FUTURE LEADERS CALIFORNIA

Bayle Glosson-Harvey is a recent graduate of SOAR High School and is furthering her education at California State University Fullerton, where she will major in Communicative Disorders and minor in Child and Adolescent Development. Passionate about helping the youth, Bayle has volunteered with Change Lanes for the past two years, a program dedicated to assisting children with anger issues. Bayle’s dedication to justice and community service began in her junior year with Justice Sunday, and she was recently appointed as the Vice President for the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative Program. Bayle’s commitment to empowering and supporting young individuals is evident through their academics and volunteerism.

Journey Artis is a recent high school graduate of Soar High School, having also attained dual associate degrees from Antelope Valley College. Set to embark on her undergraduate journey in psychology at the University of San Francisco, Journey will also simultaneously enroll in law school during the 2025-2026 academic year. Passionate about social justice and activism, she strives to cultivate community wherever she goes. With a deep-seated commitment to aiding others, Journey aspires to pursue a career as a psychological researcher and civil rights attorney. For the past three years, she has actively participated in the Justice Sunday and Teen Talk programs. Most recently she has been appointed to the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative board as the Secretary and eagerly anticipates connecting with fellow alumni and participants in their positive contributions to the community.

Taino Moreno was appointed Treasurer of the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative in 2024. Taino began his journey with the Black Student Union. He made history by becoming the first person from the Antelope Valley to be elected the Regional and State President of the United Black Student Unions of California. Within the same year, he led Highland High School’s Black Knowledge Bowl Team to First Place, which was the first time Highland achieved this title. His work with the Black Student Unions got him involved with various organizations such as Future Leaders California, the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative, National College Resources Foundation, and the Black College Expo. Taino will continue his work in social justice and policy at Howard University in the fall of 2024.

Meet Jamira Alford, a dynamic 12th grade student at SOAR High School, who was named one of the first youth representatives for the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative; alongside Ruby Alvarez. At just 17, she is already charting a course for a future in aerospace engineering with a minor in mechanical engineering, driven by an insatiable curiosity for the universe and its endless possibilities for discovery. Jamira is the founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting marginalized students and encouraging them to pursue STEM careers, with a mission to connect students to their passions while ensuring they have the justice they need to succeed. Through her leadership, she has successfully organized numerous community projects, including a Juneteenth celebration for Lancaster and rocket building shows, and has contributed to an invention that is now patent pending, a testament to her ingenuity and dedication. Balancing her academic responsibilities with her activism, Jamira will be joining NASA and sharing her passion as a university professor in the future, continuing to inspire her peers and drive meaningful impact.

Ruby Alvarez Rivera was selected as one of the first youth representatives, along with Jamira Alford, to sit on the board of the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative, for her outstanding work as an active and engaged student leader. Her involvement spans multiple extracurricular activities including theater, newspaper, senior and junior class councils, and countless other activities as she enters her senior year at Eastside High School. Ruby has dedicated herself to Justice Sunday for three consecutive years, actively participating and taking on responsibilities such as stage management. These experiences have strengthened her resolve to support youth empowerment and foster communication and understanding within her community.

Ava Kent has been a part of the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative for three years. After taking a leading role in writing during her senior year, Ava naturally stepped into her role as Writing Coach once she graduated from high school. Ava is a third year college student majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Her ultimate goal is to work as a physician in both Sports Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

Akiko Tio has been a dedicated volunteer with the Just Us Arts Initiative for 9 consecutive years. She first joined the program as a freshman at Antelope Valley High School in 2017, performing with the choir and remaining actively involved throughout all four years of high school. After graduating, Akiko returned as a volunteer to mentor and support new groups of youth. Her continued commitment and leadership led to her appointment as Music Director in 2022, a role she fulfills with confidence and strength as she guides young singers year after year. In addition to her ongoing dedication to the Arts Initiative, Akiko is actively pursuing her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. In May 2025, she obtained an Associate in Arts for LAS: Social/Behavioral Sciences from Antelope Valley College, and is now set to begin a Vocational Nursing program in August 2026.

Ginger has served with the Arts Initiative for five years, though she’s been singing for nine years and dancing for eleven. She brings her high energy, positive outlook, and passion to new groups of youths every year. Ginger took on choreography in the 2022-2023 season and continues to put her all into the students. She dedicates her time to the program every winter when she’s home from college. Ginger is a student at the California State University Los Angeles majoring in Music. Ginger also volunteers her time to Future Leaders California throughout the year, helping out wherever she can for other programs and events.

Jazmyn Martinez started her time with the Arts Initiative in the 2020-2021 season and graduated from high school in 2023. Jazmyn has been singing since before she could talk, which made her a natural choice to take on the role of Assistant Music Director. In addition to her work with the Arts Initiative, Jazmyn serves as the Communications Coordinator and Educational Life Coach for the CAAP Program at Future Leaders California, where she mentors high school students in academics and attendance. Jazmyn’s commitment to both music and education has been a driving force throughout her work and leadership roles.

Cordell Purnell Jr. has been actively involved with Justice Sunday for the past four years, dedicating himself to Performing Arts since his junior year at Eastside High School. After graduating in 2023, he has continued his involvement as a Justice Sunday Alumni for the last three years, volunteering his time and talents to support the Justice Sunday Arts Initiative. In addition to his community service, Cordell is pursuing his education at Antelope Valley College, majoring in Physical Therapy. His goal is to help others learn how to protect their bodies, prevent injuries, and maintain healthy lifestyles, allowing him to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of his community. Cordell also supports the community through family performances at major local events. By sharing the stage with his loved ones, he demonstrates the importance of family unity and serves as a positive example that no matter the size of a family, those who come together and support one another can build strong and lasting bonds.

For years, Jayla Hightower has been committed to youth empowerment, education, and the arts. After joining Justice Sunday in 2023, she went on to become Lead Acting Coach in 2024. With 24 stage plays and 10 years of theater experience under her belt, she has honed her skills in the theatre and performing arts. She has spent nearly two years passing on her knowledge to those in her community by directing plays and providing acting coaching to high schoolers. Much of her time is spent giving back to Antelope Valley’s theatre community, using her time on the stage as a platform for creativity and self-expression. Beyond her work in the performing arts, Jayla is a history major at Antelope Valley College. Her academic studies focus on U.S. history, African-American studies from 1619 to present day, and the development of ancient European civilizations. Soon, she hopes to continue a career in education and move on to becoming a high school history teacher. Her desire is to bring life and fun back into the classroom and reignite a passion for the liberal arts in youth. Alongside her studies, she works with Future Leaders California as Outreach Coordinator and an Educational Life Coach, guiding kids to better themselves and their communities.

Faruq Stewart is a versatile performer who has participated in Justice Sunday as both a dancer and actor. Throughout his 3 years in the program, he has demonstrated a deep passion for the initiative. In the 2025 performance, Faruq took on a leadership role, assisting with choreography for nearly every dance number while also fulfilling his acting duties. He enjoys connecting with his peers and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Faruq looks forward to continuing to choreograph and perform alongside his fellow participants in the upcoming season. After high school, he dreams of attending Howard University to major in engineering and eventually becoming a well-known actor.