Meet the Gender Justice Youth Council!

Melody Luo (she/her/hers) is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Political Science and English and minoring in Legal Studies, History, and Urban Education – Policy, Research, and Practice. Her academic and career interests include studying constitutional law, analyzing China-Taiwan relations, and advocating for education and food policy reform.  

Hailing from Long Island, New York, her interest in advancing educational equity and diversifying K-12 curricula began following book-banning attempts at her high school. Since then, her research has surrounded improving contemporary multicultural pedagogies, decreasing teacher-of-color turnover rates, and challenging unconstitutional education bills. Outside of the academic realm, she also aims to expand accessibility to health-related resources for all. She previously worked with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum to spread knowledge of reproductive health resources for residents in New York City, and recently finished authoring and teaching a curriculum surrounding food justice and sustainability as the Programs Intern for Swipe Out Hunger – the leading nonprofit addressing hunger among college students across 600+ campuses. 

 She is incredibly excited to join the National Women’s Law Center as a member of the Gender Justice Youth Council and to continue navigating the intersection between race and gender through the lens of domestic policy issues. At Penn, Melody can be found preparing for nationwide competitions with her teammates on Penn Mock Trial, working on school projects with the Undergraduate Assembly, singing with PennYo (Penn’s premier Chinese A Cappella Group), and working with high schoolers through the Asian Students Promoting Identity, Reflection, and Education Program.  

She also enjoys hiking/camping in National Parks, watching extraordinarily long YouTube video essays, trying new coffee shops, and attempting to check off her long TBR list in her free time. 

Zoe Larkey (she/her) is a third-year student at George Washington University studying Human Services and Social Justice with a minor in Psychology. She is a passionate gender justice advocate with a specific interest in sexual violence prevention. Zoe is actively engaged in efforts to create safer communities on campus, serving as the founding president of my school’s chapter of It’s On Us.  

Outside of advocacy, she enjoys creative hobbies such as watercolor painting and scrapbooking and is a member of the Women’s Rowing team at George Washington.   

Xiyuan “Dora” Lin (she/her/hers) is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania double majoring in Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies and Political Science with minors in Law and Society and American Public Policy. Born and raised in Fuzhou, China, Xiyuan saw the education gap against women firsthand. The rampant misogyny she witnessed and experienced fuels her dream of increasing access to education for women through legal reform. 

At Penn, Dora helps high-achieving, low-income high school upperclassmen apply to college as a Head Advising Fellow for Matriculate and chairs the Admissions Dean’s Advisory Board. She loves bubble tea and Crème brûlée way too much, creative writing, and reading; her favorite book is Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult. After undergrad, Dora strives to become a lawyer and use her J.D. to empower her beloved communities. She is very excited to be on GJYC at the National Women’s Law Center! 

Ava Edwards (she/her) is a freshman at Lincoln University, pursuing a major in Criminal Justice with minors in Pre-Law and Political Science. Driven by a commitment to advocacy and community change, Ava served as Black Student Union President for two years in high school, where she advocated the rights of underrepresented students. Now at Lincoln University, she continues her advocacy as Secretary for the Class of 2028 and as a member of the 77th Student Senate, organizing events and working to enhance student life. 

Gender advocacy is a deeply personal passion for Ava, inspired by her own experiences with gender inequality. She has hosted events celebrating women pioneers, recognizing their contributions and inspiring others in her school community. Ava joined the Gender Justice Youth Chapter to gain hands-on experience in gender rights activism and policy awareness, and further her understanding of advocacy. Her goal is to use her voice to support and protect women’s legal rights in both local and academic communities. 

Outside of her academic and advocacy work, Ava enjoys hobbies that bring her joy and creativity. She enjoys walking, reading, and crocheting after a long day of hard work. These hobbies remind her to stay balanced during her busy schedule. 

Khianna Deseide (she/her) is a SUNY Brockport student majoring in Public Health, originally from the vibrant community of Queens, New York. Her passion for gender justice began at the age of 15, where she became involved in clubs and nonprofits dedicated to advocating for equality and combating gender-based violence. She has led projects and campaigns aimed at creating awareness and supporting vulnerable populations impacted by these issues.  

In her work, Khianna most recently served as the Youth Engagement Coordinator at Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), where she was instrumental in building connections with community organizations and youth activists to drive forward GGE’s mission of gender equity and social justice. She worked closely with young women and gender-expansive youth to address critical issues such as gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive justice, while fostering leadership development among her peers. Prior to GGE, Khianna worked as an EMT, gaining first-hand experience with individuals facing mental health crises. Her intersectional approach to advocacy, blending public health and social justice, drives her commitment to empowering marginalized communities.  

In her free time, Khianna enjoys writing, public speaking, and exploring creative outlets such as music. 

Brittany Peng (she/her) is a senior at Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, majoring in International Politics with a concentration in International Law, Institutions, and Ethics and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Through her studies, Brittany has pursued the issue of the elimination of violence against women (VAW) and gender-based violence (GBV) vis-a-vis international human rights, humanitarian, and criminal law.  

In accordance with her academic pursuits, Brittany has past experiences interning at the Rise Now Nonprofit for sexual assault survivor legislative advocacy, the US Department of State: Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the launch of the #FacingDiplomacy storytelling campaign, and the Council of Women World Leaders housed in the United Nations Foundation. In the future, Brittany aspires to be an international human rights attorney.  

Outside of school and work, Brittany’s passions are in music, arts, and culture. She was a classically trained cellist, having begun her training at the age of 9, and listens to various genres of music from classical to R&B. Brittany also enjoys keeping up with the latest trending makeup and skincare products, as well as reading intersectional feminist literature.   

Ameara Smith (she/her) is a freshman at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she previously served on the 2021-2022 cohort of the Girls Inc. National Teen Advocacy Council. Regarding gender justice, Ameara is extremely interested in the prison-industrial complex and its impact on women and children. Ameara is also concerned with menstrual inequity and has been working toward raising awareness of the issue.  

At Georgetown, Ameara is involved in the school newspaper, The Hoya, as well as a part of the NAACP. In her free time, she loves to travel, read, and play tennis.