Akhila Hosagrahar is a high school student and youth advocate passionate about making mental health education more accessible and meaningful for young people. Through her work with The Mind Initiative, PAAC, and other youth-led initiatives, she has helped organize mental health awareness events, develop educational resources, and advocate for student well-being. She hopes to empower young people to speak openly about mental health and create supportive communities where seeking help is encouraged.

Alessandra handles the marketing aspect on the Publicity team. She is currently a freshman at De Anza College majoring in Psychology with an intended double minor in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Alessandra has gained experience in multiple wellness initiative committees, from working on her school’s wellness council, to analyzing data alongside research and development agency, WestEd, on their Behavioral Health Student Services Act (BHSSA). Alessandra heavily advocates mental health movements that highlight youth voice, being consistently interested in raising up marginalized communities.  

Kaiyu Zhang is a senior at Monta Vista High School. Passionate about ensuring students' mental health concerns are well-represented and listened to, she is a member of SCCOE's Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG) and Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) groups. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her friends and family and visit different cafes.

Liza Temov is a junior at Los Gatos High School and is currently enrolled in the SVCTE Medical Health Science Careers program; she's passionate about making sure everyone has a place to fit in. That's why she worked on the recognition categories and will be speaking at the Youth Health and Wellness event to open and close it. Liza loves to help others and ensure that they have a safe space no matter what. 

I am a junior at Fremont High School who is passionate about technology and giving back to the community, and I found my role as the graphic designer for this event very fulfilling. I served as a member of the Sunnyvale Teen Advisory Committee during the 2024–2025 school year, where I advised the city on constructive programs and activities for local teens, and I served on the Santa Clara County Office of Education's (SCCOE) Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG) during the 2025–2026 school year. I am a multiple-time hackathon winner over the past two years and bring a hands-on, builder's mindset to every project I take on, while also giving back to my community by creating educational videos for Seesaw, a global online learning platform, where I teach K–8 students about math, science, and social studies. 

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Saurika handles the resource fair/workshop part of this event. She is currently a high school student at Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy. Saurika has gained experience through various leadership, volunteer, and youth advocacy initiatives, including serving on the Santa Clara County Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG) and Tobacco Use Prevention Education and Advocacy Advisory Council (TUPE). She is passionate about uplifting youth voices, strengthening her community, and creating positive experiences through leadership and collaboration. 

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Jackie Ruvalcaba serves as the Manager of Community Schools at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, supporting community school implementation and transformation across the county. A proud product of Santa Clara County schools, she brings over 15 years of experience in education, including Expanded Learning and out-of-school time programs. Jackie is committed to supporting the whole child by strengthening authentic partnerships between schools, families, and communities.

Jaime has worked in education for 25 years and currently serves as the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator at the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). Drawing on her experiences as a middle school teacher and stay-at-home mom, she is passionate about building strong family-school partnerships that help students thrive. In addition to facilitating workshops and planning conferences, Jaime serves as a Board Committee Member for YMCA Project Cornerstone and contributes to parent leadership events through Silicon Valley Reads. 

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