Young, Black and Gifted in Policy: Recognition, Reflection, and the Work That Continues

By Amanda Barber

Hosted by Black By God – The West Virginian, in partnership with the Black Voters Impact Initiative, the space is part of the annual lead-up to Black Policy Day. The Black Voters Impact Initiative is led by Dr. Shanequa Smith, whose work has focused on Black civic engagement, voter education, and democratic participation across West Virginia.

The Young, Black, Gifted in Policy space was created to acknowledge people who are stepping into policy conversations across the state and as a moment of visibility, connection, and affirmation for younger generations doing the work in many different ways.

BBG conducted a “Where Are They Now?” look back at former Young, Black, Gifted in Policy participants. Some are still early in their journeys. Others have already given their teens, 20’s, early careers, and sustained labor to this work. What connects them is continued engagement with the state they call home.

The fourth year of Young, Black, Gifted in Policy (YBGP) will be observed with a live webinar on February 3 — Freedom Day, which marks February 3, 1865, the day the West Virginia Legislature ratified the 13th Amendment and legally ended slavery in the state, freeing enslaved Black people by action of the legislature. Holding the conversation on this day connects present-day policy engagement with the history of Black freedom and political struggle in West Virginia.

Aicha Sy

Aicha Sy is a student at The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., majoring in political science with a focus on public policy. She is involved with the GWU Student Government Association, serving as an undergraduate senator and chair of the Committee on Community, Advocacy and Inclusion. Aicha has established programs at GWU, in Washington, and in her hometown of Martinsburg, West Virginia. Aicha is the Founder and Liason of the Martinsburg Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board. She is the Founder and CEO of Youth Upbound, a student-led after-school nonprofit, particularly for BIPOC youth from underserved Washington communities. Aicha started a Girls Who Lead chapter at GWU. Additionally, she is involved in leading and dual serving as president for a West Virginia Voters of Tomorrow chapter. Even further, Aicha is a Youth Council Member for Project Unloaded.

Aiden Satterfield

Aiden Satterfield is a master’s student at New York University, where he studies Cybersecurity. A seventh-generation native of West Virginia, Aiden serves as co-editor and columnist for BBG Tech, where he explores the intersections of technology, innovation, and equity. He has a vision to inspire diversity in the Mountain State’s growing tech industry. Aiden is also a Model Validation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Fellow for Handshake, a professional network for the AI economy.

Read his latest: The Reality of Zero Trust Security: Why ‘Trust No One’ Is Harder Than You Think

A-Nya Badger

A-Nya Badger is a Dunbar, West Virginia–based community organizer and researcher serving as Community Democracy Program Coordinator for Fair Shake, where she focuses on PFAS education, civic engagement, and community empowerment across the Ohio Valley and West Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Peace & Social Justice from Berea College, where she also served as a student chaplain providing pastoral care and peer counseling and advanced gender inclusivity and spiritual wellness initiatives. A-Nya is a co-founder of Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, organizing trainings and webinars at the intersection of reproductive justice and spirituality, and currently serves on the Steering Committee for Stay Together Appalachian Youth and the Advisory Board for Black Appalachian Young and Rising, supporting youth-led education, curriculum development, and leadership development efforts.

Charkera Ervin

Charkera Ervin, J.D., is a West Virginia–born civil rights attorney, policy strategist, and community organizer who serves as Legal and Policy Director for the African American Redress Network and Executive Director of Lift Off Order 15. She has also served as Human Rights Counsel to the Office of Justin Hansford at the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, where she advanced community-centered reparatory justice recommendations in partnership with municipalities including College Park and Greenbelt, Maryland. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, where she served as Class President and worked with the Movement Lawyering Committee, Charkera has coordinated grassroots legislative advocacy — including the CROWN Act in West Virginia — and has organized campaigns, research, and public testimony on reparations, racial equity, and systemic injustice. Her work bridges legal strategy, international human rights advocacy, and community empowerment to uplift historically marginalized communities.

Christian Gist

In May, Christian Gist graduated from Columbia University (CU) with bachelor’s degree in history and computer science. While at Columbia, Christian performed research assistance in Africana studies and for the CU Center for Justice. Most recently, in December, Christian started as the Pre-Arraignment Diversion Coordinator for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (DANY). At DANY, he oversees internal databases, monitors case outcomes, prepares reports, and connects people to appropriate services and providers. 

Dijon C. Stokes

Dijon Stokes is in his second year at Howard University (HU) School of Law and is a recipient of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s prestigious Marshall-Motley Scholarship. In January, he began a Racial Equity Strategy Legal Externship at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He serves as Vice Chair and Associate Justice for the HU Student Association Judiciary. In addition, Dijon is a certified notary public in Maryland and the owner of SSP Notary Solutions, which offers virtual services nationwide and in-person assistance in Maryland.

India Frith

India Frith is attending West Virginia State University (WVSU), an HBCU located in Institute, West Virginia pursuing her degree in social work. She is active in the extracurricular activities that the university offers. India is a proud member of the Jazzy Jackettes, which is WVSU’s dance line and an extension of the Marching Swarm Band. She is also heavily involved in the WVSU Student Government Association (SGA). In September, India was named one of SGA’s Golden Ladies (Miss SGA 2025-2026). India has participated in several past Young, Gifted & Black events and will be a guest on the upcoming February 3rd Q&A webinar.

Jazmine Hyde

Jazmine Hyde is the Student Government Association President at West Virginia State University, a proud historically Black college and university. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work and is an active member of the Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society. Through her leadership and academic work, Jasmine is committed to advocating for students and uplifting her community. She looks forward to using her social work education to create meaningful change and support the communities she serves.

Jihad Dixon

Jihad Dixon is a Senior Associate in Strategy and Operations at My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a Barack Obama Foundation program for boys and young men of color. He is a 2026 National Leaders Council Washington DC Fellow. Earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from West Virginia University (WVU), Jihad remains engaged with his alma mater through two alumni organizations. He is a Board of Directors member for the WVU Alumni Association and President/Lead Contact of the WVU Black Alumni Association. 

Jomo Smith Jr.

Jomo Smith Jr. is a self-taught, up-and-coming entrepreneur who is learning the business world through hands-on experience. He is currently strengthening his sales skills while entering the fragrance entrepreneurship space, gaining insight into what it takes to create, market, and connect people to a brand. Motivated by growth, creativity, and self-belief, Jomo focuses on turning knowledge into action and ideas into opportunity. His journey is just beginning, and he remains committed to learning, evolving, and building his own path in business.

Kenny Matthews

Kenny Matthews is a Program Associate with the West Virginia Economic Justice Project. As a person in recovery and formerly incarcerated, he draws on his lived experience to advocate for equality in all aspects of life. He coaches others to share their testimonies, not only to help empower them, but to speak about the carceral system in front of the West Virginia Legislature. He hopes to continue building resources and compassion for people being released from incarceration. Kenny also has the goal to combat policies, laws and ideologies that increase imprisonment and minimize access to food, housing or education. Furthermore, he strives to expand resources within prisons and jails, guiding higher education instructors on working with the incarcerated. 

Malik Q. Smith

Malik Q. Smith is a full-time Technical Specialist for GAI Consultants, Inc. at its Homestead, Pennsylvania, location. His work includes quality control and assurance for construction projects, site inspections, field testing, and contractor documentation reviews. He ensures construction documents comply with environmental protection standards, submits detailed reports for state agencies, and coordinates with project teams to identify risks and implement corrective actions. An example of Malik’s work is the Coal Combustion Residual 2024 Annual Inspection Report for the Fort Martin CCB Landfill in Maidsville, West Virginia. Malik co-authored the report, prepared for Monongahela Power Company in January 2025. Malik is also a former writer for BBG. 

Myya Helm

Myya Helm is earning her Ph.D. in history and Welsh history at Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. Her research examines the histories of Black coal miners in South Wales and West Virginia, using various theories and creative approaches for historical reconstruction and education. Additionally, Myya holds public speaking events on coal-mining histories, leading interactive presentations at schools, institutions and organizations. About four months ago, she launched a celebration calendar theme for the Abertillery Learning Community, titled “Revealing International Impacts.” As part of this calendar theme, Myya spoke with schoolchildren across four campuses about the connections between South Wales and West Virginia. Myya is also a creative practitioner, hosting workshops on merging artistic skills with scholarly research. Her creative work can be followed on Instagram. More of Myya’s past accomplishments were highlighted in the BBG article, Myya Helm’s BBG Story Q/A, written in 2022 by Malik Q. Smith. 

Oceanna Smith

Oceanna Smith (she/they) is a West Virginia–born community organizer and youth leader from Tyler County who lives in Wheeling, WV, and works as a Youth Organizer with the ACLU of West Virginia. She brings deep roots in community arts education (with a B.A. in Community Arts Education) and is pursuing her Master’s in Community and Organizational Leadership and Research at West Liberty University, where she has worked on projects focused on community empowerment, lifelong learning, and youth leadership development. Oceanna has served as Program Director for the North Wheeling Community Youth Center, coordinating services, arts programming, and safe spaces for underserved children and families, and has contributed to public health and youth leadership initiatives in her region. A passionate advocate for youth access, safe communities, and creative expression, she believes all young people deserve spaces where they are seen, heard, and supported. 

Quenton King

Quenton King is the Government Affairs Specialist at Appalachian Voices, an organization dedicated to protecting the environment in Appalachian communities. For almost five years, he has served as Board Member and Treasurer at the ACLU of West Virginia. Quenton is also the President of the West Virginia Environment Council. Additionally, he volunteers for the Charleston Green Team, which aims to improve sustainability by informing the public and presenting ideas to city officials. In November, BBG highlighted Quenton’s passion for environmental justice in the article, People Moving the Mountains Spotlight Profile: Quenton King. 

Rayna Momen

Rayna Momen, Ph.D. (they/them) is a sociologist, educator, and public criminologist currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Co-Founder and Program Coordinator of the Higher Education in Prison Initiative (HEPI) at West Virginia University. In this role, they lead and coordinate college-in-prison programming, expand access to higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and teach undergraduate criminology courses focused on gender and crime, punishment and social control, and deviance. Dr. Momen’s research and teaching center on the criminalization of marginalized communities, structural racism, mass incarceration, and educational equity, using an intersectional, queer, and abolitionist framework. Their work bridges scholarship, community engagement, and institutional change to advance more just and inclusive education systems.

Rhonda Rogombé

Rhonda Rogombé is the Health and Safety Net Policy Analyst at the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy (WVCBP). As part of her job, Rhonda leads work focusing on Black infant and maternal health in the state. On Jan. 28, she published a report finding that West Virginia’s infant death rates are higher than the U.S. average, and that Black mothers in the state are “dying at disproportionate rates compared to their peers.” Other data from Rhonda’s report can be found on WVCBP’s website. Recently, Rhonda was also one of four individuals from across the country to receive Family USA’s Health Advocate of the Year award.

Ryan Kirkpatrick

Ryan Kirkpatrick is a West Virginia–based community organizer and youth leader dedicated to environmental justice, civic engagement, and grassroots advocacy. As a Youth Organizer with Young WV Forward, he mobilizes young people across the state to protect democratic participation and equitable public policy. Ryan has been recognized with the Emerging Activist Award for his leadership in environmental justice and his work with People Concerned About Chemical Safety and Our Future WV, where he has coordinated community events, public education efforts, and volunteer engagement to support safe water, clean air, and community health. A student at West Virginia State University, he continues to strengthen civic power among youth and marginalized communities across the Ohio Valley through organizing, outreach, and policy advocacy. Ryan is also Chairman of the Environmental Committee for NAACP-Charleston.

Takeiya Smith

Takeiya Smith is the Executive Director of the Young West Virginia Power Building Movement, which she co-founded in 2015. In 2025, her work included visiting churches, small businesses, colleges and community centers to help people learn about changes to voter ID laws and ballot information in upcoming elections. She spent time in historically disenfranchised neighborhoods, canvassing and helping residents register to vote. Takeiya also attended town halls and legislative debriefs to hear from those directly impacted by current political policies and from the elected officials working to address those impacts.

Treyvon Simmons

Treyvon Simmons represents District 1 on the Board of Directors for the City of Bluefield, West Virginia. Treyvon made history as the youngest person ever elected to the board. He is 28 years old. The article also states that Treyvon recently announced he is running as a Democrat for the WV House of Delegates in District 37, which represents Mercer County. He named his campaign the “People’s Campaign 2026.” Additionally, Treyvon is the owner of Simmons Officiating, a wedding and vow renewal service. His services are LGBTQ+ friendly, and his business motto is: “If you lead with love, you’ll never fail!” Treyvon describes himself on Instagram as a “public speaker, free thinker, and insane optimist.” In November, he published a Substack article titled From Hemings to Harris: The Resilient and Dignified Spirit of Black Women in America Shines Through.