Marlene Sanchez came to the Center for Young Women's Development at 15 looking for a job and a way out of the juvenile justice system. She was hired as a community health worker and provided HIV/STD education and health supplies to young women who lived and worked in the street economies of San Francisco. She is currently the Executive Director of the Center serving young women in San Francisco.

Shanell served on the Youth Commission for two years where she authored legislation and was a champion for the rights of low income, youth of color in the system. She received a Jefferson Award for her work as a youth advocate in 2005.

Formerly homeless, Venus Rodriguez has been working in the non-profit sector in Oakland and San Francisco for over eight years. In 2002 she worked with Youth of Oakland United at PUEBLO (People United for a Better Oakland) and most recently helped create "Silence the Violence," a peace movement dedicated toward young people in Oakland encouraging them to vocalize their desire for peace.