OUR TEAM
What We All Deserve (WWAD) is a team of young people across the U.S. working to expand basic needs and economic liberation for all. Read on to meet some of our wonderful and passionate youth organizers!
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Federal Policy Director
Martín Orea is a dedicated student at Georgetown University, pursuing a degree in Public Policy and Political Science. With a strong background in advocacy and mobilization, he is deeply passionate about sexual and reproductive health and committed to promoting policies that enhance the social safety net. Actively involved in coalitions and advisory boards, Martín aims to amplify youth voices and experiences in the policymaking process, ensuring that their perspectives are heard and valued.
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Texas Policy Director
Annika is passionate about advancing menstrual equity and working in the TANF/Medicaid space. She has led successful campaigns to install free menstrual product dispensers in schools and has helped distribute over 150,000 menstrual products to communities in need. As Texas's State Policy Director for WWAD this year, she looks forward to advancing new bill proposals, building on the team's progress in previous years, and contributing further to Texas's policy initiatives. She also served as Secretary of the Youth Advisory Council for PERIOD., an international menstrual equity organization. Annika aspires to pursue a career at the intersection of healthcare and policy.
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California Policy Co-Director
Alex McRae is a student at UCLA majoring in Public Affairs. He is passionate about civic engagement and youth advocacy, focusing on how policy impacts the mental and physical health of the impacted, as well as overall community well-being. His work emphasizes creating accessible pathways for young people to engage with policymaking and to better understand the connections between legislation and lived experience.
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Executive Director
Tanaya Safi is a rising senior and IB Diploma student from Sacramento, California. She previously served as WWAD’s California Policy Director, where she led statewide advocacy strategy, authored assembly bills, and coordinated coalition efforts across California legislative offices. Tanaya’s commitment to public policy stems from her passion for bridging grassroots organizing with institutional legislative change. She believes that young people should lead the policy conversations that directly impact their lives. Beyond her work at WWAD, Tanaya has served in local government with Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, worked on congressional campaigns, works with VR’ing Democracy on civic education technology, and is an award-winning C-SPAN filmmaker. As Executive Director, Tanaya is excited to lead WWAD into its next chapter by expanding youth-driven basic needs legislation nationwide and building long-term organizational capacity.
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Social Media Manager
Emily is a dedicated student at University of California, Los Angeles pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Passionate about health equity and advocacy, she believes awareness and communication are important tools for creating meaningful change. Through social media and digital advocacy, she aims to highlight systemic disparities, encourage dialogue, and promote greater access to healthcare. As she pursue a career in nursing, she remains committed to addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes and using platforms to help build a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.
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California Policy Manager
Gabrielle is a third-year UCLA student studying Public Affairs and History with a passion for policy, advocacy, and community organizing. Her experience advocating for basic needs legislation inspired her to pursue policy work that directly impacts underserved communities.
At UCLA, she serves as Internal Vice President of the undergraduate student body, where she oversees initiatives supporting students, and previously reported for La Gente Newsmagazine, uplifting Latine voices and issues. As a Chicana and future first-generation law student, she brings her commitment to intentional activism and community-centered change to her work at What We All Deserve.
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Social Media Director
Adithi Kadle (she/her) is a student at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Economics and Computer Science. Her passion for social impact is rooted in lived experience and in the conviction that policy should be accessible to the communities it most affects. With WWAD, she hopes to translate complex issues in economic justice into clear, engaging content that mobilizes young people to act. Outside of WWAD, Adithi has worked across education, mental health, and reproductive rights advocacy, experiences that continue to shape her perspective as she looks toward a future in law. In her free time, Adithi enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and showing people pictures of her cat.
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California Policy Manager
Chloe Serrano is a proud alum at UCLA where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Asian American Studies with an emphasis in Public Policy. Serrano is a public servant, a policy advocate, and an organizer.Pursuing a career in law and public policy, she is refining her skills in policy writing and research. She has worked on several campaigns, including supporting the political communications for Vice President Kamala Harris' Fighting for Reproductive Freedom during the 2024 election cycle, through the California Democratic Party. Serrano is also a public speaker and encourages education through community discourse.
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Hawaii Policy Director
Jethro Bumanglag is a student at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Public Affairs on a pre-law track. Originally from Waipahu, Hawai‘i, he has been involved with What We All Deserve (WWAD) since his senior year of high school, leading campaigns focused on voter engagement and education equity. His advocacy includes drafting House Bill 2531 and Senate Resolution 99 at the Hawai‘i State Legislature to expand access to voter education resources for public and charter school students. As a State Policy Director, Jethro is committed to advancing economic justice by addressing inequities in K-12 and higher education. Outside of WWAD, he has worked at the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives, Honolulu Youth Commission, and the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
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California Policy Manager
Anika Khanna is a junior from San Jose, California, passionate about empowering young people from diverse backgrounds to engage with government. Her advocacy focuses on environmental policy, climate action, grassroots organizing, and women’s empowerment.
She has organized a lobby day at the California Capitol for high school girls, developed a mentorship program connecting young women with professionals, and served as a California Youth Advisor with IGNITE National. At What We All Deserve, Anika brings her policy advocacy experience to addressing student inequities, including menstrual equity, educational disparities, and access to mental health resources.
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California Policy Manager
Melissa has extensive experience with civic mobilization under youth-led organizations, Assembly and Congressional offices, and grassroots initiatives. She hopes to expand her experience in translating complex legislative processes through legislation drafting and proposing into feasible policy implementation. At WWAD, Melissa aims to continue to advocate for education equity, reforming the justice system, and empower youth to drive systemic change across California.
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California Policy Co-Director
Beebe is a Political Science - Public Service student at UC Davis with a strong passion for higher education policy, civic engagement, and youth-centered policymaking. Through her work with the UC Student Association, she has advocated for student basic needs and the expansion of career pathways, strengthening their commitment to meaningful policy change. At WWAD, they look forward to advancing new legislation, building strong coalitions, and working alongside others to empower young people and create more responsive and equitable policies.
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Finance Director
With a background in sustainability, philanthropic partnerships, creative expression, and social entrepreneurship, I'm working to reimagine what access to and application of capital looks like. From making chocolate supply chains happier and safer, to facilitating gender equity in the workforce, to now securing mental health resources for LGBTQ+ young people, my work has centered human flourishing from every angle. It's important that this work draws inspiration from the voices of the young people who will be carrying it into the future, and I hope to make sure WWAD has the organizational stability it needs to do just that.
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PA Policy Manager
Taiwo is a student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Health and Societies with a minor in Anthropology. She is passionate about Health access, community health, and preserving women's autonomy. Outside of WWAD she is a health advocate for underserved communities, offering blood pressure screenings, translating, and volunteering at Free Clinics in the Philadelphia community. As WWAD's Pennsylvania State Policy Director this year, she hopes to bolster their message by advocating for bills that continue to protect women's autonomy and work with PA legislators to bring equal health to at-risk PA communities.
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Pennsylvania Policy Co-Director
Hello, my name is Rihad! I am currently a student at Drexel University majoring in Political Science. I am active in politics and policy in my community, and hope to be more involved in civic engagement opportunities. I hope to accomplish a better understanding of state-wide and national issues during my time at WWAD, as well as lead the charge in protecting basic rights for people like me. I would also love to see how we can get more youth involved in politics, through various initiatives at the high school and college level. I have worked alongside my State Representative as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of PA. In my free time, I like to do graphic design and watch TV. I love the city of Philadelphia and Bob Dylan!
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Chief of Staff
I am a freshman at Cornell University studying urban and regional planning. I attended school in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where I helped pass municipal legislation to address pedestrian-safety issues, and through that experience developed a keen interest in the intersection of urban planning and public administration. At Cornell, I am an active member of various planning organizations and am eager to deepen my knowledge of public policy through WWAD.
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PA Policy Co-Director
Nzinga Suluki-Bey is a Philadelphia native with a background in education, public policy, and government. She earned her B.S. with Honors in Community & Justice Studies from Guilford College and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration at Northeastern University.
Her experience includes roles with Congresswoman Sharice Davids’ office, the Alabama Democratic Caucus, Teach For America, the Maryland Senate, and the District of Columbia State Board of Education. As PA Policy Co-Director at What We All Deserve, Nzinga focuses on economic development, education reform, and strengthening civic engagement across Pennsylvania.
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TX Policy Manager
Zayneb Ali is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin studying International Relations and Global studies with a focus on Urdu and Middle Eastern Studies. Ali is a local organizer, driven by global affairs and human rights. Hopeful to pursue a career in law, she has skills in legal writing, grassroots organizing, and policy research. She has advocated for pro-Palestine student rights, community members wrongfully detained by ICE, and against American complicity in the genocide in Palestine. Zayneb wants to continue to fight for policy change and continue to voice her concerns.
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CA State Policy Manager
I'm Erin, I am a fourth year at UCLA studying political science and communication. I have worked with progressive candidates to elect change-makers within both California and Utah. This spring, I helped lobby for AB2047, which was a bill introduced to lower gun violence by regulating the production of ghost guns. I have worked for years registering youth voters, and I hope to continue my work expanding voter access. At WWAD, I want to help fight back against recent attacks on voters, wether that be ensuring access to mail-in ballots, helping undocumented individuals vote, or making it easier to get time off to vote. Outside of politics, I practice yoga and watch a lot of live music!
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California State Policy Manager
My name is Caitlyn, and I am a junior in high school who is passionate about youth civic engagement, public policy, and creating opportunities for young people to have a voice in their communities. Through student government and local political groups, I have worked to make civic participation more accessible and engaging for young people. At WWAD, I hope to strengthen my understanding of state policy and learn how young people can turn their ideas into impactful policy change. As California State Policy Manager, I am especially excited to advocate for youth perspectives and help build a more economically fair and inclusive California. I also hope to grow as a leader while working alongside other young people who are passionate about creating change.
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PA Policy Manager
Stephanie Yau is an alum at University of Pittsburgh where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. As a passionate advocate, Stephanie is excited to serve as the PA Policy Manager. Actively involved in various nonprofit advisory boards, she is excited to join WWAD and amplify youth voices within the policymaking process.
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TX Policy Manager
My name is Bhavika, and I’m a senior at McKinney Boyd High School passionate about public policy, civic engagement, and creating opportunities for young people to make their voices heard. I currently serve as the Chief Development Officer at Compass Civics, where I work with state directors and national team members to expand youth civic engagement and strengthen chapters across the country. I’m also the founder and director of the Youth Voice Project, where I’ve engaged with 300+ young people and created a magazine and brief based on their perspectives to share with legislators and other decision makers. Through WWAD, I hope to continue turning youth perspectives into meaningful policy advocacy and help make sure young people have a real voice in the policies that affect them.
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Social Media Manager
I’m Rania, a rising senior at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California. I’m passionate about youth advocacy, civic engagement, gender equity, and creating opportunities for young people to have a meaningful voice in the issues that affect them. Outside of advocacy and school, I love spending time with friends and family, running, baking, and cafe-hopping. I’m especially excited to be part of WWAD, connect with other passionate young people, and help amplify youth voices while turning our ideas into meaningful change.
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TX Policy Manager
Nicole Tarragona is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Government and International Relations, and she currently serves as the Texas Policy Manager for What We All Deserve, a role informed by her commitment to civil rights, economic justice, and grassroots activism. Beyond WWAD, she serves as Vice President of University Democrats, where she has worked to elect progressive candidates and build a culture of civic participation among students, while her time in the office of U.S. Representative Greg Casar has deepened her understanding of how federal policy takes form and how it ultimately reaches the communities it is meant to serve. Drawing on these experiences, Nicole approaches her work at WWAD with a focus on producing policy research that is thorough yet accessible, helping young people and communities who are too often left out of political conversations better understand the issues at stake and find the confidence to engage with them.
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TX Policy Manager
With a strong passion for equity and advocacy, Zoe is for a future where there are endless opportunities for all individuals, conversations that amplify every voice at the table, and movements dedicated to empowering confident youth leadership. Through joining WWAD, she looks forward to playing an active role in building the world she wants to see. As a Texas Policy Manager, she aims to advocate for basic needs to be treated as a fundamental human right rather than just a privilege and ultimately build the world that we deserve.
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Social Media Manager
Hi! I’m Helen, a Political Science student based in the Bay Area passionate about law, policy, civic engagement, and gender justice. I hope to pursue a career in public service and law and use law and policy as agents of change to make systems more equitable and accessible. I also currently serve as the Chief of Media for GENup, a statewide student-led education advocacy organization, and a member of the Public Interest Law Association, where I help plan and run events as part of the programming team. As Social Media Director, I hope to grow WWAD’s online presence and outreach by strengthening our media strategy and making it easier for more people to discover and get involved with our work!
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Social Media Manager
Sabrina Wu is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with degrees in Biology and Chemical Engineering in the spring of 2025. She is passionate about equitable healthcare and the right to access basic needs, and strongly believes in the power of youth advocacy and community engagement. She has served on the board of Hopkins’ Center of Diversity and Inclusion, as the Health & Wellness Chair of the Graduate Representative Organization, and as the Director of Transportation and Urban Development at UCSD’s Sustainability Student Collective. She is also an avid volunteer at local community gardens and food banks, as she believes in investing in and supporting the community. As a social media manager, she hopes to use social media as a tool for advocacy, highlighting injustices and systemic problems and making important issues accessible to a broader audience. She hopes to amplify community voices, share tangible actions people can take, and encourage others to become more engaged in the issues that affect their communities.
ADVISORY BOARD
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Co-Founder & Advisory Member
Esther Lau (she/her) is a student at Barnard College in New York City studying Political Science and Urban Studies. She’s passionate about economic justice policy, urban social policy, youth-led policymaking, and social impact. Inspired by her experiences as a former public benefits recipient, Esther started WWAD due to her belief in policy as a powerful tool for change. Through WWAD, she hopes to continue pushing basic needs policies through state legislatures, while making policy advocacy more accessible to youth. Outside of WWAD, Esther has worked for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, and the National Center for Children in Poverty. She also serves on the Board of Directors for PERIOD., an international menstrual equity organization.
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Co-Founder & Advisory Member
Fiona Lu is a student at the University of California, Los Angeles studying Public Affairs and Labor Studies. She is from Orange County, California. She's been involved with California youth policy advocacy since her junior year of high school, and has led campaigns in education policy, menstrual equity, and healthcare expansion. She started WWAD in hopes of igniting a movement of young people across the country to secure basic needs and economic justice. She believes it’s crucial for young people to be proactively involved with public institutions, and that starts with showing them the potential they have. Outside of advocacy, she has worked for the House of Representatives, Center for Law and Social Policy, and the Crimsonbridge Foundation.
What We All Deserve (WWAD) began with a shared belief that young people should have a meaningful role in shaping the policies and systems that affect their lives. Get to know the founders whose vision and commitment helped build the organization from the ground up.
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Advisory Member
Sophie Himmel is Lafayette College graduate, 2024, with an honors degree in Government and Law. An experienced policy advocate and program manager, Sophie’s background is grounded in youth-led policy implementation. She drove the menstrual equity policy that cemented Lafayette College as the first higher ed institution in the country to provide free menstrual products in every college building. Currently, she supports Drexel University’s Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice in Philadelphia as an Assistant Business Manager. In her free time, she is a member of the Council of Lafayette Women and a yoga instructor.
Our Story
IGNITE the Capitol (April 2023, Sacramento)
In late 2022, our founders, Esther Lau and Fiona Lu, wrote and proposed California Senate Bill 260, the Menstrual Equity Act of 2023, into the California Legislature that would expand CalWORKs benefits to cover the purchasing of menstrual products.
In advocating for SB 260, Fiona and Esther noticed the gap in young people involved in organizing for economic justice legislation. Our proposal is to create WWAD as an extension of SB 260 to involve more youth in similar work to pioneer justice for low-income communities not only in California, but across the nation.