Youth Civic Leaders was founded by Sonith Kumbam and Rishi Kawediya in 2024 to increase engagement within city affairs for the next generation. Our mission is to increase civic engagement through education and coordinated programs.
Rishi Kawediya is a junior at Vista Del Lago High School who's passionate about political science and public policy. Outside of YCL, Rishi is heavily involved with organizations such as the Junior State of America, where he serves as the Speaker of Northern California, and Model United Nations, where he has served as a head chair for Vista Model United Nations for 2 years. Rishi's biggest goal for YCL is to increase youth participation in community service, and to increase Folsom's civic engagement.
Sonith Kumbam is a junior at Vista Del Lago high school passionate about economics and international relations. Sonith is heavily involved in community organizations such as the Sacramento Telangana Association and this year, led his team to the state championship of the National Economics Challenge. Sonith’s biggest goal for YCL is to give more elementary students all around the Sacramento area a voice in their community and to promote civic engagement early on.
Akshobh Jahagirdar is a junior at Vista Del Lago who wants to study political science and is interested in law. Apart from YCL, he participates in multiple clubs at school centered around politics and debate, such as Vista Mock Trial, which he is president of, and Model UN, where he is the Head of Training as well as a leader of the middle school division at Folsom Middle School. Akshobh’s biggest goal for YCL is to get more of the youth interested in local government and understand how their decisions can impact our community.
YK Chalamcherla has been a Folsom City Councilman since 2020, and has dedicated his time to helping and serving his constituents. Notably, YK has served on the city's Parks and Recreation Committee, helped with the Folsom Schools' PTA, and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2022 by the Folsom Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, he was selected by his fellow council-members to serve as Vice-Mayor of Folsom.
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