Bear Belle, an Earth Activist born from the Salt Lake Valley, is a shepherd who loves spending
time in the pasture singing to their sheep. They have received their permaculture design
certificate through Oregan State University and are finishing their education through a PINA
program called Earth Activist Training for Advanced PDC & Regenerative Land Management
Diploma.

Weaving community into ecosystems with permaculture and art is their passion. Bear is the
owner of Earth Benders, a regenerative land management cooperative inspired by the
community and ecosystems they call home. Empowered by ancestral practice, they take a
mindful approach to land stewardship and are committed to decolonizing and healing the
ecosystems we all call home.

Bear is a founding member of the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) that shaped YEP and
brought it to life. They lead co-design of curriculum units with state and local level partners and
consistently raise the importance of enacting inclusion and belonging in all spaces.

Jocelyn Cox is a recent high school graduate who is currently studying to become a master esthetician. She began her entrepreneurial journey at the age of fifteen by launching her jewelry business, driven by a passion for creativity and a desire to build something meaningful.

She continues to grow her brand while inspiring others to tap in and explore their own paths. Beyond her business, Jocelyn is committed to community service and youth empowerment. She actively volunteers with teen moms and serves as a mentor to young entrepreneurs. Her work is deeply rooted in creating safe and affirming spaces that prioritize self-expression and well-being.

Jocelyn is a founding member of the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) that shaped YEP and brought it to life. She leads co-design of curriculum units with state and local level partners and is a constant ally in the integration of youth and young adult voice in the co-creation process.

LV Crutcher is a systems strategist and a Foster America fellow with nearly a decade of experience working at the intersection of child welfare, juvenile justice, and community-based prevention. As a former foster youth and frontline practitioner, he brings both lived expertise and professional insight into how public systems impact young people and families.

LV is founder and lead practitioner at Black Boy Namaste, a nascent wellbeing project to bring healing and agency to Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and multiracial boys who need affirming, trauma-informed spaces to breathe, move, and heal. His work began in Oklahoma and has spread to the Pacific Northwest.

LV is a founding member of the Young Adult Advisory Council that shaped YEP and brought it to life. In this role, he serves as a thought partner and advisor, contributing to curriculum development, facilitating youth engagement, and helping shape sustainable strategies that ensure all YEP efforts reflect the voices and leadership of system-impacted youth.

Alejandro Cruz is a rising junior at Wabash College studying Rhetoric & Computer Science. He first tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit selling snacks to his middle school classmates but has graduated to selling websites to small businesses. His journey selling websites sprouted as a result of his need to pay his college tuition and his passion for helping his community.

He is especially passionate about creating change in his communities through music. Most recently, he was named Secretary of the Board at the newly established Indiana Mariachi Project, a non-profit aimed at expanding mariachi education to youth in Indiana.

Alejandro is a member of the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) that shaped YEP and brought to life. He leads video & web design for YEP. He contributed to the creation of the animated videos and serves as a cultural consultant and general creative force. Alejandro hopes that YEP will inspire and capacitate generations of young entrepreneurs hoping to create change in their own way.

Tuere Cunningham is a creative entrepreneur and Graphic Designer passionate about storytelling, advocacy, and youth empowerment. She holds a B.A. in Design with a minor in Business Administration from Washington State University and is a Fulbright Scholar who continued her learning in Scotland and Germany. Tuere sees education as a powerful tool that has shaped her journey and laid the foundation for her mission-driven work. She’s committed to making these opportunities accessible to others.

Tuere partners with nonprofits to develop advocacy campaigns and branding strategies that make a lasting impact. She’s also building a business of her own that focuses on helping young entrepreneurs launch their ideas through strong visual concepts.

She serves on the Youth for Youth Board (Y4Y), where she works to uplift youth voices regarding youth homelessness, and she is a proud member of the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) that shaped YEP and brought it to life. Tuere leads animation and creative graphic design efforts for YEP.

Mazzy Eckel is a communications professional and entrepreneur with experience in nearly every aspect of political operations, including field work, digital strategy, communications, and campaign management. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Seattle University and is a graduate of the Institute for a Democratic Future, where she gained practical policy and legislative experience in Washington State and D.C.

During her college years, Mazzy established Eckel Brand Management, a digital strategy and branding firm serving nonprofits, elected officials, and small businesses. Mazzy’s dedication to public service began early. At 21, she was crowned Miss Washington USA, using the platform to address human trafficking, youth empowerment, and leadership across the country. She also represented Washington State at the Miss USA 2022 pageant.

Mazzy is a founding member of the Young Adult Advisory Council that shaped YEP and brought it to life. Mazz contributes to co-design of curriculum with state and local partners and leads outreach strategies to spread the word about YEP so that others might have the tools they need that she wishes she had when she was first starting her business.

Nick McCoy is a high school and Running Start student studying business, mathematics, and leadership. With a passion for connecting ideas across disciplines, he explores how complex concepts can be made accessible and relevant, especially to young people navigating their own paths.

Since a young age, Nick has been interested in the intersection of business innovation, ethical leadership, and community impact. Whether brainstorming startup ideas, tutoring peers, or analyzing data for school projects, Nick brings creativity, focus, and a deep curiosity about how systems work and how they can be improved. Nick is especially interested in how technology, finance and education can empower the next generation to design futures they actually believe in.

Nick is a founding member of the Young Adult Advisory Council that shaped YEP and brought it to life. Nick contributes youth perspective to the curriculum design, supports peer engagement efforts, and advocates for more inclusive approaches to entrepreneurship education.

Nicole Hanson is the Youth Initiatives Manager at the Employment Security Department. She
facilitates the State’s Workforce and Innovation Act (WIOA) Title I-B Youth program and
supports Career Connect Washington’s efforts to increase pathways for youth to meaningful
careers with living wages. She has more than a decade of experience collaborating with youth,
young adults, and their supporters to co-design opportunities for thriving.
Nicole served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua, earned a Masters of Social Work and a
Masters of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in
Spanish and Latin American Culture from Seattle Pacific University. She consults for
organizations that prioritize youth wellbeing and co-design in education and psychology
research. She is grateful for the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and plays outside often.
Montana will always be home.
Nicole started with an idea that more young adults deserve access to meaningful resources and
supports for dignified wage work of their choosing and found many willing collaborators. She
leads the project, facilitates the statewide working group and the Young Adult Advisory Council,
and partners with the many supporters at the Department of Commerce essential to this work.
Her heart is full to abundance with gratitude for the energy, time, and commitment that went in
to creating this gift from us to you.

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