ELIZABETH ZALANGA

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UNITED STATES, 25

Project: Minnesota Black, Indigenous & Youth of Color Justice Task Force
Focus Area: Policy Justice Reform / Issue Advocacy

Elizabeth is the co-founder of The Minnesota Black, Indigenous and Youth of Color Justice Task Force, headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Task Force amplifies the voices of the new generation of Black, Indigenous and Youth of Color (BIPOC) across Minnesota, with an intentional focus on girls, young women, trans youth and non-binary youth. They invest in BIPOC young people to become leaders, training them in skills to effect real change, and empowering them with roles in the decision making process. By engaging passionate youth in the development and implementation of policy at the city, county and state level, The Task Force pushes to create systemic change for historically marginalized communities. 

In June 2020, the Task Force organized and led a youth rally against police brutality at the Minnesota State Capitol in response to the death of George Floyd. Over 400+ BIPOC youth joined to show their support, share their art and stories, and have their voices heard.

Since 2016, Elizabeth has worked in public service for both the Minnesota state and the Saint Paul city government. She has held leadership roles on the Boards of several non-profit organizations working to equalize opportunities for marginalized youth, including America's Promise Alliance founded by retired General Colin L. Powell. She is currently a legislative assistant for Minnesota State Senator Sandra L. Pappas (DFL–65).

Elizabeth served as the 2018 United States delegate to the Youth20 (Y20) Summit and to the G(irls)20 Summit in Argentina, where she developed and co-authored policy recommendations for the G20 on education, employment, the future of work and gender equity. She was also named a 2018 Emerging City Champion, 2019 Women's Foundation of Minnesota Innovator and a 2020 United Nations Women Gender Youth Activist. Most recently, she was named to the 2020 Panel of Young Advisers at Chatham House.  

More: Instagram : @minnesotayouthjusticetaskforce

“One of the things I quickly noticed while working in the local government as a youth, I was oftentimes one of the youngest people there, I was oftentimes you know, one of the only Black persons or person of color there as well seeing that we weren’t reflected in the decision making space.”