Ani has facilitated programming in Madera County for the past two years, from the Student Advisory Council in Madera Unified, to the creation of Youth Across Madera (Y.A.Ms) Advocacy Coalition where 15 young people from different districts in the county came together to build their knowledge on all things advocacy and activism. Young people in Madera currently have the opportunity to do community and civic engagement through the REP559 program.
Ani has lived in the Central Valley since 2016 and moved here from her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. She loves to be active in the community, often volunteering with local nonprofits and organizing in her free time. She has found the most joy being active in youth development ministries.
Ani’s passions lie in supporting and uplifting youth. In her junior year of high school she joined the Center for Advanced Research and Technology taking law and being active in policy change in schools. As part of an award winning advocacy group, Teens Against Domestic Violence, she worked with lawyers from the Fresno County Bar Association to create a resource page that provides support for young people, and partnered with M.A.D. to bring awareness to addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, and abuse.
On a more personal note, Ani grew up in a small town in Arizona, and frequented the indigenous reservations around her. Hailing from the Pasqua Yaqui tribe herself, Ani’s native roots are a strong part of who she is. A true outdoors-woman she hikes, rock climbs, paddleboards, and kayaks in her free time.