Young Professionals Council Academy Class of 2025

Note: These bios remain static from the time of the participant’s graduation from YPC Academy. Many graduates have moved on to new careers, board service, and other activities since the time of this publication.

Class of 2025

Shannon Babowice (she/her) is currently an HR professional with the federal government. In this role, she helps new employees get acclimated to the agency and ensures proper staffing levels to operate. She has a background working within government entities at the local, state, and federal level. Shannon grew up in Northern Nevada but has moved all around in her adult life.

As a military spouse, she has been in San Diego since 2023 and has enjoyed being in a city that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. With a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies, Shannon has found a love for research and learning. She hopes to complete further schooling that will allow her to translate her love for learning into a career in higher education, specifically in student affairs. This would allow her to properly advocate for LGBTQ+ students, creating a safer space for students to learn and grow no matter who they are.

Working closely with the San Diego community in previous roles, Shannon has noticed the need for greater collaboration between stakeholders to improve the quality of life and opportunities for many groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. She is excited to be part of the Young Professionals Council and learn how she can personally be an impactful part of that change. Outside of work, she enjoys attending sporting events, hiking, trying new foods, and spending time with her wife and dog

Savannah Brittian (all pronouns) is a lifelong advocate with over 15 years of experience in organizing and empowering community, and is one of the founding members of the East County Queer & Trans Coalition. With a diverse background in non-profits, politics, and the arts, she has worked as a professional designer for theatre, volunteered, served on boards, and worked as a consultant for various non-profits. She has supported the campaigns of numerous candidates in East County and advocated for the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in East County with local elected officials. Drawing from her life’s work in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, uplifting marginalized voices and telling their stories, and organizing community actions, she works to connect community in one of the most hostile and isolating regions of San Diego in the hopes of building a more inclusive and welcoming future for her hometown and neighbors.

She was humbled as part of the East County Queer & Trans Coalition to receive the 2024 Spirit of Stonewall Service Award and ‘Fabulous Community Activist’ at the 2025 Hillcrest Honors. Some of the highlights of the work she has contributed to was reviving San Diego Black Pride in 2021 and reviving the San Diego Dyke March in 2024.

Victoria Castro (she/ella) is an immigrant trans woman from Ahuachapán El Salvador, a renowned makeup artist, a trans immigrant advocate, an HIV/COVID testing counselor, a PrEP/HIV specialist trainer, a grant writer, and a detention and police abolitionist. She has worked as a health educator at Colectivo Alejandria SV and also served on the board of directors at the same organization, educating and empowering Salvadoran transgender people to have the tools to fight for fundamental human rights. She worked for five years at El/La Para Translatinas as a health educator, program manager, and in other key roles. She is part of many national movements for trans and queer Latina and immigrant communities at the intersections of trans and queer rights, and migrant and racial justice. She worked for a year as a national organizer with Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement on the Familia en el Sur campaign. She also worked in Orange County, CA as a health advocate at Alianza Trans Latinxs helping to find gender affirming services for trans people. She has participated in multiple campaigns such as #EndTransDetention #AbolishICE #AbolishPolice and others. She currently volunteers for Proyecto Trans Latinas in San Diego, writing grants and managing the development and programs area. With her empathy and spirit full of joy and the enthusiasm of her friendship and love for the trans community, she now serves as Executive Director of T4T Empowerment, Desde un Corazón Trans.

Arielle Tagulao Cook (she/her) is a second-generation Filipino-American and one of two mental health occupational therapists based in San Diego, CA. She is a local activist and facilitator of change who promotes occupational justice and equity across multiple communities. Through her advocacy work within the homelessness prevention sector and collaboration with regional organizations, she has increased access to mental health occupational therapy services for transition-age youth experiencing homelessness. Arielle is working toward expanding these services to a larger and more diverse population through partnerships with local libraries to build a stronger community.

Karen Corrales (they/them/elle/ella) was born and raised in the city that captured the sun, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. They are an immigrant, an educator, a student, a caregiver, a union sibling, and a brown queer leader. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Mexico, they moved to the United States to take care of their parents, but learned along the way of the struggles and injustices their community was facing every day and felt compelled to take action. Their perspective of education changed as a social justice tool, and they started giving classes to care workers and family child care providers and worked as an organizer for United Domestic Workers union (UDW). Their current role is in the creative department in their union that develops programs for social justice, such as the partnership with the CA Chancellor’s office to provide college education to union members and their families, a pathway to citizenship, climate resilience, and food accessibility. They are currently leading projects for a family child care educator apprenticeship and a member committee for LGBTQIA+ union members and caretakers of members of the community.

shannon cury (she/they) is a breathwork facilitator, speaker, and community builder dedicated to collective wellbeing. after working at google in new york city for a decade, they moved to san diego seeking growth and healing after a cancer diagnosis in the midst of COVID. that journey led them to question the systems that push people to burnout and disconnection, realizing that real systemic change starts with the nervous system—how we relate to ourselves, our work, and each other.

as the founder of collectively well, shannon creates spaces for people to slow down, reconnect with what matters, and build resilience through authentic Self-care, real world wellbeing and intentional rest. they facilitate breathwork in behavioral health centers across the country and with doCancer, a nonprofit providing holistic support to those impacted by cancer. honoring the deep lineage of the healing practices they share, shannon approaches breathwork and wellness with reverence, emphasizing accessibility, inclusivity, and collective healing.

shannon is the former co-host of cancer actually f***ing sucks: the podcast and their storytelling has been featured in cosmopolitan. rooted in their experience navigating healing as a queer syrian american neurospicy human, they are passionate about bridging activism and wellness, decentralizing productivity culture, decolonizing spirituality, and making personal liberation the first step to collective liberation.

Angela (any pronouns) is a Program Director for Our Safe Place, the San Diego YMCA’s LGBTQ+ youth program. Passionate about creating a supportive and welcoming environment, Angela is dedicated to fostering a space where young people can engage, connect, and build meaningful support networks. New to this role, Angela is excited to continue learning how to better serve both her team and the broader community. With a Master of Social Work degree from SDSU, Angela combines his education and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in San Diego.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys being a Tia and cherishing quality time with their niblings, valuing the importance of family and community.

Robyn Grand (they/them) is the Community Engagement Manager at Words Alive, a children’s literacy organization that connects children, teens, and families to the power of reading across San Diego County. Robyn has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, primarily focused on K-12 education. They graduated from the University of California San Diego in 2015 with degrees in Sociology and Political Science, and are passionate about increasing book access and connecting community members to impactful volunteer opportunities they can participate in from around the globe. Robyn is constantly on the hunt for the next book that will change their life, and spends their free time enjoying the San Diego sunshine with their partner and three rambunctious dogs.

Alyssa (she/they) has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After working as a Product Manager at various startups in the wellness and financial technology industries, she is now a Vice President of Product at JPMorgan Chase.

She began volunteering with The Center in 2024 in an effort to support and connect with her local queer community. The Center’s rich history and positive impact on San Diego’s queer community inspired her to get more involved in advocacy and efforts that support LGBTQ+ rights, visibility, and empowerment.

Alyssa strongly believes in the power of community to heal, uplift, and empower individuals. She is passionate about fostering environments where people feel safe, seen, and valued, enabling them to grow and thrive both personally and professionally.

Originally from Chicago, Alyssa moved to San Diego in 2021 and is happiest when she is outside. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, snowboarding, hiking, yoga, making art, and listening to music.

Anna Haynie (she/they) is a queer scientist and community organizer new to the San Diego area. Originally from the East Coast, she arrived in Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue a PhD in Physics with a specialization in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Southern California. After a graduate career that played out against a backdrop of growing political unrest and increasing climate catastrophes, she defended her dissertation in 2024 and made the difficult decision to leave academia, allowing her to focus her energy on solving problems closer to home rather than outside of the Milky Way.

She became involved in labor organizing during her final years of graduate school and is now a Data Organizer with UAW International, specializing in higher education union campaigns. Having learned and grown from her experience in organizing, she is a firm believer that labor struggles intersect with all other progressive movements, and has personal and professional goals of using the skills she has gained through organizing to integrate herself in the local LGBTQ+ community and the Climate Tech sector, respectively, to fight for a safer, cleaner, more just world. As a Fellow with Climatebase, she is halfway there, and now looks forward to connecting with other queer professionals in San Diego to find her place in the local queer scene.

Outside of work, Anna is an avid reader, gardener, and, most recently, a volunteer at Cabrillo National Monument. You can find her on long walks with her dog Charli, and wandering around your local flea market or anywhere that has live music.

Kate Henry (she/her) is a queer LGBTQ+ advocate who has lived in San Diego cumulatively around 10 years. She was born in New Jersey, completed an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at the University of San Diego (’17), and commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy upon graduation. She then went to Pensacola, FL for flight school where she ultimately chose to fly the MH-60S helicopter. Kate then moved back to San Diego in 2019 and served until she got out of the military in November 2023. She has since transitioned into the civilian sector and is currently an Account Manager. Since getting out, Kate has been fervently looking for ways to get involved and give back to her local community. As a veteran, one of her most pressing causes right now is to speak up for trans active duty service members against the persecution by the current administration. She also wants to continue to fight for homeless veterans in the San Diego community, as they deserve to have their needs met after their service to their country.

Kate is heavily involved in sports leagues, loves to play board games, and enjoys anything out in nature. She is hoping to get back into recreational flying this year and obtain more pilot certifications and qualifications. She looks forward to collective activism, thoughtful discourse, and genuine connections at this year’s YPC Academy Cohort.

Kirby Knipp (he/him) is a curious and compassionate young professional who firmly believes that a rising tide lifts all boats. He has extensive experience in the educational community and has held various community building roles at UC San Diego for the past seven years. His background in project management, strategic planning, and organizational development has been demonstrated through his leadership in Student Affairs, where he successfully led high-impact projects and initiatives. Outside of work, Kirby enjoys yoga, outdoor activities, attending concerts, and traveling to new destinations. Originally from Kansas City, he is always seeking new adventures and experiences.

Willow (she/her) currently serves as a Senior Community Representative for Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. In this role, she engages with stakeholders in San Diego County including those in the LGBTQ+, Health Care, and Education portfolios. She also assists the office with the Congressional Art Competition, Community Project Funding, and Federal Grants. Willow graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. During her undergraduate career she was a Panetta Public Policy Institute intern where she spent a semester interning in Congresswoman Jacobs’ Washington, D.C. office.

Keisha Lazo (she/her/they/ella) is a queer first-generation Latina, with parents from Sinaloa and Oaxaca, Mexico. She was raised in San Diego and graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Social Work.

During her college years, she volunteered with Jewish Family Services, Highlands Elementary School, and the Father Joe’s Village Lunch Program. She also interned at Casa Familiar as a Financial Opportunities Advisor Intern, where she was able to help primarily Spanish-speaking folx with benefits applications, renewals, county calls, document translations, and more. She was able to begin a program to expand their employement services in a wrap-around form that encompassed resume building, job search, mock interviews, and resources for transportation and clothing.

She is currently working at The San Diego LGBT Community Center as a Bilingual Welcome Desk Services Coordinator and Client Services Navigator, where she gets to greet everyone that steps into the building and guide them to accessing resources within and out of The Center.

Keisha is a foster bunny parent of Frida and Friday, through San Diego House Rabbit Society. She enjoys viewing the outdoors in the form of walks, hikes, and roadtrips. Gaming is a small passion of hers, where she can unwind and play cozy at home or with friends. She also enjoys art and scrapbooking, where the creativity is limitless and there are no mistakes in what she creates.

Keisha is very excited to join the Young Professionals Council Academy for 2025. She aspires to continue working in the non-profit sector, positively impacting how organizations serve clients, and listening and acting to the voices of our communities who need it the most.

Isaac (he/him) is the youngest child of eight children. He was born in Sinaloa, Mexico and came to the USA shortly after. At night, Isaac is a local SoCal drag queen named Angel Eclipse, performing around Hillcrest, SF, LA and PS. Some accomplishments of this drag entertainer are winning an Emmy, and being an opening act for Chappell Roan and a Drag out the Vote Drag Ambassador. During the day, Isaac works in a nonprofit organization helping individuals access PrEP and providing HIV/STI education to the community. Isaac has volunteered for different causes such as Susan G Komen, San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, and SD Pride, and he has also toured around the world with a band and modeled for Kim Chi Beauty Foundation.

Jeri Vallo Luckenbaugh (she/fae) is a scientist turned grassroots organizer that helps lead the political advocacy nonprofit organization San Diego for Trans Rights (SD4TR). Prior to this, she was the Vice President of the UC San Diego graduate chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics. With interests in the application of math to topics in biology and political science, she seeks to understand and drive social movements that result in increased autonomy and protections for the transgender and gender expansive community of San Diego, and beyond. As a queer, transgender, Filipino-American, she takes an intersectional approach to her work, positing that the silos of progressive movements led by different marginalized communities are often linked through the policies and shared histories created by the same systems of power. She leverages her deep ties to the local activist, labor organizing, and mutual aid communities to unite those of different backgrounds and origins. She holds the belief that systemic opposition towards one group is causal to the replication of oppressions toward all identities, and that the reform of oppressive systems must begin at their root.

Christina Meyer (she/her) is a Marriage & Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. She received her M.S. in Counseling from CSUF in May 2024. During her tenure at CSUF, Christina supported queer and questioning youth through her work as a crisis counselor and as a support group leader for LGBTQ+ college students. Presently, she is employed within San Diego Youth Services’ HERE Now Program, a suicide prevention and early intervention initiative that supports middle and high school students throughout San Diego County. In her free time, Christina enjoys watching A24 horror movies, listening to the music of The Last Dinner Party, and having long phone conversations with friends. Christina joined the YPC Academy to learn what it means to be a purposeful advocate to her San Diego community.

Gabbie Pineda (she/they), also known as Whorchata, is a passionate community advocate, performer, and leader dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Gender & Sexuality Studies and Media & Cultural Studies from the University of California, Riverside, where she was an Honors Valedictorian and a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Gabbie has worked extensively in nonprofit and social services, previously serving as a Residential Counselor at San Diego Youth Services, a Family Peer Recovery Coach at Telecare Corporation, and both an Executive Assistant and Outreach Intern at HIPS in Washington, D.C. Her work has focused on mental health advocacy, harm reduction, youth outreach, and supporting justice-involved and LGBTQ+ communities.

Gabbie’s dedication to activism has earned her prestigious recognitions, including the Spirit of Stonewall Service Award from San Diego Pride for her leadership with the East County Queer & Trans Coalition and the Hillcrest Honors Fabulous Community Activist Award. She is a proud member of the Imperial Court de San Diego and is actively involved in the Kiki ballroom scene as a member of the Majestic Haus, where she fosters queer joy and artistic expression. She also continues her work in community outreach and direct services through her involvement with Stepping Stone of San Diego, supporting individuals in recovery.

As Whorchata, Gabbie uses drag as a powerful tool for activism, cultural expression, and community building. A proud transgender woman, Chicana, and individual living with HIV, she is committed to using her platform to break stigma and uplift others through performance and advocacy. She has performed across Southern California, engaging with audiences to foster conversations about identity, resilience, and empowerment. Through her artistry and activism, Whorchata continues to create inclusive spaces where queer and trans communities can celebrate their voices unapologetically.

Aubie Udochi (he/him) is a motion graphics artist at Ingenuity Studios, a visual effects studio in the film/tv industry. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Arkansas, majoring in Art with a Graphic Design emphasis and minoring in Digital Filmmaking. He has been working in post-production and motion graphics design since 2017.

In the two years he has been living in the San Diego area, Aubie has been active in the queer community, volunteering at Pride and hosting an event that brought the typically San Diego-based LGBTQ+ Board “Gayme” Night Meetup group to North County. As a gay trans man of mixed race, Aubie wishes to contribute to the Young Professionals Council by fostering community and providing representation for intersectional minorities. His hope is that his presence and efforts within the council will allow those familiar with the experience of being invisible or underrepresented to feel seen and empowered to show up as their true selves, regardless of their identities.

In his free time, Aubie enjoys writing stories, drawing characters, and hanging out with his sister and two dogs.

Angel Wilson (he/him) is a pre-law student and dedicated community advocate. With a 4.0 GPA, he is completing a double major in English and Political Science at San Diego Mesa College, where he serves as an AS Student Government Senator and a Phi Theta Kappa Executive Officer. Angel has interned with the Alternate Public Defender’s Office and the Federal District Courts of Southern California. As a San Diego Pride Scholar and a member of the 2025 Pride Empowerment Academy with San Diego Pride, he is passionate about LGBTQ+ advocacy, legal equity, and uplifting marginalized communities.

Jared Zachary (he/him) is a Southern California native dedicated to knowledge-sharing and community building. With a background in research, social services, and community outreach, he is passionate about using data and lived experiences to improve conditions for marginalized communities.

Jared has extensive experience advocating for children and youth, particularly in the areas of health, homelessness, and equity. He specializes in qualitative research, workshop facilitation, support groups, and community outreach.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University and a Master’s in Public Health from California State University San Marcos, where his research focused on barriers to same-day HIV treatment for Black queer men in San Diego.
Currently, Jared is a Research Associate at Harder + Company Community Research, where he helps organizations leverage data and evidence-based practices to measure their impact and drive meaningful change in the communities they serve.

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