A youth-led body that advises D7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and the D7 Youth Commissioner on youth-related policies and civic engagement
District 7 Youth Council — San Francisco City Hall
The District 7 Youth Council works to increase the visibility of youth voices and perspectives, share them with the D7 Office, and provide policy recommendations that create meaningful change for young people in District 7.
The District 7 Youth Council (D7YC) was founded in 2017 under former Board of Supervisors President and D7 Supervisor Norman Yee. The program was later run under CYC until 2024, when it transitioned to D7 Supervisor Melgar's office. Today, the council operates under the guidance of Jennifer Low in the D7 Office, with bi-weekly meetings that are student-led.
Draft resolutions to show support or disagreement about certain policies.
Present policy recommendations directly to Supervisor Melgar.
Engage in community events throughout District 7.
Organize projects across our three committees: Transportation & Housing, Education, and Civic Engagement.
Join us for our first council meeting of the year!
Organized a District 7 Youth Townhall with Supervisor Melgar, Director Kirshbaum, and Youth Commissioners.
Hosted media literacy workshops for local public middle schools.
Organized a roundtable with SFMTA leaders and other youth groups to discuss public transit issues that impact youth.
Hosted college counseling workshops for public schools who didn't have a college counselor.
Elyse Squires is a member of the District 7 Youth Council, dedicated to addressing key issues impacting youth in San Francisco. A junior at Lick-Wilmerding High School, she balances academics with her passions for ballet and contemporary dance, competitive skiing, and community service. She recently interned for the San Francisco mayoral campaign, served as a registered poll worker for the 2024 elections, and advocated for voter registration through the Girl Up organization. Elyse is committed to making a positive impact on her community.
Sophia Shen is a Junior at San Francisco University High School and is currently a member of the District 7 Youth Council. She is passionate about economics, civic engagement, and making a tangible difference in the community. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys being a part of her school's student government as a class representative.
Konrad Kruszka is a lifelong West Portal resident and a current junior at The International School of San Francisco. A longtime political advocate, Konrad first started his advocacy in 2015 by writing a letter about gun control to then-President Obama. Nowadays, Konrad is passionate about building people-friendly urbanism and expanding public transportation. Outside of school and politics, Konrad enjoys rock climbing and Model UN.
Andrew Martinovsky is a junior at College Prep. He works on the transportation and housing committee and is passionate about ensuring youth have access to safe and efficient transit. Outside of school, he likes to run, hangout with friends, or watch a show.
My name is Viena Makkonen. I am a freshman at George Washington High school. This will be my first year in District 7 Youth council. I have lived in San Francisco my whole life. A fun fact about me is that I live above a boba place. My favorite spot in D7 is stonestown.
A Junior at San Francisco University High School, Calder has a strong passion for Politics and Economics. He is the Co-Chair of District 7 Youth Council and is the Co-Executive Director of Youth for Common Sense. In the past, he has interned at Porterfield, Fettig, and Sears, a Financial Services lobbying firm, and the National League of Cities in DC. He has also served on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) Youth Transportation Advisory Board.
Hi!! I'm Sally, and I joined the district 7 youth council this year. I'm a junior at Lowell High School, and I do theater and play flag football at school. I'm also interested in filmmaking, dance and basically anything arts related. I'm really excited to be working with the council this year and I hope that I can bring valuable perspectives and experiences to help make district 7 even better. My favorite spot in District 7 is Mount Davidson!
Eddie is a member of the District 7 Youth Council and is a sophomore at Lick-Wilmerding High School. He is passionate about transportation and housing policy, and represents youth on the SFMTA Youth Transportation Advisory Board (YTAB).
My name is Nicole or 'Nikki' Lee. I'm a proud fifth-generation San Franciscan who has grown up in the heart of District 7 my entire life. I'm passionate about improving accessibility, sustainability, and community development throughout the beautiful city of San Francisco. I've always been deeply interested in the field of politics and civic engagement, having interned for the former President of the Board of Supervisors, Aaron Peskin— I hope to use my experience within policy to help create a more equitable and united San Francisco. In my free time, I enjoy being involved in the video-production, learning about U.S. history, volunteering at my local parish, and finding ways to give back to my community through service.
Hi, my name is Spencer, I'm 16 years old, and I go to Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. I love to learn about politics in the country and the city, I like baking, and I like my dog Buddy even more.
Have questions, ideas, or want to connect with the council? We'd love to hear from you.
d7youthcouncil@gmail.com