Mayor's Youth Commission

Keya Ashley 

Despina (Desi) Balafas 

Desi Balafas is 15 and currently attends Kent Denver School as a sophomore. This is her second year with the MYC, and for this year, she wants to continue to focus on mental health and becoming a leader. She wants to be a voice for the youth because the youth may feel as if they have no voice. Her passions include mental health, sports, and traveling. She hopes to effect change by listening to those in her community and responding with action.

Tasnim Boukhris 

Tasnim Boukhris is a junior at DSST Cedar High School. This is her second year on the Mayor's Youth Commission, where she joined to advocate for the youth in her community and beyond. Apart from her academic pursuits, she dedicates her time to school extracurriculars and clubs, volunteering, and spending time with her family and friends. Tasnim's determined commitment to serving others reflects her goal to pursue a career in the medical field, where she hopes to continue advocating for the health and well-being of her community, particularly for the youth.

Janelle Dodson

Janelle Dodson is 16 years old, and a sophomore at Mullen High School. Born in Washington Sate, Janelle moved to Denver around 5 years ago with her mother, father, and her beloved dog, Teddy. In her free time, Janelle greatly enjoys participating in volunteer work in her community. Whether its feeding over 400 homeless men at a shelter, painting tote bags for less fortunate children, teaching underprivileged students to read, or volunteering at the Children’s Hospital, Janelle is always finding ways to help those around her. On her own time, Janelle enjoys many common teenage activities like shopping, art, and going out with friends after school, or on weekends.

Lundynn Estrada

Lundynn Estrada is a sophomore at Denver School of the Arts and is serving her first year on the Mayor’s Youth Commission. Lundynn is dedicated to issues related to social justice and equity and Is hoping to bring that passion to the commission. She is a creative visual artist who has contributed to several murals across the City and County of Denver. 

Nico Franco

Nico Franco is a sophomore at George Washington High School. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and finding new experiences. He joined the Mayor's Youth Commission to serve his community by helping teens across Denver recognize the value of education and how it can shape their futures. Nico also participates in his school’s soccer team, as well as their speech and debate team, where you can see him competing in Extemp.

Mia McManis

Mia McManis is a junior at Northfield High School, where she is active in HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), National Honor Society, Climate Action Team, and Soccer.  Outside of school, Mia plays club soccer, is a soccer coach for young children, is on the SHIFT (DPS’s comprehensive health education advisory board), and the Leadership Initiatives International Program (helping families who live in Nigeria).  Mia is the second of four children and loves traveling and hanging out with friends. As a youth commissioner, Mia's goal is to bring the hopes, voices, and experiences of Denver's teens to the table to help make our City a great place for youth and adults.

Alexa Neva-Ponce

Alexa Nava-Ponce is a first-generation Hispanic and bilingual student at CEC Early College and the eldest of three. At CEC, she has had the opportunity to study business, architecture, and currently engineering, which has led her to pursue a future career in green building and sustainable design. Currently, she is leading a major project to help CEC earn the Eco-Schools certification. She is a first-year commissioner on the Mayor’s Youth Commission, where she hopes to represent voices that are often overlooked. Alexa is also involved in student leadership and take pride in giving back to her community, whether it’s mentoring classmates, volunteering, or teaching at her church. For Alexa, leadership is about more than personal success, it’s about purpose. 

Thomas Rojas

Thomas Rojas is a junior from North High School. This is his first year on the Mayor's Youth Commission. He wants to be in the Mayor's Youth Commission because he is committed and plans to help resolve issues such as affordable housing or the loss of funding from spending. He is a hard worker and plans to complete every assignment or activity he has to do. He plays the guitar and piano, does cross country, does JROTC teams like raiders, does mock trial, and has volunteered in many activities for over 100 community service hours.

Analisa Sexton

Annalisa Sexton is a 15-year-old sophomore at George Washington High School. She is an active member of both the volleyball and soccer teams and is deeply involved in the school’s Speech and Debate program, where she competes in the extemporaneous speaking (extemp) event. Annalisa also serves as the federal lead for GW's chapter of Students Demand Action. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time outdoors with her friends and family. Academically driven and enthusiastic, Annalisa is excited to begin her first year on the commission.

Elle Williams

Elle Williams is a sophomore at Denver East High School and this is her first year on the commission. She plays varsity flag football and is on the varsity speech and debate team. She has always dreamed of becoming a senator for Colorado and is so grateful to be able to be a voice for her peers. Through the commission, she aims to create a better Denver for her community and all young people who live here. She is very excited to be in this position and be able to make legitimate change! 

Vongai Chokuda

Vongai Chokuda is Mile High 360’s Development Officer, where she combines her love for storytelling, relationship-building, and community with a passion for education and equity. Originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, she is committed to empowering young people by opening doors to opportunity and breaking down barriers to success. Since moving to Denver in 2020, she has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, helping organizations connect with supporters and strengthen their impact.

Vongai earned a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Stenden, South Africa, and an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Denver. Her previous roles include supporting international students at the University of Denver and leading donor engagement at Kuda Vana Partnership, which provides holistic care for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.

Outside of work, Vongai enjoys audiobooks, hiking, singing, trying new foods, and exploring her creativity through photography and sewing.

Nicole Jones

Born and raised in the beautiful Mile High City, Nicole Jones is a passionate workforce innovator with a deep commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders. She is the CEO and Visionary behind Elite Workforce Consulting LLC, a company dedicated to transforming organizations through intentional workforce solutions. With over 15 years of experience in education, workforce development, and organizational consulting, Nicole has a proven track record of creating programs that align the goals of businesses, employees, and communities.

Nicole’s work centers around bridging the gap between education and industry by equipping individuals with the tools they need to succeed in today’s dynamic workforce. Her ability to design impactful, results-driven strategies has made her a sought-after speaker, trainer, and collaborator across sectors. She believes in building sustainable systems that prioritize people, process, and purpose. 

Her leadership extends into her community, where she serves on several education-focused boards and committees. Nicole is a proud member of the Black Education Advisory Committee for Denver Public Schools, Co-Chair of the Northfield High School Collaborative School Committee, and a member of the Northfield High School Counseling Advisory Committee. She also serves on the Alumni Action Committee for the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado. These roles underscore her commitment to creating equitable access to education, career pathways, and leadership development for all students.

Driven by a servant leadership mindset, Nicole is passionate about aligning organizational success with the personal growth of every team member. She believes that empowered individuals are the key to innovative, high-performing workplaces. With a foundation rooted in teaching and school counseling, Nicole has built a career around developing others, guiding both youth and professionals in achieving their career and leadership goals.

Nicole’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that leadership thrives when individuals are supported, systems are strong, and the mission is clear. Her journey is fueled by a love for lifelong learning, innovation, and service. Whether consulting with companies or mentoring future leaders, she brings unmatched energy, insight, and care to every endeavor.

Sarah McGill

Sarah McGill, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in youth development and nonprofit program leadership. Currently serving as Director of College Success and Alumni Programs at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, Sarah has developed and implemented innovative youth college preparatory, mental health, life skills and mentoring programming.

Sarah is originally from Maryland but has lived in Denver since 2005. Sarah is passionate about giving youth the tools to step into their own power and fostering inclusive, supportive environments that promote lifelong opportunities and growth. She believes that the voices of Denver youth are critical to the creation of policies that advance their success and promote better outcomes for all members of our community.