Denise fell in love with youth work and activism when she was only a middle school kid. Inspired by her own youth leaders and mentors, Denise quickly developed a passion for youth leadership development, community engagement, and social justice. This resolve stuck with her through college and graduate school, leading her to get her BA in Sociology with a Minor in Education at the University of California Irvine and currently completing her Masters of Arts in Urban Studies with an emphasis of Youth Development. With a strong drive to grow young people, she has demonstrated this commitment in a variety of settings from traditional institutions of education to faith-based community programs. Over the past 10 years, Denise has been dedicated in creating programs that help young people learn and be confident in who they are and have agency in the change they want to see happen. As a Youth Program Coordinator for Asian Health Services, she currently works to uphold her values in social justice and youth empowerment by providing spaces for youth leadership, connecting AHS staff to local youth and their needs, as well as preparing future generations for the world to come.