Tia Dafnos, Chairperson

Tia has been a volunteer with Youth Action Network since 1998. She is currently the chairperson of the board of directors. Through the years she’s worked on various projects including the YAN resource centre and Forum magazine. For the past few years she’s been working on a (not so) secret YAN project code-named “YAN Van.” In her life away from YAN, she received her BA in Criminology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her MA thesis in Sociology at York University. A glutton for punishment, Tia is starting her PhD in September. She wishes she had more time for creative outputs (because academic papers are definitely NOT creative outputs) and is therefore always excited at the chance to paint a YAN banner or a tribute to Eugene the goldfish. She is also one of a very small population who is not on Facebook and still uses ICQ (old school!)

Khushi Chachcha, Secretary

At 16, Khushi Chachcha is the youngest person in the YAN Board of Directors. She likes to read, eat, and watch movies. She is particularly sensitive to her hair and doesn’t let anyone touch it. She loves to work for a good cause and has a passion for social justice and environmental issues. At school, Khushi is an outgoing member of clubs such as AIDS, Students against Drunk Driving, and Victims of War. One day, she hopes to change the world for good!

Bayan Babi, Secretary

Prior to joining YAN, Bayan has been involved in activism throughout high school. As a part of the Empowered Student Partnerships (ESP), Bayan collaborated with the Toronto Police Service in order to provide better safety in Toronto’s schools and to raise awareness among students. From there, Bayan has expanded her horizons by working for YAN, combining her goal for having a career in the finance field with her interests with youth activism.

Bayan likes watching old and international films. She also likes learning about new things and listening to instrumental music. Bayan likes to argue which can be tiring sometimes.. but for her it’s fun. Overall, she’s very positive and enjoys being a part of YAN.

Michelle Tian, Finance Director

Michelle Tian is a Finance Director at YAN. She is currently working for Enbridge as a Finance Associate and previously worked for Evergreen, an environmental non-profit. Michelle has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s and is a Certified Management Accountant candidate. Michelle believes in using her business background for a good cause, which is the reason she has joined YAN. In her spare time, she enjoys a variety of sports and activities, such as yoga, golf, tennis, singing, and cooking among many others.

Alex Brown

Alex was born and raised in British Columbia, but made the move to Toronto in 2004. He works at the Community Worker officer at George Brown College. Currently, Alex is finishing his Bachelor of Social Work at York University. Alex discovered YAN through a friend and jumped at the chance to be part of such a progressive organization.

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler has been a community activist for more than 10 years. Beginning with a fight to save his elementary school, Adam has worked with people of all walks of life to preserve and enhance public and post-secondary education, build a city that ensures opportunity for all Torontonians and advocate peaceful solutions to global conflict.

Adam was first involved with YAN in 2002 as a co-founding member of the high school student activist network Stir It Up and returned in 2007 as a member of the Board of Directors. In addition to his work with YAN, Adam is also a member of the Toronto Public Library Board and the Board of Directors at Wychwood Open Door, a drop-in centre for homeless and socially isolated people in the St. Clair and Christie neighbourhood. In the past, Adam has served on the executive of the Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario, the Toronto Youth Cabinet and the Continuing Education Students’ Association of Ryerson, and as a member of the Mayor’s Roundtable on Children, Youth & Education, Ryerson University’s Academic Council and the Youth Advisory to the Police Chief.

By day, Adam works as a communications professional at a government agency. In his spare time he coaches baseball for a team of 12 and 13-year-olds and showers his kitten, Dora, with more attention than she probably wants. When asked for her opinion of Adam for this biography, Dora replied, "purrrrrrr."

Chris Sanchez

Chris Sanchez has been on the Board of Directors of the Youth Action Network for 4 years now. At YAN he cofounded YDOCS, a programme that gives youth the opportunity to make their own socially conscious documentaries. Chris has his BFA in Film Production from York University and is currently doing freelance work around the city.

Prubjoth (Sonu) Sidhu

Sonu, in her fourth year at York University, is studying Political Science and Communication Studies. She is part of several organizations such as the Coalition on Diversity Education. In 2004, she was awarded the Harmony Scholarship from the Harmony Movement. Recently, Sonu has been a Community Educator with the Centre for Social Justice, in which she presented workshops to high school students in the Toronto area. Currently, Sonu is on the Board of Directors for the Youth Action Network, and truly enjoys issues in social justice and looks forward to volunteering on the Harmony Youth Council.

Leonardo Zuniga

Leonardo Zuniga, better known as Leo, is a very extroverted guy who moved from Mexico to Canada in 2004. Since arriving, Leo has been active in the LGTBQ, immigrant and youth communities. He has drawn on his own experiences as a queer newcomer youth to support and empower those who find themselves in similar situations.

Leo is the recipient of the 2006 David Barker Maltby Award for his photography work and received the 2007 Youth Line Award for Outstanding Contribution to Queer Youth Activism. Leo’s passion is Equity for all citizens of this world.

Leo volunteers for several services providers and advocacy organizations from local to national level base in Toronto’s community, making the organizations comply with an Anti-Oppression framework. Leo’s philosophy is to empower young people to believe in their self to be the change is the world that we all want to see as Gandhi said.