Meet the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship of Summer 2026

Alexandra Ortiz-Avila 

Alexandra Ortiz-Avila is a senior at California State Dominguez Hills majoring in Labor Studies. Alexandra received her associates in liberal studies from Sacramento City College. She is open to new experiences and meeting new people. Her passion for restorative justice is integral in her professional and personal life. She is not afraid to be wrong when presented with new information and wants to see the world as it is. 

Anaís Orozco

My name is Anaís Orozco, I am a Shia Muslim revert, the daughter and grandchild of Mexican immigrants, and I am a self-taught illustrator and arts educator from Southeast Los Angeles. My work centers on how culture is created and performed within immigrant and working-class communities, with a focus on collective memories and lived experiences of Southeast LA. Through a community-driven lens and collaboration with my surrounding community members across all faith traditions and belief systems, I visually explore the role of subaltern groups in movements for local and global liberation, with particular attention to youth, student, and Indigenous-led movements, including the struggle for a liberated Palestine.

I graduated with a BA in World Arts & Cultures from UCLA in 2024 and have since dedicated my time to addressing the needs of my local communities through various collaborative mutual aid projects and faith-based food distribution services. The value system that guides my creative and community-centered practices is rooted in the firm belief that God is just, and that collaboration across all backgrounds and experiences is necessary in order to achieve safe and equitable communities.

Angel Udofia

Art and activism are two things that shape who I am and the work I hope to do in the world. I am currently a rising junior Dramatic Arts major at the University of Southern California, and I am excited to spend this summer with CLUE learning how grassroots activism and faith intertwine. 

In previous summers, in my home state of Massachusetts, I spent time doing evangelism work. This, along with my background in civic engagement and training in community organizing, has deepened my commitment to community, purpose, and service. I am passionate about intersectional activism and working toward collective liberation. I believe storytelling has the power to move people, helping a community like Los Angeles grow and change, and fostering empathy and hope for the people living here. Outside of my work, I love to hike, read, go to the movies, and of course, perform! At my core, I strive to turn creativity into connection, and connection into change.

Claire Dau

Hi! I’m Claire, and I am a senior at Western Governors University, majoring in Special and Elementary Education. I have a background working as a behavioral therapist for children with autism and currently serve as an Instructional Assistant supporting elementary-age students with special needs at school. My journey into organizing began in Santa Barbara, where I worked alongside graduate student workers with UAW Locals 2865 and 4811 and participated in campus advocacy for student & worker rights.

I have been especially impacted by the ongoing violence in Palestine and the war in Iran, which grieves my heart and deepens my prayers for peace, while also calling me to continue pursuing justice through organizing and collective action. I grew up Catholic, and after a period of distance from my faith, I felt called back to Christ and renewed my baptism in the Free Methodist tradition. My faith grounds my commitment to justice, as I believe we are called to walk alongside the marginalized and care for those whose voices are often unheard.

Henry Frederick-Gray

Hi! I’m Henry, and I am a rising Junior at Chapman University! I am majoring in screenwriting and minoring in religious studies. I was raised in a justice-focused interfaith household, with my father serving as Director for Justice and Advocacy Ministries for the Disciples of Christ, and my mother having served as president of the Unitarian Universalist Association. I have been organizing since the sixth grade, and am currently the co-President of Disciples on Campus at Chapman University. I am so excited to join the YRLF program and expand my skills to continue the fight for justice in the world.

Jeannette

Hello! My name is Jeannette. I grew up in San Bernardino County, and I am graduating from UCLA Spring 2026 with a major in Sociology and minor in Central American studies. My studies are influenced by my family history back in El Salvador. Growing up Catholic, I internalized the belief in the need to build a just world for all and compassion for others that I still use in my organizing today. I’m particularly interested in tenant rights organizing and how we can help communities of color resist displacement. I’m hoping to learn from my other cohort members and deepen my knowledge of liberation theology. 

Lily Gross

Lily Gross is a Jewish ritual and song leader who is in her second year of rabbinical school at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas but moved here from Denver, Colorado where she received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Denver. She worked as a behavioral therapist, religious school teacher, and farmer/educator at a Jewish urban farm for a year after graduation before making her way back to her alma mater as the Campus Director for the University of Denver’s Hillel. At Hillel, she spent 4 years cultivating Jewish life on campus through prayer, learning, and Jewish joy. This year she has served as the Rabbinic Intern at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice Beach. Catch Lily in her free time singing, playing guitar, walking with her dog Mushu, and delighting in the natural wonders of our world.

Rionni Hill

My name is Rionni Hill and I am 20 years old. I am a psychology major, who is passionate about helping others grow, heal, and feel supported in their lives. My faith plays an important role in guiding how I treat other people with compassion, patience, and understanding. Through my experiences working with community organizations and serving others, I’ve learned the value of empathy, listening, and showing up for people in meaningful ways. I’m committed to using both my education and my faith to make a positive impact, especially by supporting individuals and communities that may need encouragement, guidance or care. I’m grateful to be part of a fellowship where I can continue growing spiritually while building genuine connections with others.

Xavier Robles

My name is Xavier Robles. I recently graduated from Claremont School of Theology with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Interfaith Chaplaincy. My interests include philosophy, liberation theology, psychology and community organizing. I was born and raised in Los Angeles County while shaped by a Mexican-Guatemalan cultural perspective. Through this lived experience, I have observed that communities of color are frequently marginalized and underserved, despite representing a significant share of Los Angeles’ population. Growing up in a Christian household, I eventually discovered liberation theology, which inspired my commitment to social activism. I am committed to serving vulnerable populations, including immigrants, incarcerated individuals, low-wage workers and those experiencing homelessness.

I believe that CLUE and the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship will help further strengthen my commitment by providing the fundamentals to community organizing through an interfaith perspective. I seek to grow as an interfaith leader and community organizer while cultivating meaningful connections with the communities that my cohort and I will serve.