Jonathan (he/him)

Jonathan (he/him) is a 16-year-old high school junior in Nevada who joined Plan USA’s Youth Advisory Board in March of 2022. He currently works on the public policy and grants committees, though he’s worked on a variety of other committees over the course of his tenure at Plan, including recruitment, the Youth Leadership Academy workshop and retreat-planning. Jonathan is a three-time National Speech & Debate Association national qualifier, and last year he became Nevada’s first-ever finalist in debate. Jonathan regularly utilizes those skills to speak on and moderate panels with the United Nations, Voters Tomorrow and Freedom March, along with some of the leading youth activists in the country, on topics ranging from sexist algorithms to young voter engagement.

Outside of Plan, most of his time is spent either on debate or working with the Nevada High School Democrats of America, where he serves on the executive board working toward strengthening teachers’ unions and making grassroots pushes to eliminate teen homelessness in his home district.

In his spare time, you’ll find him watching stand-up comedy and Miami Dolphins games.

Quote: “Plan works tirelessly to get us in the places where our voices are typically absent and gives us the microphone to ensure that when young people speak, they’re heard.”