School is back in session which means our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is gearing up for another great year of youth philanthropy and leadership.
Helping to lead the group of 30+ teens from high schools throughout the county will be the 2022-23 YAC Executive Committee. With a mix of returning and new executive members, the committee has a blend of experience and fresh perspective that will help guide the young grantmakers in granting over $50,000 to local youth serving organizations and projects.
Here are the seven members leading the way and more about what they are looking forward to this year and how YAC is impacting their lives.
YAC Executive Committee 2022-2023
"Going into this new granting season as YAC President, I am so excited to see how we as a group of young individuals will come together and use philanthropy skills to grant to local orgs that fit our priorities!! I am most looking forward to leading discussions and hearing our members talk through the granting process…it’s an experience like none other!! Being a YAC member and exec committee will affect my future by providing me with significant leadership skills, problem-solving skills, strong discussion skills, and significant responsibility that is unlike any other role I have ever had. Being in this leadership position can only aid me in my future to be better equipped in several ways and I could not be happier to be serving in this role for the 2022-23 granting year!"
Alexis Rumptz
President
Port Huron Northern Senior
Charlie Dunkel
Vice President
Port Huron Northern Senior
"I am excited to be an executive member and I look forward to continuing to improve the community while also forming new relationships with the new members of YAC. I think being on the executive committee will better my future as a person and member of my community. I personally think that my perspective has changed, when being a YAC member, one is taught to look through different lenses of society, to allow for the best possible judgement on issues."
"Starting my second year as an executive committee member on YAC, I’m very excited to see another year of engaging discussions with my fellow YAC members. However, I think I’m most excited to start another great granting season. Being an executive committee member on YAC has definitely been an incredible opportunity to practice and grow my philanthropy skills. I hope to carry this skill set with me far past YAC."
Emma Lomasney
Treasurer
Port Huron Northern Senior
Lily Zink
Secretary
Yale Senior
"As an executive committee member, I am looking forward to starting new traditions with and opportunities for the future members of our YAC. I am very excited to see what the future holds for us as we embark on some new changes and improvements in the next few months.
I believe being not only a YAC member but also an executive committee member opens up so many windows of opportunity for philanthropy and community engagement in our futures. I have already had multiple opportunities offered to me solely because I was in YAC and on the executive committee. It also teaches you to be a leader and involved in the community, which I believe are important characteristics of any young philanthropist."
"This year on YAC I am looking forward to meeting the new members and hearing their ideas. I also can’t wait to see the new grant applications that we get because I love getting to see what new or developing programs there are in our community. I also am excited to have more of a leadership role and be able to help the newer members learn what YAC is all about. I have become a lot more comfortable sharing my ideas and talking in front of people and I think it’s because of how welcoming everyone in YAC is. I am so grateful that I’ve gotten opportunities to meet new people in our community and create connections with them which I believe will help me in the future."
Amara Makim
Member-at-Large
Port Huron Northern Junior
Kylie Rusch
Member-at-Large
Port Huron High Sophomore
"I feel like this will be a great year to have the honor of moving forward on the YAC Executive Committee. I am very excited to be able to grow with YAC while also watching everyone else learn and grow. I love that YAC has let me be able to make decisions that have amazing and powerful impacts on our community. YAC will really have a huge impact on my future by helping me grow as a person. Being on the executive committee will help me succeed with my leadership, conversation and vital life skills."
"I’m looking forward to YAC again this year as it’s a constant opportunity and I can’t wait to meet more people who are joining and finally being able to help them out for a change! I believe it will change how I view teamwork. I’ve always been a person who knows I can get it done by myself, but that’s not a great outlook. I also think it will open doors and opportunities down the road!"
Shealyn Swain
Member-at-Large
Memphis Sophomore