We’d like to introduce you to our team, John!

It takes a lot of work to make sure our ten chapters across the state are equipped with what they need to make change in their communities, so I wanted to introduce you to the people who make that happen.

Jess Warner is our Chief of Staff and an alum of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. She is a champion for gun violence prevention (GVP) and has even conducted research on the implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws. Her work and background has inspired her to become a community advocate, and we’re fortunate to have her expertise and passion as we work towards ending gun violence.

Kenia Hernandez is our Programs Director, overseeing our chapters to ensure they’re connected to the right resources, people, and support for their advocacy efforts. She started as a Programs Coordinator, but perhaps a more accurate term would be “architect,” because she built our chapters program from the ground up! With the infrastructure set, she’s working to reshape it to better align with other statewide advocacy efforts to maximize the impact of student participation.

Codi Gaston is our Organizing Coordinator, bringing over ten years of coordination experience and fifteen years of coalition‑building across youth, women, and immigrant communities. She has lived on both the western and eastern sides of Washington, and her work is critical to bridge gaps of access and solidarity across our rural, urban, and suburban communities.

It is a privilege and a joy to work with Jess, Kenia and Codi every day, and our mission would not be possible without people like them putting in tremendous effort.

Right now, we’re getting ready to kick off our next project for the 2026 legislative session, so I’m asking you, John: can you help us keep up the good work and fuel our fire with a donation today? A contribution of $20, $8, or even just $3 has a bigger impact than you’d think:

Thank you for being part of the team taking on issues from gun violence to mental healthcare, and for empowering youth to rise to the occasion.

Chetan Soni
Executive Director, Washington Youth Alliance