Mason Lam (he/they) is a Long Beach-based youth advocate, filmmaker, and digital media educator passionate about storytelling as a tool to grow deeper with ourselves and each other. Mason’s intersectional identity as a transmasc Asian American informs his commitment to building a world where BIPOC, queer folks, and young people have the tools to mobilize their visions for themselves and their communities.
As Program Manager at yli’s Long Beach office, Mason supports staff in leading three key community programs across Los Angeles County: VoiceWaves, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, and LA Tobacco Prevention Program. These initiatives engage 30+ youth annually, ages 14-24, in leadership development, community-based research, storytelling, and advocacy campaigns.
Mason also designs and oversees pathways for advanced youth leadership opportunities for yli participants, including creating and mentoring the Social Media Youth Lead role. This role focuses on enhancing a youth leader’s technical and creative digital media skills while fostering their professional growth.
Lastly, Mason serves as a member of Long Beach’s Invest in Youth Coalition, a collaborative network of Long Beach youth-serving organizations. Within this coalition, Mason coordinates three yli youth representatives as part of the Youth Power Participatory Budget, where young people take the lead in shaping discussions about how city funds should be allocated to support youth programming in Long Beach.
Outside of his time at yli, Mason is nourished by outdoor adventures and spending time with queer community!