About

Located in California, the El Dorado County Youth Commission is a group of dedicated high school students who have volunteered to represent the voice of our youth. We strive to improve the health, happiness and collaboration of the youth while solving the issues and difficulties that they face today.

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Our Mission

The El Dorado County Youth Commission (YC) helps identify the needs of our county’s youth and communicates those needs to our local representatives. The Board of Supervisors and the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) co-sponsor the YC, which develops and expresses the opinions, ideas, and visions of youth in our county. Students on the YC participate as a youth government and gain an enriching leadership experience. The YC is always looking for ways to help youth implement projects and ideas that will benefit the community.

Meet Your Commissioners

Get to Know our 2019/2020 Youth Commissioners

Anavi Deshmukh

Youth Commissioner

Anavi is a freshman at Oak Ridge High School. This is her first year on the Youth Commission and she is excited to help make a positive difference for El Dorado County Youth. In her free time, she likes to play the drums.

Calyssa Glas

Youth Commissioner

Calyssa is a Junior at Ponderosa High School. This is her first year as a Commissioner. She likes the tranquility of her community and how everyone is courteous of one another. Calyssa also raises Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies in training.

Carter Hill

Vice-Chair

Carter is a Senior at Ponderosa High School and is a first year Commissioner. He sees the Youth Commission as an opportunity to help address struggles that other youth in the community may face. He enjoys reading and spending time in nature as often as possible.

Abegale Jones

Youth Commissioner

Abegale is a Junior at Union Mine High School. This is her first year as a Commissioner. She looks forward to learning more about local leadership. Abegale enjoys living in El Dorado County because community members rise up to support one another. She is also involved in Hands 4 Hope and enjoys community outreach.

Amanda Kendler

Youth Commissioner

Amanda is a Sophomore at El Dorado Union High School. She enjoys swimming and is very excited to be serving as a Commissioner this year. Amanda’s appreciates the close-knit community of El Dorado County; she loves that everyone is always willing to help each other out.

Rik Murali

Co-Chair

Rik is a Junior at Oak Ridge High School. The thing he likes best about our community is the calm and quiet environment. He would like to see more motivational speakers meet with the County Commission to address some of the challenges the youth face.

Grace Salvestrin

Community Affairs Officer

Grace is a Junior at Union Mine High School and feels honored to have the opportunity to be a voice for her peers and hopefully improve her community. She would like to provide more opportunities for youth and add awareness of what previous generations have done to strengthen El Dorado County.

Christian Selden

Media / PR Officer

Christian Selden is a Senior at Charter University Prep who is passionate about lowering his carbon footprint and helping the youth of El Dorado County. He’s plant-based and enjoys writing. This year on Youth Commission, he’s especially concerned that the youth’s over-reliance on technology and social media in their day-to-day lives is interfering with their ability to connect with others.

Dane Sheridan

Government Affairs Officer

Dane is returning to the Youth Commission with the hope of continuing to focus on promoting wellness in El Dorado County Youth. He is a Junior at Charter University Prep and looks forward to working with the group again to make change in the community.

Edith Rivera

Co-Chair

Edith is a Senior at El Dorado High School this year. She believes the biggest issue facing our youth is mental health. With homework, relationships, sports, jobs, and other activities, teens start to feel like it is too much. She is here to advocate for those people, so they get what they need.

Fatima Vazquez Rios

Youth Commissioner

Fatima is a Senior at Union Mine High School. She enjoys bringing out her artistic side by painting and digital art. In her first year as a Commissioner, she’s looking forward to providing a voice for El Dorado County Youth.