trauma-informed, human-centered pilot programs for housing-insecure youth, Dr. Pickens unpacks why building people up is just as vital as building housing. The conversation dives into systemic gaps, the role of equity in research, and how personal empowerment can change the narrative around homelessness in LA and beyond.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• Dr. Seth Pickens’ personal and professional journey from ministry to research leadership at USC
• How trauma-informed, goal-oriented programs can lead to sustainable housing outcomes
• The balance between spiritual truth and empirical data in solving complex social issues
• Youth homelessness prevention through early education, community care, and empowerment
• Bridging cultural gaps in faith-based and secular spaces to drive systemic change

Connect with Dr. Seth Pickens and the Homeless Policy Research Institute (HPRI):

https://www.instagram.com/drsethpickens/

hpri.usc.edu

In this episode of Young People to the Front, Tonny, Robin and Fatine are joined by Christian Quijano and Chino Quinlan to discuss their shared work in youth homelessness advocacy and how their friendship and professional collaboration evolved from a West Coast convening event. Christian, Associate Director at My Friend’s Place, and Chino, a youth advocate with lived experience working at Safe Place for Youth and the LA LGBT Center, reflect on the intersection of data, storytelling, and personal history. 

They explore the complexities of transitioning from receiving services to providing them, navigating professional relationships formed through shared experience, and the essential role of belonging and community in healing and empowerment. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of youth voice in program design, the challenges of burnout, and how success and validation are defined differently depending on background and culture.

Topics Discussed in the Episode

• Navigating professional relationships between former service recipients and providers
• Youth-led advocacy and the Young Adult Steering Council (YASC)
• Nonlinear paths to success and redefining metrics of achievement
• The role of belonging and community in healing and program engagement
• Provider responsibility, burnout, and the importance of representation in service organizations

Connect with My Friend’s Place:

https://www.myfriendsplace.org/

https://www.instagram.com/myfriendsplace/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-friend's-place

In this episode of Young People to the Front, the hosts Tonny, Robin and Fatine welcome guest Ashley Bennett, Director of Homelessness at the Los Angeles City Controller’s Office. The conversation explores Ashley’s personal journey from experiencing homelessness as a youth to becoming a community organizer and later transitioning into government work. She discusses her work with Ground Game LA, her pivotal role during the Echo Park Lake encampment, and her transition into the Controller’s Office under Kenneth Mejia. 

Ashley provides a detailed look at the importance of transparency in city budgeting, especially concerning homelessness, and highlights new tools like the Homelessness Dashboard and Build My City Budget. The episode underscores the need to spotlight youth homelessness as a distinct and often underrepresented issue in city planning and services.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Ashley’s lived experience with youth homelessness
• Founding and organizing with Ground Game LA
• Echo Park Lake encampment and community defense strategies
• Transparency and budgeting tools in the Controller’s Office
• The need for youth-specific homelessness data and resources

Connect with Ashley Bennett:

https://controller.lacity.gov/

https://www.facebook.com/lacontroller

https://www.instagram.com/lacontroller

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

https://twitter.com/lacontroller

https://bsky.app/profile/lacontroller.bsky.social

https://homelessdashboard.lacontroller.app/

https://shelterbeds.lacontroller.app/

In this episode of Young People at the Front, hosts Tonny, Robin and Fatine welcome Emmett Liljegren, President of Trojan Shelter, a student-led organization at USC dedicated to providing housing for college students experiencing homelessness. Emmett shares his journey from volunteer to president, the challenges of running a student-run shelter, and the often-overlooked issue of student homelessness at prestigious universities.

The conversation explores the stigma surrounding housing insecurity on college campuses, the difficulties students face in accessing resources, and the ways Trojan Shelter is working to provide support. Emmett also discusses the importance of trauma-informed care, how USC students and faculty have responded to the shelter, and his personal experiences balancing academics, work at CHLA, and leading a nonprofit initiative.

This episode highlights the unseen struggles of students facing housing insecurity while pursuing higher education and the grassroots efforts being made to address the issue.

• The founding and mission of Trojan Shelter at USC
• The hidden crisis of student homelessness on college campuses
• Funding struggles and the barriers to financial support
• The stigma surrounding housing insecurity among students
• Emmett’s personal journey balancing academics, work, and nonprofit leadership

Connect with Emmett and Trojan Shelter:

IG: @trojanshelter

https://www.trojanshelter.org/

Trojan Shelter’s Crowdfunding Campaign: 

https://pages.donately.com/studentmojo/campaign/trojan-shelter-holiday-fundraiser

In this episode of Young People to the Front, hosts Tonny, Robin and Fatine welcome Ben Kay, a dedicated leader in Los Angeles’ homeless services sector and co-creator of the Homeland Podcast. 

Ben shares his personal journey from moving to LA for graduate school to volunteering on Skid Row just two days after arriving — a transformative experience that sparked his lifelong commitment to addressing homelessness. Together, Tonny and Ben dive into the complexities of working within the homeless services system, balancing frontline realities with funder expectations, and the importance of storytelling in shifting public narratives around housing insecurity. 

Ben also opens up about navigating burnout, maintaining personal wellness, and the critical role of community support in sustaining this challenging work. This conversation highlights the importance of elevating authentic voices — from people with lived experience to frontline workers — in efforts to build more compassionate and effective solutions to the housing crisis in Los Angeles and beyond. 

Along the way, they also discuss the power of storytelling, the nuances of disaster response in the wake of recent California wildfires, and how frontline staff often face housing insecurity themselves.

• Ben Kay’s personal journey into homelessness advocacy, starting with volunteering on Skid Row.
• The creation of Homeland Podcast and the importance of centering authentic stories from people experiencing homelessness.
• Navigating relationships with funders, policymakers, and frontline workers to better align policy with community needs.
• The impact of the 2025 California wildfires on housing insecurity and disaster response.
• Mental health, burnout, and the importance of finding personal and professional balance in nonprofit and advocacy work.

Connect with Ben:

https://ourhomeland.us 

@thehomelandpodcast