Our Team

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

πŸ—£οΈ Youth Advisory Council

The Future Has a Voiceβ€”And It Starts Here

The Orange Crush University Youth Advisory Council is a leadership body made up of passionate students, young professionals, and emerging community changemakers from across Georgia. Serving as a bridge between youth perspectives and festival programming, the Council helps shape civic engagement initiatives, educational partnerships, cultural content, and sustainability goals for the Orange Crush ecosystem.

Members represent schools, neighborhoods, and networks that reflect the diversity, creativity, and ambition of the next generationβ€”and they hold real influence in festival planning, nonprofit strategy, and community outreach.

πŸ§‘πŸ½β€πŸ« Orange Crush University

Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

2025–2026 Cohort

β€œYouth Voices. Civic Power. Community First.”

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πŸ› Leadership

1. Julia Pearce – Youth Advisory Lead

 Strategic direction, youth empowerment, and policy oversight

2. Honorary Brian West – Mayor, Tybee Island

 City liaison, public policy partner

3. Honorary Carl Gilliard – Georgia State Representative / Savannah Music Commission

 Legislative advisor, cultural policy partner

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πŸŽ™οΈ Media & Messaging

4. Desmon Duval II – General Counsel / Media Production

 Legal guidance, content strategy, digital brand voice

5. Destiny Ambus – News / Savannah Morning News

 Youth media narrative, press alignment, journalistic representation

6. Quincey Seymour – Music Distribution / Culture Connector

 Independent artist support, streaming education, music-tech crossover

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🎧 DJs & Community Voice

7. Jamell Washington – DJ / Community Voice

 Grassroots connection, event engagement, street team input

8. Josh Winston – DJ / Public Engagement / Graphics

 Creative design, crowd activation, on-site branding

9. Tyrone Smith – DJ / Civic Engagement

 Music, movement, and voter outreach

10. Matthew Gresham – University Engagement / DJ

 Faculty-student bridge, sound strategy, institutional collaboration

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🎀 Arts, Outreach & Ambassadorship

11. Devon Cormack – Label / Community Outreach

 Youth artists, brand management, career pathways

12. Ronnie Clay Hodges II – Artist Ambassador / Community Engagement

 Talent development, festival coordination, culture-building

13. Empress Makalani – Local Artist & Business Outreach

 Small business liaison, creative economy development

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🏈 Mentorship & Leadership

14. Jaha Taylor – Athletics / Mentorship

 Student-athlete engagement, discipline-focused outreach

15. Jayden Tyson – Student Engagement

 Campus tours, university partnerships, event activation

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πŸͺ– Veterans & Wellness

16. Kia Waters – Veteran & Community Outreach

 Military family integration, public awareness campaigns

17. Melkia Waters – Veteran & Community Outreach

 Mental health advocacy, intergenerational support

18. Tabronx Smith – Veteran Outreach / Mental Health

 Crisis response strategy, healing-centered youth programs

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πŸŽͺ Festival Operations & Logistics

19. Lascrilla Wright – Event Coordinator

 Scheduling, vendor support, production flow

20. Keith Harris – Marketing / Logistics

 Brand strategy, media timing, site-wide coordination

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) serves as a guiding voice and leadership team within the Orange Crush ecosystem. Council members collaborate with university staff, festival organizers, city leaders, and nonprofit partners to ensure youth representation, innovation, and civic engagement are integrated into all programs.

πŸ‘₯ Council Structure

  • Chairperson

  • Vice Chair

  • Secretary/Communications Lead

  • Campus Liaisons (1 per institution)

  • Program Coordinators

  • General Council Members

πŸ“‹ Job Descriptions & Responsibilities

1.

Chairperson

  • Lead council meetings and set the agenda.

  • Serve as primary youth representative in meetings with city officials, media, and festival executives.

  • Provide strategic input on festival themes, policies, and education programs.

  • Approve action plans developed by subcommittees.

2.

Vice Chair

  • Support the Chairperson and assume leadership duties when needed.

  • Coordinate the onboarding of new members.

  • Oversee internal accountability, ensuring deadlines and commitments are met.

  • Serve as liaison between student councils and community boards.

3.

Secretary / Communications Lead

  • Take and distribute meeting minutes.

  • Manage internal group communications (emails, Slack, group texts).

  • Draft youth statements, public outreach content, and social media updates in coordination with CRUSH Media Team.

  • Support digital storytelling and youth press contributions to CRUSH Magazine.

4.

Campus Liaisons (1 per school)

  • Represent the needs, opinions, and ideas of their school community.

  • Coordinate event promotion and CRUSH brand awareness at their institution.

  • Help organize local meetups, workshops, or info sessions.

  • Recruit student volunteers and speakers from their campus.

5.

Program Coordinators

  • Lead specific youth initiatives (e.g. crypto education, sustainability, civic engagement).

  • Collaborate with Orange Crush University staff to design and deliver youth-led sessions during the annual festival and symposium.

  • Draft budgets, timelines, and outcomes for their assigned program.

  • Report outcomes and challenges to the full council.

6.

General Council Members

  • Attend monthly meetings and contribute to discussions and planning.

  • Serve as brand ambassadors for CRUSH values (culture, education, impact).

  • Vote on council decisions related to programming, partnerships, and events.

  • Participate in youth panels, interviews, or local media as needed.

πŸ”„ Rotating Responsibilities

Each council member may also assist with the following on a rotating basis:

  • Social media takeovers

  • Event hosting or emceeing

  • CRUSH Magazine contributions

  • Community outreach

  • Grant and sponsorship review panels (youth-focused only)

🧭 Time Commitment

  • Monthly Virtual Meetings (1–1.5 hours)

  • Quarterly Workshops or Retreats

  • Festival Season Activation (March–May: active roles during the main event)

  • Optional: Biweekly Subcommittee Check-Ins

πŸ† Benefits of Participation

  • Leadership training and mentorship

  • Resume-building and community service hours

  • First access to internships, grants, and speaking engagements

  • Featured spotlights in CRUSH Media

  • Official certificate and letter of recommendation upon successful term completion