The Team

Yasmeen Al-Shawwa
Age 18
USC Annenberg School of Communications

As a HIRE LA News Team member, I would love to learn more about the journalism field and I would also like to contribute to making HIRE LA more known throughout Los Angeles. I am so excited about this program because I will be working in a field that I am passionate about!

I love to dance! I love to travel! I also love learning and writing about different cultures. I was in theatre and dance all throughout high school so I also love to perform.

I want to be a broadcast journalist or Public Relations manager and work internationally. I definitely want to travel a lot.

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Jonathon Brooks-O’Neal
Age 20
UC Berkley, class of 2009
Theatre and Rhetoric major

As a HIRE LA youth news team mentor, I want to encourage students to work hard toward success and offer clear information that can be used in all facets of life. I want to continue to learn more about the field of journalism and its components.

My interests are in theatre, acting, dance, writing, filmmaking and more.

I consider Spike Lee, Laurence Fishburne and Langston Hughes as role models.

My career goals include acting for television, performing on Broadway and the “big screen”, and dance for Alvin Ailey. I want to inspire people everywhere to think creatively.

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Nicole Graves
Age 19
El Camino College
Political Science and Psychology Major

As a HIRE LA News team member, I would like to expand my writing skills as well as express my opinions and experiences from a youth perspective.

My hobbies include writing poetry and songs. I showcase my work at various clubs and events. I was recently on the Rod Wright 4 Senate Campaign. I also play basketball and tennis.

I am working on becoming a corporate or an entertainment attorney. I also plan to write multiple books.

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Victoria Kraus
Age 25
Soka University of America, class of 2005
Liberal Arts major, Humanities concentration

As a HIRE LA youth news team mentor, I will support the news team to my utmost ability and help create a united supportive environment.

I have passionate interest in reading and writing plays, essays, and fiction; studying languages, especially Spanish, Japanese, French, Chinese and Arabic; watching films and documentaries; photography; listening to music from all over the world; traveling; people watching; parks and museums; spending time with friends and family.

I plan to pursue graduate studies in American culture and ethnicity, and later establish a publication that provides forum for contemporary art in various mediums and discussion on American culture.

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Kevin Miguel
Age 17
Hollywood High School, Senior

As a HIRE LA youth news team member, I would love to meet and exceed the expectations of this group. I also want to make wonderful friends.

My hobbies include:
Biking – I ride my bike everywhere I go.
Reading – I love the classics. To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men
Writing – I don’t really have much to say about that.

I would love to be an agricultural architect. My main goal is to design a great bio-friendly city.

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Yuri Pacheco
Age 16
Laguna Hills High School, Senior

As a HIRE LA youth news team member I hope to gain more experience producing media publications and working with a staff of my peers.

I am involved with Model UN, journalism, the California Scholastic Federation and the Gay/Straight Alliance clubs at my high school. Reading is my hobby.

In the future, I want to end up with a corner office overlooking DuPont Circle in Washington D.C. No math skills required.

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Esmeralda Salguero
Age 21
Santa Monica College, Communications major

As a HIRE LA youth news team member, my hope is to reach out to the youth in my city, to motivate others to get involved, be successful and stay positive. I also want to promote recycling to everyone that I cross paths with.

My hobbies include dancing, singing, playing the piano, watching and going to Dodger games, reading, and biking.

My career goals include pursuing modeling and acting and anything that has to do with mass media. I want to be known so there can be acknowledgment and recognition the great truth behind the positive messages I choose to spread about our environment and us as humans. Our power to create and adapt to change.

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Shajuan Thomas
Age 19
Abraham Friedman Occupational Center

As a HIRE LA youth news team member, I hope to provide the youth of Los Angeles with an opportunity for their voice to be heard. I want to let the people of Los Angeles know not to give up on the youth. The most important thing is knowing that I made a difference for the youth.

My hobbies include talking on the phone and helping people. I like playing football, kickball, jump rope, and playing with my son, Del’marre.

My career goals are to open a youth center. I want to work hard at what I do and never stop or give up. I want to make a difference in my community.

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Talor Alexandar Williams
Age 19
Santa Monica College

As a HIRE LA youth news team member this summer, I want to learn new skills and gather information that will help in the future.

My hobbies include reading and watching Japanese “anime”, martial arts, reading, research, video games, learning, accomplishing my ambitions, and girls.

My career goals are to be a billionaire, a martial artist, and philanthropist who effects positive change for himself and humanity.

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Lisette C. Williford
Age 23
UCLA, class of 2009
American Literature and Cultures major, Education minor

As a HIRE LA youth news team mentor, I hope to teach and be taught.

I am a member of the Surfrider Foundation and a certified scuba diver. I love to play basketball, run, workout, and go to the beach.

My father is my role model. He has been working in construction for over 25 years. When I was younger, seeing him come home everyday tired and broken down is what inspires me to do my best and make the most out of the opportunities he has provided for me.

I plan to obtain a master’s degree in education and become a teacher.

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Laura H. Yoo
Age 16
Hamilton High School
Class of 2009

As a HIRE LA youth news team member I hope to learn a lot about journalism.

On my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, shopping, drawing, painting, dancing, and many more fun stuff! I’m in a Nevians Club in which we do a lot of community service.

I want to be a fashion designer and a culinary artist.