Educational Background: Describe how your education will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
My extensive coursework ranging various studies from history to Spanish will allow me to view local challenges and progress from a broad and informed perspective. Piedmont Hills High School (Aug. 2023 - Present) AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, AP World History: Modern, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP English Language and Composition De Anza College (Jul. 2024 - Present) CIS 22A (Beginning Programming Methodologies in C++), CIS 22B (CIS 22B Intermediate Programming Methodologies in C++), CIS 22C (Data Abstractions and Structures), MATH 22 (Discrete Mathematics)
Professional Experience: (employer, position) Describe how your employment history will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
I am experienced in public speaking, working with younger children, and reaching out to partners/speakers for events. Multiple Roles @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council Vice Chair @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council (Oct. 2025 - Present) - I am currently involved in working with Akshadha to plan our annual A.I.M. conference for local students. My job entails reaching out to potential speakers and brainstorming our workshops. Additionally, I was part of leading our Adopt a Park initiative.
Collectively, we have spent more than 30 hours serving Penitencia Creek Park through litter pickup and landscaping work. Team Lead @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024) - Organized “You(th) Can Prevent Overdose,” a drug safety seminar at the Berryessa Branch Library attended by local district high school students. Activities included a narcan administration lesson from a Foothill College EMT professor and her students. Worked with the SCCOOPP, the county opioid addiction awareness task force, to distribute narcan to attendees. - Contributed to “AIM,” an inspiring career event for high schoolers held at the King Branch Library. Guest speakers included Vice Mayor Kamei and State Congressman Alex Lee. Led a panel for attendees to ask questions about fields like medicine, law, and art. - Participated at the annual Budget Summit at which I discussed new ideas for fostering the use of public transportation among San Jose's youth with District 5 YAC members. Volunteer Math Teacher @ Boys and Girls Club of America Alum Rock Branch (Oct. 2022 - Present) - Developed a fun, game-based curriculum in both English and Spanish that teaches foundational concepts like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Taught the curriculum weekly to a second grade class since 2022. The Boys and Girls Club of America is a nationwide organization that works towards the vision of a country where every child has access to quality education and a safe learning space. It operates centers that provide after-school programs, especially for underprivileged communities. 2023-2024 Freshman Representative @ Piedmont Hills California Scholarship Federation (CSF) (Oct. 2023 - May 2024) - Helped in coordinating Take a Teacher to Lunch Day, a special meal that students prepare in the library to appreciate school staff. - Also organized volunteering events for club members such as helping to make craft kits at RAFT, a local teacher resource center. Multiple Roles @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2022 - Present) President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2026 - Present) Executive Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2025 - Mar. 2026) - Coordinating the organization's various teams to begin working on new events for this coming term such as External Operations Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2024 - Mar. 2025) - Grew the organization's outreach in teaching mental math and abacus skills to students at local community centers. - Ran interest meetings to recruit more volunteers for the teaching programs. Internal Operations Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2023 - Mar. 2024) - Presented organization growth to donors at the annual meeting. - Supported events such as the annual mental math test, seminars with international students, and the annual training for teachers’ assistants. Coordinator of Development @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2022 - Mar. 2023) - Developed a curriculum to teach a cohort of students leadership and organizational skills like event planning, Excel spreadsheets, and public speaking. - Ran monthly meetings to teach the skills and run practice activities.
Ethan Effendi
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Please list your community involvement, including jobs and volunteer work.
Multiple Roles @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council Vice Chair @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council (Oct. 2025 - Present) - I am currently involved in working with Akshadha to plan our annual A.I.M. conference for local students. My job entails reaching out to potential speakers and brainstorming our workshops.
Additionally, I was part of leading our Adopt a Park initiative. Collectively, we have spent more than 30 hours serving Penitencia Creek Park through litter pickup and landscaping work. Team Lead @ San Jose Youth Commission District 4 Youth Advisory Council (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024) - Organized “You(th) Can Prevent Overdose,” a drug safety seminar at the Berryessa Branch Library attended by local district high school students. Activities included a narcan administration lesson from a Foothill College EMT professor and her students.
Worked with the SCCOOPP, the county opioid addiction awareness task force, to distribute narcan to attendees. - Contributed to “AIM,” an inspiring career event for high schoolers held at the King Branch Library. Guest speakers included Vice Mayor Kamei and State Congressman Alex Lee. Led a panel for attendees to ask questions about fields like medicine, law, and art. - Participated at the annual Budget Summit at which I discussed new ideas for fostering the use of public transportation among San Jose's youth with District 5 YAC members. Volunteer Math Teacher @ Boys and Girls Club of America Alum Rock Branch (Oct. 2022 - Present) - Developed a fun, game-based curriculum in both English and Spanish that teaches foundational concepts like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Taught the curriculum weekly to a second grade class since 2022. The Boys and Girls Club of America is a nationwide organization that works towards the vision of a country where every child has access to quality education and a safe learning space. It operates centers that provide after- school programs, especially for underprivileged communities. 2023-2024 Freshman Representative @ Piedmont Hills California Scholarship Federation (CSF) (Oct. 2023 - May 2024) - Helped in coordinating Take a Teacher to Lunch Day, a special meal that students prepare in the library to appreciate school staff. - Also organized volunteering events for club members such as helping to make craft kits at RAFT, a local teacher resource center.
Multiple Roles @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2022 - Present) President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2026 - Present) Executive Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2025 - Mar. 2026) - Coordinating the organization's various teams to begin working on new events for this coming term such as External Operations Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2024 - Mar. 2025) - Grew the organization's outreach in teaching mental math and abacus skills to students at local community centers. - Ran interest meetings to recruit more volunteers for the teaching programs. Internal Operations Vice President @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2023 - Mar. 2024) - Presented organization growth to donors at the annual meeting. - Supported events such as the annual mental math test, seminars with international students, and the annual training for teachers’ assistants. Coordinator of Development @ Orion Abacus Association (Mar. 2022 - Mar. 2023) - Developed a curriculum to teach a cohort of students leadership and organizational skills like event planning, Excel spreadsheets, and public speaking. - Ran monthly meetings to teach the skills and run practice activities.
Ethan Effendi
In one paragraph, please explain your community interests.
One of the community interests that I am most passionate about is our city’s use of public transit. When I arrive at Piedmont Hills High School every morning, I still see so many cars lined up around the drop-off zone. Each vehicle uses up energy and releases pollutants, environmental detriments that can be mitigated if local youth opt to walk or use public transit. Additionally, morning traffic causes jams that burden neighborhood residents and local parents who need clear roads for efficient commutes. To use public transportation options more often, our local community’s confidence in local buses and trains must increase. As a city, we must work to improve safety and cleanliness by organizing bus-riding groups at schools and car-free days that encourage ways of being good environmental stewards in the way we move around. When residents feel that our buses and trains are part of their daily lives, they will grow more passionate about the cleanliness and health of these public spaces. In addition, increased use of public transportation services helps make onboard crimes less undetected.
Question applies to Youth Commission
What do you feel are some of the problems facing the youth of San Jose? In the Bay Area’s fast-paced landscape, community organizations already focus so much on providing students with resources to succeed in their career aspirations. For example, when I served as a team lead on D4YAC, we organized AIM, a conference at the King library for local teenagers to browse opportunity booths and connect with career panelists. These kinds of events are inspiring, but what we often forget as a driven youth community is that life is not just about achieving—it’s about truly thriving. To truly thrive does not just mean getting admitted to university and seeking a rewarding job. Both are great, but focusing on just those two securities leaves so much out of the picture. As a Youth Commission, we should focus on walking alongside local students as they seek ways to add their value—unique gifts, ideas, enthusiasm—to the San Jose community we share. If our local leaders of tomorrow have a spirit of contributing instead of a mentality of taking, we will be one step closer to a city full of empathy and fulfillment. For me to present local issues without solutions would be unfair. One way I believe we can foster a culture of using one’s gifts to serve others is mentorship. As a student, I would feel more confidence and inspiration if I knew people with passions similar to mine who could provide guidance based on their years of experience.
Thus, as a Youth Commission, we can pilot a program that matches City of San Jose employees who sign up as mentors with students who apply for mentorship. Activities can include shadowing and a weekly check-in. Through such a program, students can learn how real adults are using their skills to make a difference in the city government’s many departments: education, legal, accounting, IT, and others. In addition to guiding students as they find ways to be community-centered contributors, the Youth Commission should focus on helping local teenagers emphasize wellness and rest. Currently, our ratio of career- focused events to wellness-focused events does not make self-care a priority. Before we have the capacity to pour ourselves into helping others, we must ensure that our own buckets—physical and mental health—are full.
Ethan Effendi
Please describe your experience in serving on a Commission or Board.
Considering your experience and activities in business, labor, School, professional, social, Commissions, Boards, or other organizations, indicate the experience, training, knowledge and/or skills which qualify you for appointment.
What is your understanding of the purpose of the Commission? Please list three issues facing the City that you feel the Council should address.
Describe recent San José arts activities you have participated in during the last twelve months (up to five activities) and what drew you to attend? N/A
Describe the ways in which you believe the arts bring value to the general community, and what role should the City of an Jose have in arts and cultural development.
Should the City of San José have an active role in arts and cultural development? If so, in what ways and why?
How can you contribute to advising City Council on policy and programs related to cultural development in San José?
What is the purpose of historic preservation in San José and what is the role of the Historic Landmarks Commission in achieving that purpose? Please explain your prior experience with historic preservation, with San José’s public planning processes, and in working with City or other public agency staff.
Veronica Do
Educational Background: Describe how your education will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
My education has equipped me with the analytical and communication skills necessary to succeed and make meaningful contributions to the Youth Commission. As a current high school student engaged in a rigorous course load, including AP-level classes, I've learnt how to manage my time effectively to have the greatest output possible. Through engaging with subjects like English and History at a high level, I've learnt how to communicate my ideas in a clear, concise manner while having persuasive, evidence-backed arguments. These skills are imperative when reviewing policies that are to be approved by the Commission, representing youth voices in our community, and engaging with city officials. Additionally, my involvement with student journalism on campus has provided me with a diverse perspective, the ability to ask meaningful questions, and the opportunity to present issues that affect my community in a compelling manner.
Professional Experience: (employer, position) Describe how your employment history will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
While I do not have formal employment experience, I have developed relevant and professional skills through leadership roles in other organizations. (GENup, Director of Technology): Most notably, I serve as the Director of Technology, which is a stipend-avaliable position, at GENup, a 501-3(c) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying youth voices in education policy across the state of California. Through this position, I have learnt the importance of being dependable, communicative, and a leader in a professional environment. I hope to use these skills as a Youth Commissioner, communicate effectively to youth councils and city officials, work consistently, showcasing my reliability through results, and lead new ideas and initiatives to the Commission.
Languages Spoken
English, Kannada, Spanish (intermediate profiency)
Relevant Skills or Expertise: (e.g. budgeting, community outreach, legal knowledge). If applying to more than one commission, include information for all selected.
City Budget - Working with District 8 YCC to produce a budget document and, in that process, learning as much as I can about the budget. Have attended events like District 8's Budget Breakfast, learning how the budget process works from city officials. Through events like the Youth Commission's Budget Summit, I have also learnt from Councilmembers the harsh reality about how the budget process works behind the scenes. Community Outreach - Through planning numerous events with the YACs and YCC, I have learnt the importance of community outreach. I have reached out to many young professionals and creatives for District 7's Creative Futures Fair, and personally got over 40 musicians and 20 vendors to come to the event. I have also facilitated collaborations with professional organizations in the area. For example, on behalf of the Newspaper Club at Evergreen Valley High School, I reached out to the editor of San José Spotlight to write an article with us regarding the firing of librarians in our school district. Community outreach is one of the best ways to gather attention for an issue you care about or to come together as a community to support a common goal. I believe through these experiences, and many more, I have learnt how to outreach effectively and efficiently. Legal Knowledge - From reviewing over 15+ policy memorandums/resolutions from YCC and D7 YAC, I have learnt how to not only write, but teach how to write such documents. I believe this knowledge will help me greatly on the Commission and serve as a venue for me to help support others and myself to enact real and tangible change in our communities.
Yashas Omprakash
Reference 1 Phone
Reference 2 Name
Megan Luong
Reference 2 Address
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Please list your community involvement, including jobs and volunteer work.
I currently volunteer with Second Harvest in the food drives they host in District 8! I also love to volunteer in my community to help as much as I can, connect with other citizens of San José, and learn more about what issues/problems I can fix through the YCC. I have accumulated over 100+ hours each year volunteering with the YCC, and hope to volunteer even more in the coming years.
In one paragraph, please explain your community interests.
My community interests lie in bringing together the people of District 8 and San José to support youth and create a sense of support and belonging within one another. To build such connections, we need to bring together diverse groups, with students, families, and local leaders, where each party feels heard and connected to one another. I hope to engage and encourage more youth in our community to be more civically engaged by encouraging teens to participate and vote in forms that the Youth Commission puts out, joining your local youth council(s), and making student voices heard in city decisions. I want to make sure these events and programs reach the youth, seniors, and underrepresented communities and neighborhoods in District 8. I also want to turn community concerns into actionable policy ideas, while highlighting the importance of our culture, diversity, and shared experiences.
Yashas Omprakash
Reference 2 Address
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Please list your community involvement, including jobs and volunteer work.
As a mentor officer for my school’s math team, I lead 10+ mentors to provide weekly lessons for 100+ Junior Highers interested in competition math. Outside of school, I served as the finance director for Envehope, raising and managing $2k+ for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting children with chronic illnesses. These experiences have further solidified my passion for supporting and working with youth. Furthermore, I’m an active member of the D9 YAC, where I help plan community events like tree planting and work on providing immigrants with the resources they need to thrive in their new community.
In one paragraph, please explain your community interests.
I believe that safety is the most important aspect of our community, and nothing matters without it. Youth and their families cannot thrive if they are scared just to walk around and be in public spaces. I was deeply affected by the Valley Fair shooting, as it caused my family and I, just like many other residents of San Jose, to be paranoid about doing something as simple as shopping. For me, this event just further amplified the voices of those I interviewed in our community for SafeLock. Conversation after conversation, I heard hundreds of students, parents, and community members express how they felt unsafe in public. Safety is the cornerstone upon which education and opportunity are built, and that is why I profoundly feel a sense of urgency to make our city safer.
Question applies to Youth Commission
What do you feel are some of the problems facing the youth of San Jose? Due to San Jose being located in the heart of Silicon Valley, youth face extremely high expectations. Students are burdened with the constant pressure of succeeding in school while balancing extracurriculars and relationships with family and friends. However, many youth are not being adequately equipped to handle these challenges. San Jose students face mental health crises or homelessness, with some even taking on both problems at the same time. How can students excel in their education while they face depression or do not even have a safe place to sleep at night? I believe that youth are being tangibly harmed by these issues, and they must receive the assistance that they need. Youth are the future of San Jose. They are the next generation of leaders and innovators who will define the city.
Education is the foundation for this future, which is why students must receive the stability and support that they need to thrive.
Question applies to Youth Commission
What do you feel the priorities of the Youth Commission should be? The Youth Commission should be focused on providing every San Jose student an equal chance of success. Educational equity solutions would provide homeless and low-income youth a chance to succeed in the midst of the pressures of the Bay Area. Research shows that youth who are disconnected from education are significantly more likely to experience violence and incarceration, highlighting the importance of educational equity and showing how it prevents violence while providing youth the opportunity to build a future for themselves. For instance, the Youth Commission could work with SJPL to revive programs like Tutoring Matters or create similar free and accessible initiatives that provide at-risk youth with the educational and workforce-related skills they need to succeed.
Yichi (joshua) Zhang
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Please list your community involvement, including jobs and volunteer work.
I currently serve as the San Jose District 10 Youth Commissioner. I often work with the District 10 office and Councilmember Casey in community meetings. We hosted the first Youth Connect event addressing the lack of civic engagement among youth. I am currently the Junior Class President of Pioneer High School. I help to organize spirit events all year and school activities. I also manage our class funds I served as the Vice President for the District 10 Youth Leadership Coalition where I led initiatives through book drives, career workshops, and park cleanups I served as the Vice President of Citywide Youth Advisory Council where I led meetings and communicated with other YACs to get events rolling. I am the co-founder and President of Equity Club which is a club in my high school. We go out to volunteer at food banks, homeless shelters and encampments (2 hours). I am a math tutor for a fourth grader at a local elementary school (1 hour). Although it is a humble audience, I do my best to teach the young student not just about math but about my experiences, tips and tricks on what to do in middle and high school. Eventually, I hope to expand my business to help other kids as well. I am a photographer who takes pictures of friends playing sports (4 hours). I run an Instagram account that exhibits all of my works. Friends and classmates often ask me to take pictures of them, but I don't want to stop there. Eventually, I hope to create a documentary on a topic that I like to research which is homelessness. As a club project, I also hosted a pillow drive where it raised 40 pillows.
In one paragraph, please explain your community interests.
A goal that I strive to achieve is to end homelessness or at least reduce it. Since my immigration here to the United States in 2016, the homeless population has been on the rise.
Even outside the numbers, I can experience the increase in population when I go to my local Safeway. Through my school project, I was able to go more in depth into the topic and see through the surface level problems. The underlying reasons of poverty, drug addiction, and rising costs of housing startled my previously naive self. Soon, I realized that volunteer work and advocation of homelessness, although impactful, could only go so far. My ultimate tool is political change, and I believe that it starts here with the Youth Commission.
Question applies to Youth Commission
What do you feel are some of the problems facing the youth of San Jose? Although it is hard to admit, and I have been found guilty on multiple occasions, the biggest problem facing the youth of San Jose is phones. I believe that the phones itself aren't the problem, but the effects that come with it. I have noticed a huge loss of attention span in my age group as well as the younger generation. This loss of attention span is a huge problem considering that the youth won't be able to solve problems on their own. Another side effect is the lack of critical thinking. Students are less prone to think for themselves and more likely to subscribe to ideas without their own input. This makes the perfect victim for corrupt politicians as well as business owners.
Jinyoung Park
Educational Background: Describe how your education will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
Ruskin Elementary School: 1st - 4th Grade Basis Independent Silicon Valley: 5th - present My educational journey spans both public and private schooling within San Jose, giving me a well-rounded perspective on the diverse experiences of young people across the city. I attended Ruskin Elementary School, a public school in District 4, from 1st through 4th grade.
This experience grounded me in the realities of public education and the needs of families in our district. My connection to Ruskin remains personal: my younger brother currently attends as a 3rd grader, so I stay closely connected to what students and families in District 4 are experiencing today. Since 5th grade, I have attended Basis Independent Silicon Valley, a rigorous private school. This environment has strengthened my critical thinking and communication skills, all of which will help me analyze policy issues, engage in productive discussions, and advocate effectively on the Youth Commission. Having experienced both public and private education in San Jose gives me insight into two very different educational environments. For the District 4 commission, this background helps me understand and represent the students and families in my own neighborhood. For the citywide commissioner role, my broader perspective across different school settings prepares me to think about the varied needs of youth across all of San Jose, not just those who share my current school experience.
Professional Experience: (employer, position) Describe how your employment history will assist you on this commission. If applying for more than one commission, include the information for all selected.
Teens Reach, Member: Winter 2022 - Present D4YAC, Secretary: Fall 2023 - Summer 2024 D4YAC, Environmental Committee Co-Lead: Fall 2024 - Summer 2025 D4YAC, Outreach Lead: Fall 2025 - Present
Languages Spoken
English, Mandarin
Relevant Skills or Expertise: (e.g. budgeting, community outreach, legal knowledge). If applying to more than one commission, include information for all selected.
I have hands-on budgeting experience across multiple contexts. As co-director of activities for my school's ASB, I build the shopping list for every school event, balancing needs against available funds. I also run a K-pop dance club at my school, where I manage purchases like custom hoodies and food under a limited budget. At D4YAC, I have participated in event budgeting, and for our large-scale annual event AIM, I am specifically responsible for sourcing and securing catering, which requires price comparison, vendor outreach, and staying within set limits. Outreach is also one of my strongest skills. As D4YAC's current Outreach Lead, I create and distribute promotional content including reels to engage District 4 youth. Through ASB, I regularly reach out to my school's student body to advertise events and drive participation, so I understand how to tailor messaging to a youth audience and how to actually get people to show up. Over the past three years at D4YAC, I have helped author three policies, giving me direct experience with the research, drafting, and revision process involved in youth-led policy work. While none have passed, the experience taught me how to build an argument, navigate feedback, and persist through the legislative process. This background is directly applicable to the policy-facing responsibilities of both the District 4 and citywide commissioner roles.
Evelyn Wang
If yes, please explain. Please identify any organizations, associations, corporations, or entities by which you are employed or associated that might be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission, and the positions you hold in these entities. If applying for multiple commissions, please include information for all selected.
Question applies to Youth Commission
• Please state your current responsibilities in other organizations and groups, as well as the time commitment associated with those responsibilities (including family responsibilities).
Kpop Dance Club: 1 hr/week ASB: 1hr/week Science Olympiad: 2hrs/week D4YAC: 1hr/week Reference 1 Name
Akshadha Meenakshi
Reference 1 Address
Reference 1 Email address
Reference 1 Phone
Reference 2 Name
Reference 2 Address
Reference 2 Email address
Reference 2 Phone
Supplemental Questions
Please list your community involvement, including jobs and volunteer work.
Jobs: none Volunteer Work: - TeensReach - D4YAC
Evelyn Wang
Considering your experience and activities in business, labor, School, professional, social, Commissions, Boards, or other organizations, indicate the experience, training, knowledge and/or skills which qualify you for appointment.
I've also founded a Kpop Dance Club with two of my friends at school, where we teach and prepare 30 club members (a pretty difficult task, considering many are middle schoolers) for performances at school pep rallies and external performances. This activity has truly taught me how to manage large groups of people, which I feel is essential in leading a YAC, as proper management is crucial for an efficient YAC. In general, these leadership positions have also given me indirect training, such as refining my sense of responsibility as a leader and allowing me to interact with and understand all sorts of people. Additionally, these experiences have given me the confidence that I'm responsible enough to handle large groups, which I believe is necessary if I want to perform well as a Youth Commissioner.
What is your understanding of the purpose of the Commission? In my opinion, the purpose of Youth Commission is to represent, support, and advocate for youth activism. As a member of the Commission, the Commissioner would be representative of all the youth in San Jose, which is the first purpose, "to represent". As a leader of their district's YAC, they would also be responsible for advertising for and recruiting new youth leaders, which is the purpose of "advocating" for youth activism. They would also be responsible for their YAC's works, helping them write up and pass proposals, which is the "support" function.
Please list three issues facing the City that you feel the Council should address.
1. Transportation: Currently, the transportation in San Jose is often unreliable. Especially recently, VTA workers have been going on strike, which halted bus services throughout San Jose. My little brother, who goes to Ruskin Elementary School, had his field trip canceled because the buses were unavailable on the day they were supposed to go, which was definitely disappointing to a lot of his classmates. Additionally, the city could consider giving discounted bus rates to students to promote the city's transportation, as many students use public transit to get around. 2. Safety: I think this is a huge issue that's been going on, and it's spreading. There's this trailer around my neighborhood, inhabited by a homeless man who smokes strong drugs overnight, and many of my neighbors have complained multiple times about his trailer being parked outside their house, as they can smell marijuana in the middle of the night. After reporting it to local police, the trailer moves to a different road, but essentially keeps cycling across the roads every time he is evicted. Additionally, this past year, I've personally heard of so many stories of people's houses or cars being broken into:
one of my friends' house, one of another friends' neighbors' house, my own neighbor's car, and the car of a family friend when they came to visit my family. These cases all occurred this past year in District 4, which is hard to grasp. I personally don't know how this issue can be fixed, but I definitely feel like the Council should address it. 3. Affordable Housing: When I was a student at Ruskin Elementary, there were 4 classes in each grade, each with around 25 children. Now, there are around 2 classes in each grade, each with around 25 children.
Recently, multiple public schools have been closing, which is a reflection of how the population in San Jose is decreasing. A major cause of this is because of how expensive it is to live in San Jose. Houses nowadays are easily over a million dollars, an amount of money that someone might not even earn in a lifetime. None of the young adults in their 20s or 30s are buying houses in San Jose, the vast majority of houses are owned by old people who are about to retire. My cousins, both in their twenties, are earning a very generous income, but are still extremely hesitant and fearful of investing in a house, as the price is beyond safe.
High house prices are a major push factor, especially among young adults, who represent the city's future. Thus, I think this problem should be investigated thoroughly to sustain the prosperity of San Jose.
Evelyn Wang
Describe recent San José arts activities you have participated in during the last twelve months (up to five activities) and what drew you to attend? Over the past year, two activities stand out. The first was Christmas in the Park, where I both performed with my K-pop dance club and spent time exploring the event itself. It was meaningful to experience it from both sides: as a performer putting something out for the community, and as an attendee taking in everything else the event had to offer. The second was attending library events, including book sales, at my local San Jose library. These smaller, quieter events have their own kind of energy; they draw people who genuinely love learning and culture, and I appreciate that the library creates that space for free.
Describe the ways in which you believe the arts bring value to the general community, and what role should the City of an Jose have in arts and cultural development.
Arts create spaces where people feel comfortable expressing themselves and connecting with others, something that became especially clear after the pandemic left so many communities feeling disconnected. Whether it's a big public event like Christmas in the Park or a small library book sale, arts give people a reason to show up and be around each other.
I believe the City of San José's role should be to support and amplify community-led arts rather than dictate or over-organize them. The best arts experiences come from communities expressing themselves authentically, and the city can best serve that by providing funding, space, and visibility.
Should the City of San José have an active role in arts and cultural development? If so, in what ways and why?
Yes, but in a supporting role rather than a leading one. San José is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, and that diversity is best reflected through community-driven arts, not top-down programming. The city should invest in preserving and elevating the cultural traditions of San José's many communities, ensuring that different groups have the resources and platforms to share their heritage publicly. When communities lead and the city supports, the result feels genuine rather than performative.
How can you contribute to advising City Council on policy and programs related to cultural development in San José?
My background gives me a grounded, youth perspective on what arts engagement actually looks like. I have participated in community events both as an organizer and as an attendee, and through D4YAC I have experience researching and drafting policy proposals. I would bring that same approach here: listening to what different communities in San José value, identifying gaps in how the city currently supports cultural traditions, and translating that into concrete, actionable recommendations for City Council. I also think youth voices are underrepresented in arts policy conversations, and I would make it a priority to bring those perspectives to the table.
What is the purpose of historic preservation in San José and what is the role of the Historic Landmarks Commission in achieving that purpose? The purpose of historic preservation in San Jose is to maintain the culture and character of San Jose while ensuring the history isn't lost or forgotten. The San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission is completely in charge of storing, protecting, and promoting San Jose's history.
The Historic Landmarks Commission stores San Jose's history through creating sites of historic preservation and determining what in the city counts as historical. They protect San Jose's history by making sure their preservations are considered in the face of new policies (e.g. when landscape is being reformed). Finally, they promote San Jose's history by educating San Jose residents on history and decorating San Jose in a way that reflects our historical culture.
Evelyn Wang
Can you provide examples of major public policy issues that you have been involved in and what your role was in the issue?
Over the past three years at D4YAC, I have written three policy proposals focused on environmental issues relevant to District 4 youth. These included adding e-waste collection bins to San José libraries, expanding tree planting in the district, and creating student discounts for green transportation options. While none have passed, each experience deepened my understanding of how to research an issue, build a case, and navigate feedback from peers and city advisors. These proposals also reflect issues I genuinely care about: making sustainability more accessible and practical for everyday residents, not just something aspirational. Combined with my hands-on event work through AIM and D4YAC, these experiences have shown me what it takes to move an idea from concept to a real policy proposal within a governmental framework.
What is a major issue facing San José’s older adults and what do you see as the Commission’s role in this issue?
Social isolation is one of the most significant issues facing older adults in San José, and it is something I have observed through my own grandparents and older relatives. As people age, their social circles often shrink, and without accessible community programming, that isolation can deepen quickly. This is also connected to the physical environment: older adults are more likely to spend time in parks, walking paths, and outdoor community spaces, making the quality of those spaces directly relevant to their wellbeing. Through my policy work at D4YAC, I proposed expanding tree planting in District 4 partly because greener, more inviting outdoor spaces give people, including seniors, more reason and opportunity to get outside and connect with their neighbors. I see the Commission's role as pushing for both the programming and the physical infrastructure that make it easier for older adults to stay active and engaged in their community, rather than treating isolation as inevitable.
Please describe a leadership role you have assumed within the last five years.
As Outreach Lead for D4YAC, I am responsible for the commission's external communications: creating content, running social media, and making sure District 4 youth actually know about and engage with our work. Before that, as Environmental Committee Co-Lead, I helped direct a team of peers toward shared goals on environmental policy and events. Both roles required me to take initiative, coordinate with others, and be accountable for outcomes, not just participation.
How would you handle differences in opinions or positions on issues being heard at a Senior Commission meeting?
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What makes you knowledgeable about senior issues in the community? My awareness of senior issues is rooted first in my personal relationships; I am close with my grandparents and older relatives, and those relationships have given me a genuine, human understanding of the challenges that come with aging, including isolation, access to services, and feeling overlooked by systems that were not designed with them in mind.
Beyond that, my community work through D4YAC and Teens Reach has exposed me to how different age groups experience San José's resources very differently. I do not claim to be an expert, but I bring empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to listen, which I think are the foundations of actually serving this community well.
Evelyn Wang