Inspiring role model serves her community
Joliesse Carmona-Perez (far right) is the new 2020 Portland Youth of the Year for metro area Boys & Girls Clubs. She is joined by all five of the other deserving youth who were candidates for the honor, Arianna Perez-Garcia, TreNisha Shearer, La’Markus Causey, Gia Sevier and Alexa Ramirez-Hernandez. PHOTO COURTESY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PORTLAND METRO AREA
Blazers Boys & Girls Club member and Wilson High School freshman Joliesse Carmona-Perez has been named the 2020 Portland Metro Youth of the Year, recognized for being a role model who serves her community.
An outspoken and inspiring young woman, Carmona-Perez aspires to become a lawyer and politician in order to advocate for others. She has been the recipient of multiple Boys and Girls Club awards, including for outstanding leadership and excellence in community service and as student of the month.
Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area Joliesse Carmona-Perez, a member of the Blazers Boys and Girls Club in northeast Portland and a freshman at Wilson High School has been named 2020 Portland Youth of the Yea for metro area Boys & Girls Clubs.
Her innovative ideas have made a difference in her academic community: She founded a school newsletter, becoming chief editor, and distributed an advice column to peers. She combated bullying by creating a student leadership team that recognizes academic successes and providing mentorship to younger students. She also serves on the Youth Against Violence Committee for the Multnomah County Youth Commission.
Five other outstanding Boys & Girls club members also vied for the Youth of the Year title, including Arianna Perez-Garcia, TreNisha Shearer, La’Markus Causey, Gia Sevier and Alexa Ramirez-Hernandez. As title finalists that uphold and represent clubs’ core values, each receives a $500 scholarship along with their own prize packages.
As the winner, Carmona-Perez received a $1,000 scholarship and a prize package containing a new backpack, laptop and other items to help her achieve academic success. Next March, she will represent the Portland metro clubs in the statewide Youth of the Year selection process, held in Portland.