Jon’Nae Sylvester ’24 joins a new nonpartisan project leveraging young voices ahead of the U.S. turning 250
By Lauren Mar ’25
As the United States approaches its 250-year mark in 2026, all eyes turn to Gen Z as the next generation of changemakersβand recent 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ alum JonβNae Sylvester β24 is already hard at work to make sure their voice is heard.
Sylvester was recently appointed to the , a nonpartisan project from nonprofit Made By Us. Comprised of 100 young adults, the Youth 250 Bureau aims to “capture young people’s imaginations, ideas and input” ahead of the country’s milestone. Together, the cohort will offer their unique perspectives to strengthen civic engagement and programming from organizations, agencies, and institutionsβincluding PBS, the National Park Service, and the Smithsonianβto prepare for a new era in the US.
At 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ, Sylvester majored in Africana studies, served as the president of 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβ QuestBridge chapter, and was a member of , the Collegeβs Black student union. While she serendipitously saw the application for Youth250 through a post on LinkedIn, Sylvester says her experience in leadership and championing underrepresented voices at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ inspired her to apply.
βI want to make sure youth have a voice in politics right now,β she says. βI want to make sure that weβre heard and that our opinions are taken into effect.β
As a Youth250 member, Sylvester undergoes rigorous weekly training in consulting. She recently received her first assignment to DeKalb County History Center in Illinois, where she will help the center prepare for their event celebrating the United Statesβ 250th anniversary and engage youth audiences.
Her responsibilities include giving input on media campaigns, providing advice on outreach, and generating ideas aimed at increasing youth attendance. Sylvester will serve as a bureau member for the next year, handling various assignments to support the needs of partner organizations.
While busy between working as a policy associate for the Brea Chamber of Commerce and being a member of Youth250, Sylvester expresses that graduating from 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ was bittersweet.
βFor those of you saying that you canβt wait to graduate, you will actually miss doing all your assigned readings!β she says, noting that the biggest lesson she has taken from has been the importance of asking for help.
β51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪβs culture encourages the idea that you can talk to anyone if you need anything and they will listen,β she reflects. βBy asking for help, I have been able to form lasting connections that have helped me after graduating.β
I want to amplify voices that are not as heard in American history and build a community amongst other young people who are also interested in shaping this country.
Sylvester specifically names the value in connecting to the College community, as both a current student and a graduate. βDuring my 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ career, our alums were always so helpful in almost everything I did. If I wanted to apply for a career opportunity, they were always so helpful and they always wanted to talk to me.β
Looking beyond her role on the Youth250 Bureau, Sylvester hopes to make an impact in American policy. From a young age, Sylvester knew her futureβon every career aptitude test, she was advised to enter politics. Through the work with the Brea Chamber of Commerce and Youth250, the path ahead is clear.
βYouth250 is a natural step in helping me build upon skills that I already have,β she shares. βLong term, I want to amplify voices that are not as heard in American history and build a community amongst other young people who are also interested in shaping this country.β
Sylvesterβs journey after graduating from 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ has already proven to be impactful. As recent alums like her enter the world, they remain dedicated to enacting change.
βWe are setting the stage for future generations,β she says.