Who We Are

Hi, I’m Max Cochrane-Tagsip. I attend Eastside Preparatory School, class of 2029. I’ve been a resident of District 1 in Seattle since 2015, in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. As a Youth Commissioner for the City of Seattle my goals are to learn  to collaborate and contribute to positive impact and change for the youth of our community. I use he/him pronouns and identify as Native Alaskan and Filipino. In my free time you can find me playing basketball and hanging out with my friends.

Harry Sumner is a resident of Capitol Hill, District 3. He is currently a Junior at Eastside Preparatory School. For over a decade, Harry has volunteered at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) alongside his mother. His passion for community service and engagement continued through organizing and volunteering at multiple food drives, fundraisers, and awareness-spreading campaigns for organizations including YouthCare, Wing Luke, Ballard Food Bank, and Food Lifeline. He has organized and led school efforts such as trips to food banks, fundraisers, and food drives. He has also served on the Youth Advisory Board at Coyote Central. Harry’s strong sense of responsibility and reverence for his grandparents’ immigration story from Korea fostered his interest in Asian studies. He has taken a deep interest in international relations, public policy, and politics and is enthusiastic about joining the Seattle Youth Commission. Now he hopes to advocate for and facilitate more involvement with and for the emerging generation. Harry is active in his school’s newspaper, Asian club, and debate team. In his free time, Harry enjoys acting as coxswain for his rowing team, running, photography, playing piano, baking, and anything related to aviation. Harry Sumner is a resident of Capitol Hill, District 3. He is currently a Junior at Eastside Preparatory School. For over a decade, Harry has volunteered at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) alongside his mother. His passion for community service and engagement continued through organizing and volunteering at multiple food drives, fundraisers, and awareness-spreading campaigns for organizations including YouthCare, Wing Luke, Ballard Food Bank, and Food Lifeline. He has organized and led school efforts such as trips to food banks, fundraisers, and food drives. He has also served on the Youth Advisory Board at Coyote Central. Harry’s strong sense of responsibility and reverence for his grandparents’ immigration story from Korea fostered his interest in Asian studies. He has taken a deep interest in international relations, public policy, and politics and is enthusiastic about joining the Seattle Youth Commission. Now he hopes to advocate for and facilitate more involvement with and for the emerging generation. Harry is active in his school’s newspaper, Asian club, and debate team. In his free time, Harry enjoys acting as coxswain for his rowing team, running, photography, playing piano, baking, and anything related to aviation. 

Nellie Harrington is a senior at Holy Names Academy where she swims and is in ASB. Outside of school, she dances at All That Dance Seattle and assistant teaches dance to younger students at her studio. She is also a part of the All That Dance chapter of the National Honors Society for Dance. She is passionate about equitable arts access and education. She has lived in Seattle her whole life and is very focused on the Seattle community and getting involved. Nellie lives in Northeast Seattle with her family and two pets and enjoys giving back to the community in any way she can.

Aicha is a junior at Lakeside High School and is honored to serve as the commissioner for District 5. As a young person in Seattle, she has directly observed the various challenges plaguing City teens and is focused on collaborating with the government and community partners to promote equity and belonging among her peers. Aicha is active in the Seattle arts community, participating in productions across various theatres as well as writing for TeenTix’s arts journalism program. At school, she leads Lakeside’s Model UN club and edits the OpEd section of the newspaper. In her free time, she enjoys rowing, reading, and baking. Aicha looks forward to continuing her work in both the arts and politics, striving to make a lasting impact on her community. 

I am currently a senior at Ballard High School and am honored to serve as a member of the Seattle Youth Commission. I am deeply passionate about public policy, community service, and making a meaningful impact in people’s lives.  

Our community faces significant youth-related challenges, including crime and safety concerns, educational disparities, and mental health issues. As a student who witnesses these challenges firsthand within the Seattle Public School system, I am committed to representing the youth of my District and collaborating with local leaders to create effective policy solutions that improve our community. 

I have dedicated over 250 hours of volunteer service to the City of Seattle and continue to serve in various roles: as a Police Explorer with the Seattle Police Department, a Youth Court participant with Seattle Municipal Court, and formerly as both a youth programs instructor and a lifeguard at Ballard Pool with Seattle Parks and Recreation. 

I have also served as a Student Board Member on the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) School Board for a one-year term and was reappointed for the 2025–2026 school year. In this role, I helped review and revise educational policies, explored multiple approaches to amplify student voices, and collaborated with diverse student groups including the SPS Superintendent Advisory Board, NAACP Youth Council, Associated Student Bodies at local high schools, and student board members from other districts to ensure a wide range of perspectives were incorporated into decision-making and initiatives, and that all voices had the opportunity to be heard.

Through these experiences, I have developed valuable skills, insights, and connections that I hope to continue leveraging as a member of SYC. By working closely with City policymakers, I aim to amplify student voices and bring a fresh perspective to help shape policies that foster a safer, healthier, and a more equitable community for all. 

Bill Chen is committed to building a better Seattle for tomorrow. He believes in bringing people together to lift one another up and grow as a community. With a strong history of service and civic engagement, Bill has dedicated himself to improving the lives of those around him.

As a first-generation American, Bill grew up navigating challenges such as racism, discrimination, and balancing family responsibilities with education. Learning English alongside his family, he quickly became a mentor to younger community members, fostering connections with others who shared similar experiences. These early challenges helped him develop both resilience and a deep understanding of the issues his fellow Seattleites face today and will continue to face in the future.

A cornerstone of Bill’s community involvement is his work with the UpSTREAM Program, which provides free STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education to hundreds of underserved students, particularly those from marginalized communities. As one of the program’s founders, Bill has helped expand access to valuable learning opportunities and continues to advocate for equitable educational resources. It is this responsibility that provides him with the experience and perspective to lead.

Bill is determined to ensure that all voices in Seattle are heard. He believes in open dialogue, collaboration, and working directly with community members to find solutions. Driven and dedicated, he brings both vision and determination to the Seattle Youth Commission, striving every day for a more inclusive, supportive, and connected city.

Caleb Goldberg lives in View Ridge and is a junior at University Prep. He plays ultimate frisbee and baseball while also competing with his school’s Debate, Model UN, and Mock Trial teams. In addition, he participates in and leads several student clubs. As a Commissioner and member of the Civic Involvement Committee, Caleb has worked to bring youth perspectives from across the city into commission meetings. He is currently planning a youth summit to engage young people in addressing the issues facing Seattle. 

Mohini lives in North Seattle and is a junior at Holy Names Academy. At her high school, Mohini is involved in robotics, student government, and Future Business Leaders of America. Mohini loves volunteering and is a Co-Lead for Women Advancing Tomorrow’s Technologists where she helps teach and organize free computer science classes for girls in schools across Seattle. She also loves to dance and has been part of a Mexican folkloric dance company for the last 9 years and enjoys performing throughout the Pacific Northwest. Mohini is passionate about serving her community and working toward creating change for youth around the city. She is excited to continue serving as a Seattle Youth Commissioner to amplify youth voices and address issues that matter most in Seattle.

Anya Peterson is an 11th grade student currently attending Nathan Hale High School. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, playing sports, and volunteering at organizations such as Teen Feed and MWANZO. Anya enjoys traveling and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. She has had the fortunate opportunity to travel and study for a month in Vietnam as part of a service learning trip and is looking forward to traveling to Kenya as a youth representative in the coming months. She is excited to learn more about the global connections of Seattle’s people and businesses. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she has worked to build a strong community and understand different perspectives by representing her peers in student government, at her church, and through public speaking and debate. She is very excited to have been selected as a Seattle Youth Commissioner and is looking forward to providing a voice and addressing issues that impact the youth of Seattle as we build a bigger and brighter future for our city.

Lila Fu is a dedicated junior at Lincoln High School with a passion for both academics and creative pursuits. Her favorite subject is math, where she excels, and she channels her creativity through art, baking delicious allergen-friendly desserts, sewing costumes, and crocheting. Lila’s love for reading keeps her constantly exploring new worlds through books. An active animal lover, she enjoys spending time with her Australian shepherd. In 2024, Lila served as a Senate Page in Washington State, where she gained valuable experience in government and civic engagement. She is also a proud member of Lincoln’s Asian Student Union, contributing to her school’s diverse community. Lila’s father is a retired U.S. Coast Guard member, inspiring her commitment to service. Lila is excited to bring her unique perspectives and enthusiasm to the Seattle Youth Commission.

Saniata is a senior at Middle College High School and a full-time Running Start student at Seattle Central College. As a third generation Seattle native, Saniata hopes to uplift the voices of youth of color and underrepresented communities across Seattle! Passionate about the environment and wildlife conservation, Saniata has been a Teen Ambassador at the Woodland Park Zoo for two years and runs @eipt.official on Instagram, educating the public on primates and the illegal pet trade. In their first year as a Seattle Youth Commissioner, Saniata has tabled at events such as the Teen Action Fair and the International Children’s Friendship Festival. As part of the Safety and Gun Violence Prevention Subcommittee, Saniata has connected with students at Garfield High School to better understand the impacts of gun violence in schools. They hope to continue to connect with local organizations working to prevent gun violence and share resources and support for youth affected by gun violence. Saniata plans to study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science at university. They hope to work with local and Indigenous communities in Central America and Southeast Asia to research wildlife and educate others on the importance of conservation. In their free time, Saniata loves reading, writing songs, and taking the bus to parks across Seattle.