he/him/his

Hello! My name is Oliver Anderson and I am a first-year member of the teen advisory council. I’ve lived in Washington DC my whole life, and attend School Without Walls High School where I have been a mental health ambassador and a leader of the Penguin Minds matter club for one year. Some of my hobbies include playing jazz with my friends on the saxophone, as well as basketball and spikeball.

she/her/hers

Email: [email protected]

Hi there! My name is Ava Belmont, and I am a 2022 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, a freshman and Eisenahrt Community Scholar at York College of Pennsylvania, and a proud OMM Alum. After serving as last year’s TAC President, I am excited to continue this year as the council’s Senior Teen Advisor Fellow. As a passionate advocate for mental health, I enjoy bringing awareness to the complexities of adolescent mental health. In dealing with my own struggles of mental health, chronic illness, and disability, I try to use the power of empathy to make a positive impact on others. When I am not in school or advocating for mental health, I enjoy volunteering in my community, embroidering, and listening to music. I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to work with the TAC again, and I look forward to furthering the life-saving work that OMM does.

she/her/hers

Hello! I’m Tara Dixit, a rising senior at Chantilly High School. Our Minds Matter (OMM) has been such an important organization for me throughout my high school years. I know what it feels like to grow up in an environment where mental health is stigmatized. That’s why I was so proud to become a student leader at my school’s OMM last year and why I’m so excited to join the OMM Teen Advisory Council (TAC) this year. I’ve seen the benefits of fighting mental health stigma among my classmates, and I’m excited to expand that impact through the TAC this year. I believe it’s important to focus on the unique stigma some students of color face. I want to spread OMM’s messages to more diverse communities. I’m really looking forward to working with the TAC to help achieve these goals!

she/her/hers

Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra Doncheva and I’m a senior in the IB Diploma Program at Richard Montgomery High School. I am super excited and honored to have been selected to serve on the OMM Teen Advisory Council. Having been exposed to the detrimental impacts of mental health, my goals within my position are to further effective mental health discourse by advocating for and inculcating adequate programming that promotes help-seeking behaviors, along with providing students with easy access to mental health resources. 

This is also my second year serving as President of my school’s OMM chapter. Outside of academia, I am an aspiring attorney who was also the youngest hire for a marketing corporation last year at 16. I currently rep five marketing certifications and am working for an Entertainment Law Firm in Beverly Hills. I really look forward to meeting and working with all of you to make Our Minds Matter as successful as possible!

she/her/hers

Hello! My name is Sophie Levine. I am 17 years old, and I am a senior at Haddonfield Memorial High School in New Jersey. I have been involved with Our Minds Matter since freshman year. As a sophomore, I was promoted to Vice President, and last year, I assumed the President position. Our local chapter has held fundraisers for suicide awareness, been involved with school wellness events, hosted guest speakers, took part in monthly social media challenges, and hosted yoga/mindfulness sessions. Mental health is one of my greatest passions, and I hope to educate others on how important it is to speak out and reduce the stigma that still continues to surround the topic. I am working to change our school culture and attitude about mental health by creating a safe space to discuss this important topic. Some of my passions outside of the club include competitive dance, singing, and American Sign Language. Through the Teen Advisory Council, I look forward to finding mentors and integrating the teen voice into the council. I hope to meet and collaborate with other students about how to make Our Minds Matter the best it can be, from expanding outreach to improving events and programs.

she/her/hers

My name is Brizel Martinez Cruz. I am 15 years old and a sophomore at Benjamin Banneker Academic Highschool in DC. I am a part of my school’s Young Mental Health Ambassadors Club. This year is going to be my second year with OMM. During my involvement with OMM, I have learned to not be ashamed of my mental health journey because it can inspire others. My passions are reading, writing poetry, and baking. My aspiration is to become an elementary school teacher. My hope is that I will be able to use my voice to help others with their mental health journeys on a larger scale through the Teen Advisory Council.

she/her/hers

Hi everyone! My name is Iman Mohamed, I’m currently a senior and the Secretary of Gahanna Minds Matter. This year will be my second year being involved. My OMM club served as a safe space for students at my school to talk about topics they might not be able to anywhere else and I hope to help create that safe space in every OMM club as a member of the Teen Advisory Council. My passion for mental health comes from seeing people in my life struggle with their mental health and have a hard time receiving treatment because of stigma and lack of access to resources. My favorite things to do are hang out with friends, volunteer, and watch movies specifically from the 90s to 2000s. I am very excited to be joining the Teen Advisory Council and can’t wait to further advocate for mental health awareness!

he/him/his

Hello everyone! My name is Chase Pantezzi, and I am thrilled to be a Teen Advisory Council member to further help the Our Minds Matter Community during this school year. I am a senior at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my participation as a club member and leader since the beginning of my freshman year with Cougar Minds Matter. While I have experienced personal battles with anxiety and overthinking, I find joy in turning that into something positive as I destigmatize and educate others about the importance of prioritizing mental health. I am most proud of having consistent club attendance, participating in school-wide campaigns, and attending the “A Not So Silent Night” event to shine a spotlight on achievements in the mental health community.

Academically, I am a student government treasurer and the Operations Director at a writing competition organization. I also enjoy learning about cars, photography, and playing the piano.

I look forward to taking action on educating a more diverse audience about topics related to mental health during my term!

she/her/hers

Hi! I’m Ava Wolsborn, a senior at Oakton High School where I currently serve as one of the co-presidents of Oakton Minds Matter. I have been involved with OMM since my freshman year, but I also enjoy spending my time dancing, hiking, and listening to all kinds of music (especially Taylor Swift!). I could not be more grateful for the support Our Minds Matter has given me and so many other teens to learn more about mental health advocacy and how to take care of our own mental well-being. As young advocates for mental health, I truly believe that it is our job to not only raise awareness, but to also encourage acceptance of conversations around mental health. I am incredibly excited to be a member of the Teen Advisory Council this year and have the chance to work with such an inspiring and passionate group of people.