Leadership Board
Founder/Executive Director
Citlali Santos-Martinez
“As a daughter of immigrants I had no idea on how to navigate the social and political systems that exist within the United States. I created the Next Light Foundation to help students who were or are in the same position as me.”
Citlali Santos-Martinez is an aspiring immigration attorney and Sophomore at Santa Monica College majoring in Political Science and History. A simple summary of Citlalis experience before founding The Next Light Foundation would not do justice for the amount of effort she has put into impacting her community and the wider world! Her work centers around advocacy, mentorship, and service; a combination of skills which she uses to lead the passionate Board Members at The Next Light Foundation.
Vice President
Anna Lin
“Given the current perspective of immigrants in the United States, I hope to make an impact on guiding youths from underrepresented and underprivileged backgrounds. I look forward to working with all of you!”
Anna Lin is a high school senior in New York and an active student in her community; she holds many leadership experiences and gives back to her community during her free time! As Vice President Anna is in charge of multiple responsibilities as she oversees the entirety of the board. In her role she hopes to impact future generations who may find themselves lost.
Chief of Staff
Christopher Hendrix
“I’m a dynamic youth advocate and MSW candidate at Cal State Fullerton, with dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and Psychology from CSUDH.”
Christopher Hendrix is a champion of equity, mentorship, policy, wellness, and youth-centered systems. The Board supports a variety of youth on the daily, and Christophers strive for rigor and accountability is the cornerstone for making an impact! As the Chief of Staff, Christopher provides much needed supports to all of our Board members that boost morale and team connection.
Chief of Research
Brenda Macuil
“I’m a proud Los Angeles native with a passion for reading and community service. As a first-generation college student from an immigrant family, I’m deeply committed to work that uplifts underserved communities and helps break down barriers to academic and economic opportunity. This is what drew me to the mission of the Next Light Foundation in the first place!”
Brenda Macuil is an undergraduate research scholar, honors student, and works with multiple organizations that tackle DEI preservation, honest reporting, labor, and more! She is active in her community as a student, intern, tutor, journalist, and has brought her diverse expertise to make an impact at the Next Light Foundation! Her work as the Chief of Research involves finding a variety of support resources for Next Light to share with the world.
Events Coordinator
Alishba Tareque
“Born and raised in Southern California, I grew up surrounded by a strong sense of community and a drive to make a difference. Throughout high school, I’ve been deeply involved in leadership, volunteer work, and advocacy, especially for youth and women’s rights. These experiences inspired me to pursue a future in law and public policy. I’m currently focused on studying political science and exploring opportunities that allow me to uplift others and amplify underrepresented voices. Joining this program is another step toward building a more equitable and informed future.”
A senior at John F. Kennedy High School, Alishba has leadership experiences across multiple clubs and other organizations! As the Events Coordinator, her passion for uplifting communities and experiences in management is essential for organizing events for Next Light such as reading competitions and more!
Chief of Translators
Natalie Ascorra
“I have witnessed how immigration and education systems impact families like mine, which inspired my passion for advocacy and community work. I joined The Next Light Foundation to continue building inclusive, empowering communities and to learn from others who are just as passionate about social justice and systemic change!”
Natalie Ascorra is a first generation student studying Political Science and Organizational Studies at Pitzer College. Beyond this she is a student advocate whose work is centered around equity and inclusion. Leading a team of translators at Next Light, Natalie is integral to making the foundations work as accessible for the world as possible!
Director of Mentorship
Zaira Amara
“Hi! My name is Zaira and i’m a rising junior from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I love politics, biology, the ocean, and colorguard. I’m here to make a difference in the lives of others, and I cant wait to help the Next Light do great things!”
Zaira Amara is an aspiring leader, activist, and scientist at Claremont High School! She serves in roles such as Sales Representative, Ambassador, and Fellow across her community and online, and now offers her guidance as the Director of Mentorship. She is the leader of the mentors in our Mentorship Program, which supports the Academic Opportunity board in providing students resources and mentoring them through a variety of processes.
Blog and Content Manager
Addie Harmon
“I’m super passionate about service, education, and writing, which led me to my role as Blog and Content Manager! As a student myself who also doesn’t know where to look, I joined the Next Light foundation in hopes that my research and content will be of help to you too.”
Oh hey, that’s me! I’m Addie, and as the Blog and Content manager my main goal is to make Next Light’s work digestible for our audience, and cover topics that will be useful for a variety of students. I am an English Tutor and aspiring teacher with multiple leadership experiences, and am so happy to be serving students across the world!
Social Media Manager
Maalika Mehta
“I grew up with a strong sense of justice and a passion for helping others find their voice. I plan to pursue a career in the legal field to advocate for equity and create meaningful change. As the board’s social media intern, I’m excited to help share our mission and connect with the community, while also learning from mentors and building my skills. I look forward to contributing my creativity, dedication, and perspective to the team.”
A Junior at Oyster Bay High School, Maalika is our Social Media Manager! Navigating multiple platforms and thinking of a variety of audiences, Maalika is Next Light’s main promoter and an essential member of the foundation.
Academic Opportunity Board
Leading groups of Academic Committee volunteers, the Academic Opportunity Board are the individuals responsible for making internships in Pe-Law, Pre-Med, and STEM easy to find by providing hand-picked resources to students who fill out a resource center form!
Director of Pre-Law
Chidera Anthony-Wise
“As an aspiring attorney passionate about healthcare equity, I hope to make a real difference in medical law. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in Human Biology and Society, where I developed an interest in how law and medicine intersect to impact people’s lives. Through experiences like legal research with health-focused law groups and volunteering in underserved communities, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges many face in accessing quality care. I’m excited to use my blend of legal knowledge and healthcare experience to improve patient access. Serving as the Pre-Law Director, I am eager to connect with you all and provide insight to succeed in the legal field!”
Director of Pre-Med
Natalie Stopf
“Hello everyone! My name is Natalie and I come from a small town in Virginia. I’m an NREMT, have participated in lab research, and hope to one day go into medicine! As someone from a small town, I am very passionate about making sure each student has equal opportunities to education about and experience in the field that they plan to go in. I previously founded my own student group to fulfill this passion, and am excited to continue to do so through Next Light!”
Director of STEM
Dana Alsalem
“Hi! I’m Dana, your new STEM Director. I’m a rising high school senior from Southern California with a strong passion for science and a dream of becoming a medical scientist/researcher. I’m incredibly excited to help lead STEM initiatives and share my love for science with other curious, driven students.”