Youth Leadership Ambassadors

Meet OJS' Student Leaders

Youth Leadership Ambassadors are highly driven students within Operation Jump Start, who have a strong urge to give back to the community and lead by example. These students are motivated by personal growth, challenge, and global change. They participate in a wide range of opportunities that enable them to share their voice in the community as young advocates, become a helping hand through volunteer work, and assist in making OJS events possible. Additionally, Youth Leadership Ambassadors work in a collaborative setting and set the tone for all Operation Jump Start students.

Araceli Hernandez

Angelica Benitez

Allyson Nina

Andrea Perez

Who leads the leaders? Meet Jalen and Alex...

Jalen Shelton

Hello everyone my name is Jalen Shelton and I am the Youth Leadership Ambassador Coordinator. I am an OJS alumni class of 2018. I am also a Cal State San Bernardino alumni. I received my bachelors degree in Sociology during the summer of 2022. I plan to pursue a career in teaching. As YLA Coordinator, I plan to help OJS students build bonds with other students, serve the community around them, and to overall become leaders through service and teamwork.

My favorite quote is by John Cena which says “A true champion is not judged by how much he or she is admired, but how well they can stand at the face of adversity.”

An interesting fact about myself is that I am a huge fan of professional wrestling. Things I love to do include singing, dancing, and watching youtube on my free time. I am grateful to have the role of YLA Coordinator and I am looking forward to a great year!

Connect with Jalen:
jalen@operationjumpstart.org

Alex Solorzano

Alex joined Operation Jump Start in October 2023 as a Math and Science Tutor. He is a graduate from CSU Long Beach with his major in Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He began as a Peer Mentor for local schools in 2019 where he made it his mission to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Alex believes it is essential to uplift the youth and provide guidance that many first-generation students may not have access to. Alex is currently pursuing his dream towards a career in medicine where he wants to specialize in Psychiatry and Public Health. His prior experience in patient care has helped him foster a closer connection to his community which he hopes to grow through OJS.
In his free time Alex enjoys playing sports, exploring new coffee shops, going on hikes, and hanging out with his dog, Jackson.

Connect with Alex:
alex@operationjumpstart.org

Meet OJS' Student Leaders