Ko Ser Lu Htoo is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Karen Youth Connection (CKYC), where he has played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission to empower Karen youth and strengthen the broader community. Since stepping into this leadership role, Ko has worked tirelessly to engage youth in advocacy, providing them with training on key issues affecting their lives at the local, state, and national levels. He has expanded CKYC’s reach by forging strategic partnerships with other youth organizations while also fostering a culture of leadership within CKYC by encouraging young people to step into roles of responsibility within the organization and beyond. Ko holds a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, where he earned double minors in Sociology and Human Rights. His academic background, combined with his passion for advocacy and community development, drives his continued efforts to uplift and amplify the voices of Karen youth. 

At age four, Praise and his parents left their home in Burma and went into a refugee camp in Thailand called Mae La. He lived there for five years before immigrating to Bakersfield, California. After graduating from high school, he attended Bakersfield Community College (BC), obtained six associate degrees in science (with honors), and later transferred to the University of California-Irvine. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with honors. Throughout his academic journey, he was a part of the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement Program (MESA) and a member of the Minority in Science Program (MSP). He participated in the Bakersfield College-California State University of Bakersfield joint summer research program and the University of California-Merced-BC joint Central Valley summer research experience. He was also an AMGEN Scholar at the University of California-San Francisco. He is now at the University of Pennsylvania, continuing his educational goals and future aspirations by working in a lab. As the College and Career Mentorship Program Manager, he wants to support young individuals of all ages in pursuing higher education and help lift their community out of turmoil. He knows firsthand the challenges and difficulties of being a first-generation student. He wants to encourage youths to strive to be more than what life has given them. He wants each youth he encounters to feel belonged, safe, and protected.  He wants to be an educator, a healer, and a scientist who others can heavily depend on in their time of need. Lastly, he wants to utilize his position to assist, guide, and give hope to troubled youths and parents in finding peace and refuge. 

Ta Nay Tha has previously served as CKYC's youth leader as a Deputy Secretary and, most recent position, General Secretary. Ta Nay Tha attended Pacific Union College as a Pre-Med. He later found a passion for history and changed his academic pursuit. He is a graduate of Altamont Healthcare Bakersfield (healthcare trade school), where he completed the Sterile Processing and Distribution (SPD) and Endoscope Reprocessing Tech (ERT) programs. He is an internationally certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician, having passed the certification exam (CBPSD: Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution). He utilizes lessons and important information from his own experiences to help the youth navigate the education environment. He has formal teaching experience from planning and giving piano lessons and Karen Language class lessons. He also utilizes the skills he has learned to research the history, culture, and traditions of the Karen people and is continually learning to introduce this vital heritage to the younger generation. He firmly believes a good leader should be a strong listener and enthusiastic learner. 

Evan Taw is the CKYC Civic Engagement Program Manager. He graduated from Centennial High School in Bakersfield, California in 2024 with a 4.3 GPA. He was heavily involved in We the People, a rigorous civic education program done in a competition styled after a mock congressional hearing. As a part of his school’s team, he aided them to the national competition for the first time in twelve years, where they finished 16th. Within his team, he was the expert on the origins of the American political system, covering material such as English law, various governmental philosophies, and colonial America. He has also been competitive in National History Day, involving heavy historical research and analysis. In his four high school years, he has been a part of Centennial’s Biomedical Sciences program, where he learned epidemiology, public health, oncology, nephrology, anatomy & physiology, and more. He has also spent time learning sports medicine and worked as an athletic training student aide for the cross-country team. In 2024, he also graduated from Bakersfield College with an Associate of Science degree in Administration of Justice and History, as well as an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts with a 3.78 GPA. He is currently an undergraduate student attending California State University, Northridge. For the past several years, he has been a musician performing at events such as local and CKYC Karen New Year's festivals. As the Civic Engagement Program manager, he hopes to establish a connection with individuals of all ages in order to foster an environment of civic education and engagement so that individuals can make informed decisions as they participate in civil society.

Born in Burma, Naw Janny graduated high school in 2015 and joined the BARS program, now known as the Liberal Arts Program at the Yangon Myanmar Institute of Theology, for one year. She moved to the U.S. in 2018, where her high school diploma from Burma was deemed not credible. Consequently, she attended Bakersfield Adult School and earned a GED in 2019. Following this, Naw Janny enrolled at Bakersfield College and then joined Unitek College, graduating in 2022 with a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) diploma. Currently, she works as an LVN while volunteering at CKYC as the Media Relations and Communication Manager, where her goal is to promote and advocate for youth and give back to the community. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, particularly fantasy and adventure films, and engaging in walking exercises.

Paw K’Lu Taw was born in Day Law, a Karen village, and later moved to Nu Poe refugee camp. She lived in the camp for four years, and in 2008, she immigrated to Oakland, California, with her family. She attended California State University of East Bay (CSUEB) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Physiology. She is currently pursuing Nursing at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Throughout her college years, she participated in student-led health science research conducted by the CSU-East Bay Center for Student Research. She’s also currently a member of the SFSU Nursing Student Association (NSA). Paw K’Lu Taw is passionate about preserving her Karen culture and passing on the knowledge of the Karen language, dances, arts, history, and ancestral wisdom. She believes in empowerment through being grounded in knowing one’s history and knowing one’s self. Thus, she is committed to achieving these as the Arts and Culture Program Manager.

Naybluet Htoo was born in Umpiem Mai Refugee Camp in Thailand. She is from a family of refugees who escaped the conflicts in Burma. She later immigrated to Bakersfield, California, in 2008 with her family. During high school, she was a part of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) because of her love for the outdoors and animals. The program helped her develop her public speaking skills, communicate effectively and professionally, and be a leader among her peers. She received recognition for her outstanding work and earned her FFA State Degree from the California FFA Association. She was also awarded the “Outstanding Leadership Senior Award” during her senior year at Bakersfield High School. Her successes are a result of her services to FFA as a reporter for one year and as secretary for another year. She competed in FFA Impromptu competitions, which developed her ability to think on her feet and appreciate other competitors for their spirit and abilities. Her credentials include two Associate degrees of Art from Bakersfield College in Business and Liberal Studies. She is continuing her studies and completing her prerequisites to apply for a local nursing program in Bakersfield. While continuing to complete these requirements, she is also training to become an electrocardiogram technician to gain experience in a healthcare environment and work experience. As one of the Arts and Culture Program coordinators, she wants to help correct the misconception that learning comes from tedious lectures and boring memorization of information on printed materials. She wants them to learn more about their history through fun and engaging activities to show them that their cultural heritage is fun and exciting. 

Yvonne and her family emigrated to Bakersfield, CA, in 2007 at the age of one. During her high school career, she served as Senior Class Vice President, Junior class treasurer, and Secretary for her school’s Rotary Interact Club. She was also the recipient of the “We the People” Civic Engagement Award and Shaw Service Award. In 2024, she graduated from high school with honors and began her undergraduate studies at UC Davis, where she studied environmental engineering. Her goal as the College and Career Mentorship Program Coordinator is to help connect with students and participants in pursuit of their future careers and goals. She hopes to be a resource and aid participants through challenging or unfamiliar processes related to college and career development.

Due to the civil war in her home country, Myanmar, Saysay’s parents moved and went into the Mae La Oon refugee camp in Thailand. She was born in the refugee camp, and a few years later, she and her family immigrated to Oakland, California. She started her education at seven years old and is now attending California State University of Bakersfield (CSUB), pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Throughout her educational journey, Saysay was inspired by a few programs and workshops she attended, which led to her wanting to work with the youth. Furthermore, she always dreamed of giving back to the Karen community. As a first-generation student, she is motivated to guide and mentor the youths who come from similar backgrounds as her.

Zarblue Paw is the Civic Engagement Program Coordinator for the northern California region. In this role, Zarblue works to promote Karen youth and community members involvement in political participation such as register to vote, hosting voter education, and organizing initiatives that empower local residents to engage with civic processes. With a strong commitment to fostering positive social change, Zarblue collaborates with various organizations, leaders, and stakeholders to create inclusive opportunities for all members of the Karen community to have a voice.

EhKehLer was born in a village in Thailand and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 1. She grew up in a small city in the Bay Area, where she attended school. From there, she was recognized for many achievements, most notably for founding a club at her high school dedicated to de-stigmatizing the discussion of menstruation and for becoming the first-ever volunteer for a Section 8 housing area. As the founder of the aforementioned club, she was in charge of implementing strategies to encourage students to engage in thought-provoking discussions around subjects that receive social stigma, and she also ensured the distribution of menstruation products to Dorothy Day House, a homeless shelter in Berkeley, California. She is also a soprano in her high school’s choir and has performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City alongside members of her choir.  She is now the historian of the choir, which means she is in charge of documenting the vocal music department’s activities. As the Arts & Cultural Program Coordinator, EhKehLer wants to foster a welcoming environment where youth can become fluent in Karen culture and embrace their heritage. By teaching Karen literacy classes, leading traditional dances, and teaching folktales and songs that have been passed down from our ancestors, she hopes to encourage the youth to be more confident in their knowledge of their culture. She is a firm believer that understanding and embracing one’s culture is important for forging strong leaders who are essential to achieving self-determination for the underserved.