Task Force Biographies:
Youth Members
The Statewide Youth Board on Obesity Prevention (SYBOP) is a diverse group of teens nominated from throughout California to work on issues related to childhood obesity prevention. Established in April 2004, this first of its kind statewide youth board was formed at the request of representatives from the California Department of Health Services and the state legislature. Members receive on-going training in public speaking and policy making fields, and then serve on the board, providing youth perspectives on obesity prevention policies and programs while promoting youth-led action at local and statewide levels. Each year two SYBOP youth sit on the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness as representatives of this statewide youth board. They attend Task Force meetings, testify at legislative hearings, present at workshops and provide youth insight into Task Force decision-making practices.
Xin Guan was born and raised in China, but now lives in Santa Barbara, California and is currently a senior At San Marcos High School. She has served on the Statewide Youth Board on Obesity Prevention (Youth Board or SYBOP) since 2004 when she was nominated by the health teachers at her high school. As a senior member of the SYBOP Policy Committee, Xin has taken the initiative to closely examine the different pieces of legislation and actively participate in various committee activities including testifying at Senate Health and Select Committee hearings. In her local community, Xin has participated in the formation of the school district’s Wellness Policy and is currently working on two local projects: establishing a school garden and maintaining the San Marcos High School Health Club with the goal to make San Marcos a much healthier educational environment. Xin is especially interested in helping people lead a healthy and safe lifestyle and also serves as president of American Red Cross Club to help people prevent and face disasters. Xin eventually plans to be a pediatrician.
Elena Jordan is from Ukiah, California and is a junior at Ukiah High School. She is currently in her second year as a SYBOP member. As a member of the SYBOP Program Committee last year, Elena worked to give away grant funds through SYBOP's Mini Grant program and helped the Wellness Task Force judge the Superintendent's Challenge. This year, Elena is serving on the SYBOP Policy Committee and has already taken a leadership role in testifying at the Senate Select Committee on Education and Community school meals hearing in Fresno last fall. Locally, Elena worked with former Task Force Youth Member Lauren Bishop last year to bring the price down of healthier food items in vending machines at Ukiah High. This year, she is working on a project jointly with the Cancer Society that brings nutritional education into the classrooms of elementary schools in the Ukiah School District. Elena also serves as a student representative on her school district’s Wellness Policy Committee.
Abiu Izquierdo is currently a sophomore at Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles, California. Abiu is a member of the Youth Board’s Program Committee and is assisting with the SYBOP Mini Grant program this year. In his local community, Abiu is a member of the Manual Arts High School Youth Health Action Board and the Healthy Eating, Active Communities Initiative. He is currently working on a project to improve the school meals at his high school.
Amanda Lane is currently a sophomore at Health Professions High School in Sacramento, California. Amanda serves as a member of the SYBOP Media Committee and helps to publicize SYBOP’s statewide and local events. In her local community, Amanda is a leader of the Youth Task Force for Healthy Eating and has so far conducted three community presentations highlighting strategies for healthy eating and physical activity that were presented with a healthy meal for participants.
For more information on the SYBOP, visit: http://www.californiacenter.org/pages/about_youth_board.htm
