CLUE’s new Young Religious Leadership Fellows Begin Today!

Rev Baluyut

My name is Rev. I was born and raised in Angeles City in the Philippines, where an ever present and influential US military culture is present. I grew up in a Catholic family. My family did not all migrate here, my brother and I followed our mom to Anaheim after high school. Like thousands of other Filipinos who migrate out of the Philippines everyday, my mom became a migrant worker in the US to be able to send her children to college.

When it became hard to accept that I felt isolated in the vicarious and anticipatory grief I felt from witnessing the live genocide in Palestine, I started to become more involved in organizing spaces. I continued to seek grass-roots organizing opportunities once I moved back to Orange County. Inspired by the teachings of the bible to stand up for the poor, the oppressed, migrants, and protecting workers from coercive relationships from debtors and employers, political advocacy has allowed me to connect back to my faith and revisit my relationship with God. 

Aubrey Beller 

My name is Aubrey Beller (she/her), and I am a graduate student in the Philosophy program at California State University Long Beach. For about two and a half years I’ve also worked as an organizer for the Union of Academic Student Employees, UAW local 4123. My time as an organizer for higher ed workers has taught me much, but it comes with its own unique set of challenges. I was drawn to the YRLF program with the hope of improving my leadership skills and also seeing what this work entails outside of the context of the CSU system. I’m looking forward to learning more from my mentors and peers within the Fellowship. 

Amber Benyoucef

My name is Amber Benyoucef. I obtained my BA in the Study of Religion at UCLA, having the privilege of learning directly from Reverend Lawson, may he rest in peace. I am a grad student in Religious Studies at Cal State Long Beach, thankfully with only one semester left. I specialize in Liberation Theology, with a focus genocide and torture. I have been organizing since 2011, beginning my activism at the Occupy encampment in Colorado Springs.  I am deeply looking forward to this summer with my YRLF cohort. I hope to learn more about faith rooted organizing and interfaith work, as well as get involved in non-violence resistance trainings.

Ruby Estolas

Hi my name is Ruby Estolas and I am a graduate from Azusa Pacific University. I double-majored in Biblical Studies & Communication Management with a minor in Theology. My father is from the Philippines. My mother is Japanese and Russian. With my background, upbringing, and passions, I hope to expose fear-based narratives that often perpetuate injustice towards marginalized communities. I desire to live in a way that values spirituality without over-spiritualizing the human body and experience.

My passion is driven by time spent living in the Middle East and having a background of Japanese family who are victims of the Hiroshima bombing. Working with CLUE Justice is a step towards holistic healing. It is a place where restoration of the whole person (body, mind, heart, soul, spirit, community, etc.) matters and takes place in tangible ways. Such reflects what I believe will be my lifetime pursuit of relational healing and equitable resourcing.

Hasset Shimeles Hailu

I’m Hasset Hailu, from Ethiopia. I just finished my MA in Peace Studies and Theology, and I’m all about faith-based justice work—especially for women, Children, and folks pushed to the margins.

I grew up in Addis Ababa and started out studying mechanical engineering, but my heart was always in community work. So I switched gears, studied leadership and community development, and picked up a Business Management degree along the way.

For over two years, I worked as a Program Coordinator at Stitching Addis Alem Foundation, which only deepened my passion for serving others. That’s what brought me to the U.S. to study at AMBS—to learn how to weave faith and justice together. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m ready to dive back into advocacy and action.

My work (and my heart) centers on being a voice for the voiceless—fighting gender injustice, colorism, and economic inequality. In undergrad, I researched Ethiopia’s “Fuga” community; in grad school, I dug into how scripture gets twisted to oppress women. And on social media? I’m always calling out the stuff that holds people back.

At CLUE, I’m excited to learn, grow, and keep pushing for a fairer world—one where everyone gets to thrive.

Zoe Kisselbach  

My name is Zoe Kisselbach (she/her). I was born in Hollywood, where I’m currently living, and I’ll never leave if I can help it! I am a UCLA graduate and an extended community member with the Los Angeles Catholic Worker. I first became involved with the Christian left three years ago through a secular academic lens, as my undergraduate research sought to interrogate how responses to and understandings of the suffering of the physical body (particularly women’s bodies) are mediated and controlled by the institutional Catholic Church through the canon of saints. The experiences I’ve had in community with Christian movement workers has allowed me to blossom spiritually, and I’m progressively becoming more attached to and involved with faith based organizing in this city.

My primary interests include liturgical direct action, restorative justice, American folk music, sex workers’ unions, and tenants’ unions. I am so excited to be a part of this incredible cohort of CLUE Justice summer fellows, and I’m looking forward to diversifying and deepening my connections to faith leaders and faith communities doing organizing work in Los Angeles!

Genesis Mendez

Hey y’all, my name is Genesis Mendez (she/her). I’m majoring in Biological Sciences at Biola University with minors in Bible and Sociology. I was raised in a Christian Hispanic church community, which continues to shape my values, my purpose, and the way I engage with the world.

I’m passionate about medicine, especially where it intersects with immigration and incarceration. I care deeply about how healthcare can be used as a tool for justice—bringing healing to communities that are often neglected or harmed by the system. 

Through the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship, I hope to grow as an organized and thoughtful activist. I want to explore what it means to pursue justice through a faith-based lens—and to learn how to lead with both conviction and humility.

Gianna Nguyen

I am a rising senior at Occidental College studying Urban & Environmental Policy with minors in Interdisciplinary Writing and Asian Studies. Having grown up in Orange County as part of the Vietnamese diasporic community there, I draw my inspiration for political advocacy from my understanding of the lineage of revolutionary history I occupy and the ways that realities of imperialism have informed the lived experiences of my community. I

was raised in an interfaith background, having a background in Catholicism while my main influences growing up were steeped in Buddhist tradition, primarily through cultural practices. Through the YRLF program, I am eager to learn about faith-based community organizing strategies, as well as how to approach people of diverse backgrounds with compassion. Los Angeles is a city I have a deep affection for, and Orange County is my home. As part of these communities, I am most excited to tap into the communities here and coalesce against the injustices that pervade these streets.

Bailey Payne

I’m Bailey Payne. I am originally from Texas, but have been living in Pasadena, CA for three years now. I am wrapping up my Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. I come from the Baptist denomination within the Protestant tradition. I am drawn to the YLRF because I approach pastoring from a community organizing lens. The majority of my organizing experience has been within a singular institution or as a congregation partnering with outside organizers. I’m excited to work with CLUE this summer to gain experience as the organizer who works with multiple congregations. For fun, I love to be outside or do something creative. Hiking, pottery, camping, sewing, going to the beach, and cooking are some of my favorite things. Doing any of those with people usually makes them better for me!