Joshua Fang (Rice University)
Hi everyone! My name is Joshua Fang, and I am a senior at Rice University studying Mathematical Economic Analysis and Social Policy Analysis with a minor in Data Science. I serve as the President (and formerly, the Houston Engagement Committee Head) of Civic Duty Rice, which I represent in the RiceVotes Collective of Rice University and the GenHTX initiative and Voter Engagement Working Group of Houston in Action. Previously, I served as a 2021-2022 Texas Civic Ambassador with the New Politics Forum of the Annette Strauss Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. This year, I am one of the two main organizers of the Houston Youth Voters Conference.
As a second-generation Asian-American, I grew up unfamiliar with politics. My mother is a permanent resident who cannot participate in democratic processes, and my father is a naturalized citizen whose heart is still in his home country. Thus, they rarely discussed or participated in American politics, nor did they encourage me to do so. However, various experiences at Rice taught me that civic engagement is an invaluable opportunity to create change and further social justice. I voted for the first time in the 2020 presidential election, and I want to ensure that everyone (most notably underrepresented minority youth) can and will exercise their right to vote.
Therefore, I am honored to promote civic engagement among Houston-area youth through the 2023 Houston Youth Voters Conference. I hope that all of our attendees will take something away from the conference and develop into active, engaged citizens capable of mobilizing their communities to create positive social change.
Malak Ettahali (Shadow Creek High School)
Hi everyone! My name is Malak Ettahali, I’m a rising senior at Shadow Creek High School, and this is my second year organizing HYVC. Some of my hobbies include playing tennis and reading. I’ve recently taken an interest in political science, particularly following the 2020 Presidential election, and I cannot wait to serve as one of HYVC’s high school organizers!
Something I noticed throughout my years as a student is the lack of education surrounding important topics, like voting. While many high schoolers are still unable to vote, opportunities like the Houston Youth Voters Conference are crucial in creating competent, informed and lifelong voters. In the 2020 presidential election, half of America’s youth voted – albeit this was still an increase from the 2016 election – leaving the other half of our youth unrepresented in major political events. I hope that HYVC can positively impact the political literacy of Houston’s youth, and create a productive political environment in the area!
Kelly Monteon (University of Houston-Downtown)
Hello! My name is Kelly Monteon, a senior, class of 2023, at the University of Houston-Downtown. I am majoring in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. In my free time, I like reading and ice skating. This is my first year organizing HYVC, and I am very excited about helping out and being involved in such an amazing organization that promotes and builds activism amongst young people in Houston. For the people who know me, I enjoy being politically active, and I am very passionate about us young people getting involved and representing our government, which can be done with the simple action of going out to vote. Mostly, I hope to motivate young people who have immigrant parents and less influence at home about civic participation. Overall, I am thrilled to be part of inspiring young people through organizing this conference and helping them be more involved in our future.
Patricia Hashimoto (Rice University)
Patricia Hashimoto is a senior (class of 2024) at Rice University, where she is pursuing a major in Social Policy Analysis and a minor in Data Science. She is interested in evaluating social programs and policies, especially those related to education, housing, and urban development through multi-faceted approaches involving quantitative analysis and community engagement.
Since the summer before her sophomore year, Patricia has served as an intern with the Texas Policy Lab early childhood team, analyzing outcomes and survey results on childcare programs. She also pursues her interest in education as a volunteer tutor with the Rice Owls Online Tutoring club and as co-president of the Friends of Phillis Wheatley Tutoring Club. This year, as vice president of Civic Duty Rice, Patricia hopes to facilitate student and community engagement with lesser-known mechanisms of policy formation, especially at the local, city, and county levels.
This summer, Patricia is gaining a new perspective on law, conflict resolution and compromise, and the mechanisms of resource allocation by serving as an assistant in the Dietrich Law Firm in Houston.
Katherine Jeng (Rice University)
Katherine Jeng (she/her) is a junior at Rice University studying English and Social Policy Analysis, as well as pursuing a minor in Politics, Law, and Social Thought. On campus, she’s a Democracy Fellow for Campus Vote Project, serves on the RICEVotes Executive Coalition, Student Engagement Chair for Civic Duty Rice, manages a cohort of Civic Engagement Representatives, and is an editor for the Rice Journal of Public Policy. She has also been a poll worker for the on-campus, student-run polling location at Rice the past two years. In her freshman year, Katherine created an advocacy group called One Year Harris, which centered on the need for mental health diversion services for justice-involved 17-year-olds in Harris County and ultimately led to the creation of a juvenile diversion center in Harris County. She’s dedicated her college career to voting rights, civic engagement, and advocacy, and is looking forward to helping out with this year’s Houston Youth Voter’s Conference.
Joshua Cheng (Rice University)
Hello! My name is Joshua Cheng. I am a freshman at Rice University. I’m really passionate about culture and expanding civic engagement. Upon entering high school, I discovered the world of debate and politics, and hence was also exposed to the importance of civic engagement. I have joined organizations like Asia Society to expand my cultural advocacy and work as a member of the Teen Court to learn more about promoting justice in our society. When I’m not working on any of the above, I also love serving the community through playing music in nursing homes, working at the food bank, and tutoring kids in various subjects.
Growing up in a family that mostly showed voter apathy, I never really paid attention to simple but important matters like voting. I never realized how so many small steps could build up into the massive problem we see in the political situation of today. This is why I am so excited to be a part of the Houston Youth Voter Conference. I hope that our work in HYVC can invigorate more underrepresented groups of people like minorities and youth, and that we can work to create a more robust community as a whole.
Poema Sumrow (Rice University)
Hi! My name is Poema Sumrow and this is my first time working with HYVC. I’m a rising freshman at Rice University, having just graduated from Episcopal High School. Throughout my time in high school, I’ve been involved with various clubs, including leading Young Democrats Club and National French Honor Society. I am most proud of the independent research I did on the Women’s Movement in Iran: Woman, Life, Freedom.
I couldn’t be more excited to organize this year. For the past two years, I’ve interned with Legacy Community Health doing research with their Teen Health program. I’ve learned a lot about how health care policy is passed in Houston and what the reality of health care is for underrepresented groups of people. I hope that with HYVC, we can emphasize the importance of researching different candidates before voting for them. We cannot adequately vote for what we do not understand; thus, encouraging young people to be informed voters could not be more essential. I’m super excited to be working with fellow like-minded youth in order to achieve this.
Samiaht Busari (Alief Early College High School)
Hi Y’all! I am Samiaht Busari, a senior at Alief Early College High School. My hobbies include reading and cooking. In recent years, I have taken an interest in public health, history, and politics. One thing I noticed was the lack of organizations that took the initiative to engage youths and inform them about voting and all it entails. I am delighted to be a part of an organization such as HYVC that takes the initiative to actively educate the youths of Houston about a very vital part of our society- civic engagement! Introducing Houston’s youth to essential aspects of voting.
Mojolaoluwa Okusaga (Alief Early College High School)
Hi! My name is Mojolaoluwa Okusaga, and I am currently a senior at Alief Early College High School. Growing up, I have always had an interest in the reasoning and actions behind all things, which has fueled my interest in Business and Law, especially within my community. My passion for volunteering and advocacy comes from my mother, who always ensured that my siblings and I gave back to others. As I have grown up, my future plans have reflected the potential I see within my community. However, there has been and continues to be a lack of awareness about enacted laws, policies, and available opportunities within my community. This pushed me to eventually join HYVC.
Since joining, I have come to understand the importance of civic engagement among youth, prompting me to take the initiative to inform others to the best of my ability. I hope that through this conference, we can not only inform but also motivate others, especially the youth and residents of Houston, to take action and use their voices. This way, as a community, we can give back to ourselves and invest in our future.
Jeremy Tu (Memorial High School)
Jeremy Tu is a senior at Memorial High School and is extensively involved in various local organizations in Houston. As a volunteer at Boat People SOS, Jeremy helped low-income immigrants receive their immigration benefits and translated documents for their applications. Intimately involved with the local community, Jeremy is passionate about ensuring that marginalized and disenfranchised voices are heard in the electoral process.
As a first-generation immigrant, Jeremy understands the importance of civic engagement and voter registration, especially among young people in Houston. Motivated by the low youth turnout in the city, Jeremy is committed to reversing this trend. Looking ahead to the city elections and the 2024 presidential election, Jeremy is dedicated to encouraging Houston’s youth to cast their votes and make their voices heard.
Zachary Escobar (Shadow Creek High School)
Hello! My name is Zachary Escobar and I am a senior at Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. This is my first year working with the HYVC organizing committee. I am passionate about philosophy, politics, economics, atnrhopology, and linguistics. The mission of the HYVC is important to me because without groups working to develop political literacy in the youth, many people won’t have access to the necessary information to navigate our modern political landscape. I hope to help the HYVC educate as many young people as possible in our goal to grow political activity within young voters.
Osvaldo Moreno (Alief Early College High School)
Hello I am Osvaldo Moreno, and I am currently a senior at Alief Early College High School. My love for civic engagement came from when I began my studies in nursing,and found out what happens behind the curtains of health care on the political standpoint. I noticed how some sides of government take advantage of certain demographics so that one political party may win over another. Though my love for medicine hasn’t wavered; I will still try my best to be civilly engaged in my community to inform and help people who where once uneducated like me and can now be educated in our rights. This passion has lead me to join HYVC.
Through the process of organizing the HYVC with great ,and inspiring people. I have come to appreciate the opportunity that we are giving to youths. Not only to inform them, but to motivate them to be civically engaged in their community. I hope through HYVC we can influence our community of Houston to look towards the future ,and use our voices for ourselves and each other.