Meet the Inaugural PAYA Youth Council!

The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) is thrilled to announce the inaugural PAYA Youth Council (YC) cohort. The YC is a new youth leadership development initiative from PAYA that convenes current and former youth apprentices from around the country to exchange information about their experiences; contribute feedback and ideas that will help to inform PAYA’s work; and to design and lead a project to strengthen and expand youth apprenticeship.

This fall, PAYA invited applications from current youth apprentices and recent alumni of PAYA Network programs. A committee of national experts, youth apprenticeship program staff, and a former youth apprentice reviewed applications and selected 15 outstanding young people to join the first YC. This inaugural cohort hails from six states and the District of Columbia and works across a range of fields, including health care, government affairs, culinary arts, HVAC, finance, technology, and business operations. PAYA is excited about the depth and breadth of personal and professional experiences they will bring to the YC as they work together to advance and strengthen youth apprenticeship for their peers.

This cohort will collaborate virtually to design and implement a youth-led project to advance youth apprenticeship over approximately eight months, with a culminating trip to Washington, DC in summer 2024 to share their work with national leaders. Please stay tuned for updates on the YC’s work as it unfolds, and read on to learn more about the members of the 2023-24 PAYA YC!

2023-2024 PAYA YC Members

Anijah Foster
Lives in: Washington, DC
Employer: Accenture
PAYA Network affiliation: CityWorks DC/CareerWise DC
Personal theme song of the week: “Too Fast” by Sonder

Braden McAlpine
Lives in: Pembroke, NH
Employer: MSI Mechanical Systems Inc.
PAYA Network affiliation: ApprenticeshipNH
Personal theme song of the week: “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins

Christopher Grant
Lives in: Bronx, NY
Employer: Mastercard
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise New York
Personal theme song of the week: “Walk This Way” by Aersosmith

Ev Zaruba
Lives in: Eagle, CO
Employer: The Gallegos Corporation
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise Colorado
Personal theme song of the week: “Turbulence” by ATEEZ and “Worst Day” by ILLENIUM & MAX

Gabrielle Smith
Lives in: Charleston, SC
Employer: Halls Signature Events
PAYA Network affiliation: Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships
Personal theme song of the week: “Her Light” by Cleo Sol

Gesner Jones III
Lives in: Brooklyn, NY
Employer: Accenture
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise New York
Personal theme song of the week: Anything from Pink Friday 2 by Nicki Minaj

Jaymie Grant
Lives in: Bronx, NY
Employer: Accenture
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise New York
Personal theme song of the week: “VIRGO’S GROOVE” by Beyoncé

Jubei Brown-Weaver
Lives in: Washington, DC
Employer: Accenture
PAYA Network affiliation: CityWorks DC/CareerWise DC
Personal theme song of the week: “Reasons” by Earth, Wind & Fire

Mariapaula Revilla
Lives in: Moncks Corner, SC
Employer: Roper St. Francis Healthcare
PAYA Network affiliation: Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships
Personal theme song of the week: “Diva” by Beyoncé

Rolando Lopez
Lives in: Elkhart, IN
Employer: Surf Internet
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise Elkhart County
Personal theme song of the week: “‘Till I Collapse” by Eminem

Saarah Thangalvadi
Lives in: New Market, MD
Employer: Frederick Health Hospital
PAYA Network affiliation: Apprenticeship MD
Personal theme song of the week: “Enchanted Waterfall” by Tory Lanez

Shannon Rooney
Lives in: Fort Collins, CO
Employer: Tolmar
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise Colorado
Personal theme song of the week: “Hypnotized” by Fleetwood Mac

Thomas Adao
Lives in: Laurel, MD
Employer: Lorien Elkridge
PAYA Network affiliation: Apprenticeship MD
Personal theme song of the week: “weird (feat. Laura Elliott)” by Lizzie McAlpine

Yumna Ali
Lives in: Denver, CO
Employer: City and County of Denver
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise Colorado
Personal theme song of the week: “Happy” by Pharrell

Zamoni Johnson
Lives in: Buffalo, NY
Employer: M&T Bank
PAYA Network affiliation: CareerWise Greater Buffalo
Personal theme song of the week: “Out of Time” by the Weeknd and “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét