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About THE P.O.W.E.R. Leaders Program

MyPath’s P.O.W.E.R. (Policy Organizers for Wealth & Economic Rights) Leaders, or P.O.W.E.R. Leaders for short, is a 10-month leadership program for young adults in San Francisco, ages 16–24, who want to lead campaigns that advocate for economic justice for youth and communities of color.

Guided by the Youth Economic Bill of RYTS (Real Youth Troubles & Solutions), a vision created by young people themselves at MyPath, P.O.W.E.R. Leaders gain skills in financial capability, civic engagement, organizing, and advocacy. P.O.W.E.R. Leaders will build power, speak to local, state, and federal elected officials, and help shape policies that reflect young people’s lived experiences.

At the start of the program year, P.O.W.E.R. Leaders strengthen their financial skills through refresher courses and intermediate-to-advanced financial capability training. They explore their own money stories to understand how personal experiences connect to broader issues of financial access, while building community through team-building activities. Participants also learn how to plan and execute effective civic engagement efforts, preparing them with the skills and confidence to organize and lead campaigns across local, state, and national levels.

In the second half of the program, P.O.W.E.R. Leaders put their training into action by leading a campaign that advances youth-centered economic policies and brings the Youth Economic Bill of RYTS to life. They collaborate closely with MyPath staff, partners, and fellow young leaders to advocate for equitable practices and expand economic opportunity for youth and people of color nationwide.

campaign work

Youth Economic Bill of RYTS

In 2019, P.O.W.E.R. Leaders created the Youth Economic Bill of RYTS (Real Youth Troubles and Solutions) in collaboration with MyPath Staff and other young people across the country .The document highlights youth-centered and solution based policy proposals that, if implemented, are a pathway to youth economic financial stability and wealth building.

Bill of RYTS Refresh

The 2025–2026 P.O.W.E.R. Leaders cohort is updating the Bill of RYTS to reflect the current needs and lived experiences of young people. They are studying existing rights, learning from experts, examining how policy shapes youth economic outcomes, and gathering input from youth-focused organizations nationwide to ensure diverse perspectives. The final Bill of RYTS will serve not just as a set of values but as a practical policy guide for youth economic empowerment.

DFPI/Cal Money Smart Press Event

MyPath was thrilled to be named as a grantee of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Cal Money Smart grant. In 2023, we hosted Senator Scott Wiener and DFPI Commissioner Clothilde Hewlett at our headquarters where they heard directly from P.O.W.E.R. Leaders about the barriers they face when it comes to financial inclusion and the innovative solutions they have identified in the MyPath Youth Economic Bill of RYTS.

P.O.W.E.R. Leaders Take Their Youth Banking Campaign to DC!

In 2022, P.O.W.E.R. Leaders took DC by storm! The team spent a week meeting with leaders from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Department of Labor, Credit Builders Alliance, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Administration for Children and Families - ACF to amplify the Youth Economic Bill of RYTS and build investments to support youth solutions.

FAQ

You should apply if you are:

  • A young adult between the ages of 16-24
  • A permanent resident of San Francisco OR attend a school in San Francisco (note: you are allowed to go to school outside of the city with permanent residency in San Francisco)
  • Passionate about financial justice, closing the racial wealth gap, organizing, and speaking truth to power 
  • Committed to building and growing your leadership skills and positively impacting your community
  • Interested in collaborating with professionals to develop a financial education curriculum
  • Willing to engage in public speaking during meetings, presentations, and conferences, including leading financial capability workshops
  • Open to sharing your opinions, perspectives, and lived experiences
  • Available Thursdays, 5-7 pm for in-person weekly meetings
  • Can commit to 10 months in the program (August 2025 – May 2026)

We are still recruiting for two more spots on our team! If interested please apply via this link.

We are always looking for leaders in our community to support the program! You can support by:

  • Joining one of our sessions and share your expertise/knowledge on one of our Youth Economic Bill of RYTS
  • Connecting us with policymakers at the local, state, and federal level who may be interested in hearing perspectives from youth advocates around economic justice or any of our Bill of RYTS
  • Sharing our Youth Economic Bill of RYTS Survey with young adults in your network
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If you are a policy, community, or corporate leader and want to support the work of our Power Leaders, especially if you are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, please contact Ariana Arana Bermudez, Youth Leadership Programs Associate, at [email protected]

Learn More About Our P.O.W.E.R. Leaders 2025-26 Cohort

Kemaryie Amons

Heaven Askew

Angel Feng

Zoe Freeman

Gustavo Juarez

Maybelle Li

Ramses Mosley-Wise

Gabriel Ochoa

Kian Perrone

Christian Ponce

Jayla Wu

Abby Zheng

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Kemaryie Amons

Kemaryie is a freshman in college studying child development. In her sophomore year of high school, she joined a pathway called Teacher Academy, which deepened her passion for working with children. From a young age, she knew she wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives, and this program allowed her to explore that interest. She continued the Teacher Academy pathway through her senior year, which inspired her to pursue a major in child development. Kemaryie loves working with children and is also taking nursing classes to broaden her skills and career opportunities.

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Heaven Askew

Heaven is a 22-year-old single mother and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in Nursing. Her journey has been shaped by determination, resilience, and a passion for caring for others. Balancing motherhood and academics has taught her the value of perseverance and time management. She aspires to become a registered nurse who provides compassionate, high-quality care to patients while serving as a role model for her child and other first-generation students.

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Angel Feng

Angel Feng is a Senior at Balboa High School. She enjoys graphic design and is interested in business. She hopes to become a product manager or designer in the future. From her 4 years of experience doing motion graphics, Angel hopes to extend those skills into her college career. Angels past experiences interning at the HSA and City Attorneys Office has given her the job readiness skills needed to be professional in the workplace. Next year, Angel plans to attend university as a Business Administration and Design major. When Angel isn’t busy, she volunteers at her local optometry and food bank, but also enjoys indulging in a good book during her free time. 

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Zoë Freeman

Zoë Freeman is starting her first year of college at San Francisco State University. She’s currently studying mechanical engineering in hopes to one day work to find environmental and health innovations. Throughout high school she’s played track, basketball, & lacrosse and hopes to find another sport for her college years. She is starting her second year working with MyPath MyMoney and has been promoted to the Power Leaders program. She’s also starting a research assistant job and hopes to work with children with disabilities and possibly babysitting children with Autism. 

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Gustavo Juarez

Gustavo Juarez is a Second-year College Student pursuing a degree in business Administration. As a proud first-generation college student, he is committed to personal and professional growth. In addition to his studies, he works part-time at Chipotle, where he continues to develop his customer service and teamwork skills. Outside of school and work, he enjoys staying active and dedicates his free time to working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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Maybelle Li

Maybelle Li is a senior at Lowell High School, with a passion for psychology. She has been at MyPath for less than a year. She has worked with mentors and school therapists since middle school, forming a close connection with her school wellness staff. Inspired by their enthusiasm for helping others, Maybelle has volunteered and participated in numerous city events like the Chinese New Year Festival and local food banks to assist her community. By joining MyPath, Maybelle hopes to get a better sense and understanding of her community’s needs and concerns. In her free time, Maybelle enjoys reading and journaling. 

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Ramses Mosley-Wise

Ramses Mosley-Wise is a former filmmaker who returned to school, where he was introduced to the idea of basic income. During this time, he also participated in a guaranteed income program, which gave him firsthand experience with the benefits of guaranteed income. Ramses has served as a facilitator at the Basic Income Guaranteed (BIG) Conference and continues to advocate for basic and guaranteed income as a way to promote financial stability and economic equality.

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Gabriel Ochoa

Gabriel Ochoa is a junior at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, a varsity wrestler, freelance photographer, and Power Leader at MyPath. Gabriel aspires to become a financial advisor. Aside from his work at MyPath, photography, and wrestling, Gabriel enjoys rental karting.

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Kian Perrone

Kian is a junior at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco with a strong passion for legal justice and reform. He has volunteered with the University of San Francisco’s Racial Law Clinic, where he helped organize conferences and wrote a research paper on the disproportionate criminalization of Pacific Islanders in California, examining systemic biases and over-policing.

At school, Kian channels his commitment to justice by founding the Pre-Law Club and co-leading the Mock Trial Club, creating opportunities for students to study the law and build advocacy, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. Outside the classroom, he is a competitive baseball player with aspirations to play Division I.

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Christian Ponce

Christian Ponce is a junior at Gateway High School and a dedicated three-year MyPath member developing strong financial literacy skills. His passion for financial education drives his commitment to advocating for youth facing economic challenges, recognizing how financial policies impact young people’s daily lives and future opportunities. As both a learner and emerging leader, he is focused on building collaboration and leadership skills to help peers address these issues together.

Christian’s own financial experiences shaped his perspective when MyPath introduced him to budgeting, saving, and financial planning—skills he knows will be essential for his future. He dreams of traveling the world, including visiting the Seven Wonders, to explore diverse cultures. Inspired by his curiosity and commitment to justice, he hopes to attend law school and pursue a legal career advocating for economic justice and youth empowerment.

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Jayla Wu

Jayla Wu is a junior at Galileo High School. Her passion for leadership began in middle school when she first joined a leadership program. This early exposure encouraged her to further develop her skills, eventually becoming one of the founding student leaders of her club and a volunteer event coordinator. These experiences strengthened her abilities and sparked her interest in finance. Jayla believes the leadership skills she has gained—and continues to build—will serve as a strong foundation for her future.

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Abby Zheng

Abby Zheng is a senior at Lowell High School and a third-year participant in MyPath. Growing up in a low income household, she witnessed how financial literacy and access shape everyday life leading her to have future plans to study economics or finance in college. In the narrow alleyways of Chinatown, Abby is always hosting events for families living in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, planning civic engagement programs for children, and practicing with her drill team members

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Joseph Mejia

Joseph Mejia is a 9th grader at City Arts and Leadership Academy. He has been playing on his school’s soccer teams since the 1st grade, where he developed a strong passion for sports. His favorite subject is math, which he enjoys because it feels like a secret language. This year, Joseph hopes to advocate for the creation of a boys’ volleyball team at his school. In his free time, he likes to practice his volleyball skills and connect with his peers through social media and his phone.

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Moises Mira

Moises Mira is a junior at San Francisco City Academy with a focus on finance and a second-year advocate for New ERA at MyPath. He enjoys playing sports and video games, and has even made some profit from gaming. Moises joined MyPath to learn about financial literacy, as his family has often faced challenges such as understanding how to manage credit. These experiences have inspired him to help others in the future with managing finances and learning how to work with money.