Sandra Dryden is the Founder of Power Up With Youth  and serves as coordinator

Sandra brings:

• Vision and strategic direction for the organization

• Leadership in long-term planning and key decision-making

• Established partnerships and sustainable organizational growth

• Expertise in government relations, policy, grant writing, and contract negotiations

• A passion for youth and community development with a deep understanding of complex government systems

Sandra:

• Sets the overall direction and goals for the organization

• Leads partnerships with government and community stakeholders

• Ensures effective governance and compliance

• Makes major organizational decisions that drive growth and sustainability

Sandra graduated from Lincoln High School in San Diego and earned a BS degree in business administration from San Diego State University (SDSU). She worked 32 years with the federal government and 9 years as a contract negotiator and administrator with UCSD. 

Sandra has served her community advising and writing content for non-profit organizations including the San Diego Urban League, Common Ground Theatre, The Redemption Project for Prisoners and Their Loved Ones, San Diego Academy for Excellence in Academics and Athletics, SDSU Black EOP, Women In Hospitality and Tourism, and ErrrverybodI Line Dancers. She has prepared, presented, and participated in voter outreach and College admission application training for the Bayview Baptist Church Scholarship and Community Concerns Committees, and conducted a Financial Concerns of Caregiving Workshop for the San Diego Bethel AME Church where she is currently a member. 

Sandra says "A good life requires justice love and humility"

Henry Anderson III , Lead Youth Ambassador

14 year old Henry brings:

• Passion for youth empowerment and social change

• Public speaking experience at events and meetings to persuade, inform, advocate, educate, inspire and provoke thought.

• Expertise in leading digital outreach campaigns and creating engaging content

Henry:

• Leads social media campaigns to advocate for youth issues and encourage participation

• Delivers speeches at public events and government meetings to represent youth interests

• Creates digital and multimedia content that resonates with youth and drives engagement

• Coordinates with government bodies and organizations to amplify youth voices

Henry Anderson III is the Lead Student Ambassador for the Power uP campaign.  Henry has been interested in leadership and civic engagement since he knew what the word Leader meant   He has held plenty of leadership roles throughout his path.  

  He is and has been involved in many clubs and other organizations.  in middle school (Millennial Tech Middle) He was  student body representative on the Site Governance Team for all 3 years and Associated Student Body president for his last 2 years.  He stood as NSBE Jr San Diego Chapter  President on the Giga Bears Robotics team. 

 Currently he is a CO’2028 Morse student staying focused keeping his grades  at a 4.0. While continuing his involvement in school and the community. 

 Henry is a strong member of our team representing Morse.  He thrives in everything he does.  Henry always looks to be a helping hand both his community and school keeping his family and friends first. Power uP is PROUD to call him a Board Member and Lead Youth Ambassador 

Carolyn Johnson serves as Power up Education Materials Strategist

Carolyn brings:

• Expertise in educational program design and civic engagement

• Experience developing curricula for youth empowerment

• Focus on creating interactive learning experiences

• A background in education and curriculum development, with a passion for empowering youth through learning

Carolyn:

• Designs and implements educational programs focused on youth civic engagement

• Works with schools to bring civic education to life

• Monitors and evaluates the success of programs, making adjustments where needed

• Guides educators and youth leaders to improve educational experiences

Carolyn graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and from San Diego State University with a Liberal Arts Degree in education.  

She is a strong advocate and proponent of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI).

She served Sempra Energy as a Principal Diversity Advisor, where her responsibilities entailed consulting with and training leaders at all levels at the company.

Since retiring, Carolyn serves as an advisory board member to the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN).  

She developed and presented a program entitled, “Words do Hurt” for her granddaughter so that her classmates would see their school as a community. She also serves the community by engaging in activities that brings diverse communities together to promote, appreciate and value each other. The value that guides her interaction with others is to, “Act with Integrity, treat people honestly, fairly, with respect and dignity”.

Rhonda Shephard, Outreach Manager (Community Focus) and Development Manager

Rhonda brings:

• Strong community relationship-building skills

• Expertise in expanding outreach efforts to engage diverse communities

• Experience organizing events that raise awareness and boost participation

• A background in fostering meaningful partnerships with local organizations and leaders

• Expertise in fundraising, resource development and financial stewardship. Rhonda is a successful small business entrepreneur ensuring funds use was transparent and as intended to achieve organizational goals.

• Strong relationship-building skills with donors, sponsors, and partners

• A proven track record in securing funding and ensuring organizational sustainability

Rhonda:

• Coordinates outreach to connect with schools, local organizations and communities

• Plans and organizes community events to drive engagement

• Builds partnerships with key community leaders to ensure inclusive and impactful programs

• Ensures that programs are accessible and relevant to all community members

• Leads fundraising efforts and campaigns to secure financial resources

• Cultivates relationships with donors and grant-making organizations

• Works closely with the leadership team to identify funding needs and opportunities

• Ensures financial transparency and accountability in all aspects of resource management

Rhonda is originally from EL Centro California where she was a leader in her school and her community. A long time volunteer in San Diego, Rhonda raised over $500,000 for churches, no-profit community organizations, and private companies. She has numerous honors including three-time nationwide volunteer of the year

Marley White, Youth Ambassador (Artistic Focus)

11 year old Marley brings:

• Creative skills for visual and multimedia content creation

• Ability to engage peers through art-based outreach initiatives

• A passion for using creative expression to inspire social change

Marley:

• Designs impactful visual and multimedia content for campaigns, events, and promotional materials to communicate important messages and rally community support..

• Facilitates art-based workshops and projects at her school to engage peers and encourage youth action.

• Delivers persuasive and thought-provoking public speeches to advocate, educate, and inspire.

Marley is a strong member of our team representing Nye elementary school.  . Power uP is PROUD to call her a Board Member and Youth Ambassador 

Lillian Nahar, Policy Analyst & Mediator

Lillian brings:

• Expert knowledge of governmental policies and structures

• Strong analytical skills for navigating complex policy environments

• Experience advocating for youth-focused policies and engaging with elected officials and boards

Lillian:

• Analyzes government policies and their impact on youth and civic engagement

• Advocates for policies that promote youth empowerment and community well-being

• Develops strategies to engage government officials and policymakers in youth-related issues

• Mediates and resolves conflicts related to policy challenges and youth programs

Lillian Nahar’s journey, rooted in faith and service, began in Brooklyn, New York, during the civil rights movement. A lifelong learner, she earned degrees in Public Administration, Political Science, and Applied Sociological Practice in Law. Her research on racism in employment is published online.

As the first woman to manage American Airlines operations in the Middle East, Lillian combined leadership with her faith, deepened under Pastor Cameron Arensen’s mentorship. Now CEO of Nahar Mediation and a San Diego Superior Court mediator, she empowers others through justice, advocacy, and global speaking engagements, striving to reflect God’s love in all she does.

Lilian inspires us when she says “I am proud to be a team member of Power Up with Youth. Our mission is to build strong, informed leaders who know that their voices and votes make an impact. Our youth have embraced that mission and taken action, reaching out to friends and family, proving that no voice is too small to shape what comes next.

Voting isn’t just about electing leaders. It’s about selecting leaders who stand up for the values that matter to us, like safe schools, fair opportunities, and a community that supports everyone. When we inform ourselves and vote our values, we’re building the world we believe in. It is my honor to help facilitate making that world a reality”

Jennifer White, Youth Engagement Lead

Jennifer brings:

• Leadership and mentorship for the youth team

• Development of programs to encourage youth involvement and empowerment

• Mentorship to build skills for activism and social change

• Fostering collaboration among youth leaders and volunteers

• A strong ability to inspire and guide young people, fostering their growth as leaders in their communities and beyond.

Jennifer:

• Mentors and supports youth leaders in the development of their skills

• Creates programs that encourage youth to take active roles in social change

• Organizes leadership training and community engagement opportunities

• Facilitates teamwork and collaboration among young activists

Jennifer is a San Diego native and a true global citizen. She earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from UCLA, a masters degree from Howard University and she studied abroad at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Jennifer is a visionary trailblazer with a passion for women’s well being and entrepreneurship   She enhances the agency and opportunities for Black women through innovative and strategic initiatives that bridge economies and foster growth. She created a model for collective investment, recruiting 10 Black women to invest in Roots & Vines Wine, a company that imports premium wines from South Africa, made by Black women and owned by Black women. 

Jennifer is Inspirational: She serves as a role model for others by demonstrating effective and impactful leadership. She Founded SISTERcircle in 2016 to create safe spaces to connect US and African  Black women. For over 15 years she has organized healing and investment trips to East, West and Southern Africa.  

SISTERcircle and Roots & Vines Wine share the goal of creating an economic pipeline between the US and Africa that connects and empowers Black women. Jennifer’s motto is when “Black women are supported the Black family is uplifted.”

Patricia Murray, Outreach Manager (Spiritual & Physical Health Focus)

Pat brings:

• Experience in health and wellness, focusing on youth development

• Expertise in building partnerships with faith-based and health organizations

• Ability to create programs that integrate spiritual and physical health for holistic youth development

Patricia:

• Builds partnerships with churches and health organizations to support youth programs

• Develops initiatives that promote youth health, wellness, and spiritual growth

• Collaborates with community leaders to address health disparities and foster wellness

• Ensures that youth receive comprehensive support and mentorship for their overall development

Patricia is a native San Diegan and a graduate of San Diego State University with 35 years teaching experience. She is a “go to” community volunteer who has earned awards from the City, County, State, and President Barack Obama. She has been bestowed with the title as San Diego’s “unofficial mayor”.

In 2009 Pat Murray founded Consultants Unlimited (CU) to promote diversity, and inclusion; health and well-being, and fun. CU operates two community programs:

The annual Wakanda Community Celebration recognizing community heroes and

Errrverybodi Line Dancers dedicated to promoting mental, physical, and spiritual well-being through the universally movement and music. The classes are held for people of all ages (from 6 to 96), all ethnicities, and all backgrounds and the performances are as requested.

Some of the local organizations aligned with CU include the Martin Luther King Parade, Jackie Robinson YMCA, American Cancer Society Relay, The women in tourism and Hospitality, The Rock Church, Bayview Baptist Church, The United Domestic Workers, The Black Infant Health, San Diego City and County schools, and The Coopers Family Juneteenth Celebration.