FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2025
California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Presents the John Lewis Youth Leadership Service Award to Saanvi Arora
Sacramento, Calif. – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., presented the esteemed John Lewis Youth Leadership Service Award to Saanvi Arora on January 15, 2025, recognizing Arora’s tireless commitment to student engagement in the civic process and in policymaking.
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Service Award, established by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in 2021, honors the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis by celebrating individuals under 25 who demonstrate exceptional commitment to civic service and leadership.
Arora, the Winter 2024 nominee for California, was selected for her leadership in demonstrating the power of student engagement in shaping public policy and highlighting how young people can make meaningful contributions beyond voting.
Arora, currently a third-year Computer Science major and Public Policy minor at UC Berkeley, is also a past John Lewis Youth Leadership Fellow, where she championed policy making and gained knowledge and experience for building coalitions.
After losing a close friend in a mental health crisis, Arora is driven by a passion for advancing support for student mental health. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Power Project, Arora leads a coalition of high school and college students to engage in public policy and civic discussions. She championed and drafted bill language that resulted in several pieces of chaptered legislation that advanced the support for California’s youth, including bills with Assemblymember Akilah Weber, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Senator Tim Grayson, Senator Susan Rubio, and former Senator Richard Pan.
Arora is actively involved in organizations that promote civic and social change. She serves on the advisory board of California Common Cause and holds leadership roles including External Affairs Vice President for the Associated Students of UC Berkeley and University Affairs Representative for the UC Student Association. She also advises the National Alliance on Mental Health and represents undergraduate students on the Student Mental Health Oversight Committee.
Secretary Weber expressed her appreciation for Arora’s commitment to youth and community, stating, "Saanvi Arora exemplifies the spirit of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Service Award through her unwavering dedication to civic engagement and her tireless efforts to advancing mental health support for California’s youth. Her work is a testament to the positive impact young leaders can have on society."
The next John Lewis Youth Leadership Award will be awarded in fall 2025. To learn more about the award in California, visit: www.sos.ca.gov/administration/awards/2024/youth-leadership-award.
To learn more about the award at the national level, visit: www.nass.org/node/2208
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