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La’Toya Cooper is a hardworking mother of two beautiful kings. She was born and raised in Los Angeles Ca where she became a victim and survivor of the child welfare system. She is a proud advocate to help change this system for our future and our children’s future. La’Toya is a part of a collaborative project developing THE LA EMISSARY She is also a part of The LA County Youth Commission where, along with other young leaders, she is a current voice for the young people in our county. La’Toya is passionate about fighting the injustice of probation, child welfare, and the homeless systems. Her passion is expressive writing and helping others. She strives to be the best authentic person she can be despite the odds against her. “I want to travel the world to meet every race and experience every culture. I’m done surviving, I want to live.”

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My name is Whimzi Ha, like Whimsical Whimzi! :) My pronouns are She/Her/Hers & They/Them/Theirs. I am a proud trans-woman living healthily while being diagnosed with HIV.

I was born & raised in Sacramento, California, lived 3 years in Jackson, Mississippi a part of my childhood then moved back to Sacramento and resided in Los Angeles County since 2016. I have completed 2 full (26.2 miles) marathons so far in my life. I love listening to music, attending live music concerts/festivals, hiking, yoga, skydiving & getting tattoos.

I am currently 1 of the 8 core members of the Los Angeles Emissary consists of like-minded individuals systematically impacted with lived expertise along with 8 Regional SPA Teams that comprise of youth & young adult advocates throughout Los Angeles County.

I got into this line of work because I experienced housing instability from the end of 2018 till early 2023. From sleeping in tents, metros, couch surfing, and various shelter programs. I want to make sure that no other young person goes through what I have gone through in my life, to empower other young folx that they have the power to make a difference within their lives and our communities.

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23 year old Taneil Franklin was born in Modesto CA and raised in Los Angeles California, she is currently attending Los Angeles Trade Technical college studying political science, with a hope to transfer to Howard University in Washington D.C. She started her youth advocacy career in 2019 with the Alliance For Children Rights as a young leader and then was promoted to the (BEYO) Building Ecosystem for youth opportunity Intern. She has advocated and spoken on many panels on different issues such as her college experience, her mental health and being a former foster youth. She has spoken at different conferences such as the National Homeless Alliance, Next up, and Opportunity youth form working with the LA Emissary on our LA project. In her role as the training and education fellow is to support the SPA teams with training and education so that each SPA can operate efficiently. When Taneil has free time she likes trying different restaurants, vlogging and catching up on some reading.

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My name is Travis and I am 25 years old. I am originally from the east coast. I first started my advocacy work when I was experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. I started joining youth boards and eventually got connected with Young People to the Front and was a part of planning their summit. After that I worked at the LA LGBT Center for 4 years and worked part time with Lens Co. Later I left the center to work with Lens Co full time. Now I am a part of the LA Emissary. I assist with the SPA Teams and the Pooled Fund. Outside of work I enjoy songwriting and pole dancing.

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Detrell leads the advocacy work of the LA Emissary, working to help youth advocates across LA County in their efforts to shift power to end youth homelessness. Detrell was born and raised in Detroit, MI, and entered the youth homelessness system after moving to LA post-graduation at 17 in 2021. Being geared towards leftism and advocacy since childhood, Detrell aims to use his role to empower youth and young adults to use their voices to create systemic transformation county-wide and in their respective areas. When Detrell is not working, he enjoys singing, creating art, voguing, and spending time with friends. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

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Alexis Obinna is a dynamic social innovator and BSW who holds an impressive 10 year background in advocacy and policy within the child welfare and intersecting systems. She believes Incorporating folks with lived experience is vital because their insights offer invaluable perspectives, helping to tailor solutions that are effective and sustainable. By prioritizing their voices, we can develop more comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of homelessness and work towards meaningful and lasting change in the community.

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My name is Dashayna Heath, a dedicated advocate with 15 years of experience in addressing homelessness and advocating for marginalized communities. I'm from Los Angeles, California. I have a background in management for 5 years, I have led teams and implemented impactful initiatives to support those in need. My commitment to mentorship has led me to actively participate in mentoring programs, where I strive to empower individuals to reach their full potential. Additionally, my involvement in government advocacy days has allowed me to influence policy and drive positive change at a systemic level. I am passionate about creating inclusive and sustainable solutions to address homelessness and look forward to continuing my work in this vital area.