Hi everyone! My name is Kira and I’m the founder and executive chair of the California Society of Emerging Leaders. Currently, I’m a senior at the University of Southern California double majoring in Environmental Studies and NGOs and Social Change and minoring in Data Analytics…so I basically just love school :)  Previously, I’ve served on the National Campus and Youth Engagement Team as Youth Chair, working to build ACS On Campus Youth. I’ve also worked in Climate Venture Capital, Environmental Non-Profits, Writing/Education Centers, and more—I’m happy to talk about anything and everything related to these topics!

I still remember when I heard this dreaded “c” word for the first time. Cancer.

Although I was a third-grader and didn’t understand what the word meant, I knew my mom’s life was at stake. The next day, I went to my teacher and asked her for some paper to start writing letters with my classmates to show her she wasn’t battline it alone. I enthusiastically brought home the most heartfelt letters from my class, resulting in her first smile since the diagnosis. Even though her breast cancer spread to her brain and lungs, me and my family were able to keep our smiling faces on for her. However, in my freshman year of high school, when my grandma Kathy passed away from lung cancer and my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer for the second time, I felt utterly hopeless. It felt like no matter what I did, my loved ones would still wake up in pain everyday and I wanted to do more than just be a supportive daughter.

That year, one of my classmates invited me to join my school’s American Cancer Society fundraising event. I found an inspiring community of allies in the fight against cancer and I also found something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

Over the past 8 years, I’ve continued volunteering with the ACS—developing leadership and technical skills, and finding my calling. My goal has shifted as well; I work to empower elementary to college aged students in almost every volunteer program. 

Throughout my time, I’ve seen the power of youth…spending their countless weekends getting out of their comfort zone and creating innovative projects. Despite their knowledge and contributions, these students are often dismissed. Moreover, a survey of 186 countries by the UN reports that young adults feel that they have “limited opportunities for effective participation in decision-making processes.” As a result, young people are discouraged from political participation or activism because they don’t feel they have a real opportunity for their voices to be heard.

That’s why I wanted to create a space for students to find their voice and become activists. The California Society of Emerging Leaders is an advocacy and education program to empower youth across CA to make sure the fight against cancer is a local, state, and nationwide priority. Even though we started less than a year ago, we’ve been able to make great strides. Some of our highlights include raising thousands of dollars for the ACS, sending students to Washington D.C. and Sacramento for lobby days and leadership training, and developing campaigns in our local communities to research and take action in health equity.

My hope is that our group will support the future leaders of the fight against cancer—so that other 3rd grade students don’t have to hear the dreaded “c” word ever again.

Email: kira.sano13@gmail.com