board of directors.
Founder, Executive Director
Founder, Executive Director
Layla Hussein
Nicaulis Mercedes
Layla is a 15-year-old junior attending Fordham High School for the Arts as a dance major. Growing up in The Bronx has allowed Layla to quickly understand the racial and economic inequity across the world, urging her to use her passion for writing to make an impact on her community. Layla currently works as a writer for YCteen and GenZ Writes, in which both publications have similar missions of accentuating youth voices. She has written articles with the sole mission of educating, informing, and inspiring. Layla also spends her time as an editor for Voices of GenZ. She believes that through writing, many undiscovered stories have the chance to be heard, and she hopes that people in her community will use writing to share new perspectives that can change the world.
Nicaulis is a 16-year-old junior attending Fordham High School For The Arts as a technical theatre major. She was born in the Dominican Republic and lived in The Bronx for most of her life. From a young age, Nicaulis has been extremely intrigued by creative writing and visual art. Growing up in an underrepresented community and seeing the lack of professional outlets has utterly disappointed Nicaulis, motivating her to strive for change. She realizes there are numerous undiscovered talented teens, like herself, in her community that deserves opportunities for exposure, and therefore, Nicaulis is here to provide some for them. Nicaulis took lead in helping write a play named "Hidden Truths" which was turned into a real production by a team of teenagers and funded by round-about theater in New York. Additionally, a poem about her natural hair was published in the anthology "inside of me".
Writing Director
Writing Director
Emmanuella Agyemang
Marielys Martinez
I am a young teen from The Bronx with great passions in writing and documentary filmmaking. I am a writing director and creative writer at JOC. I also enjoy graphic design!
I am a junior in high school that has a passion for writing. Putting my voice out there is really important to me, so being part of this magazine has been a miracle. I’m a writing director, as well as a creative writer, so I can’t wait for all of you to read and enjoy my work!
Writing Director
Chazzel Ferbol
My name is Chazzel and I am a writing director at JOC who enjoys reading poems while spending the majority of my time educating myself on global issues. I aspire to be a pediatrician and perhaps be a fairly successful poet pursuing what’s best for me
Art Director
Teresa Bautista
My Name is Teresa Bautista and I am a senior at High School for Environmental Studies. My position at JOC includes being a Graphic designer, Outreach Coordinator, and Art Director. My passions compromise speaking on issues that others don’t want to shine the light on as well as creating a safe, secure, and respectable environment for all—no matter ethnicity, race, religion, etc.
Art Director, Artist
Fatoumata Drammeh
I’ve always been passionate about spreading awareness and addressing important issues through art and journalism. Growing up in the bronx I realized there was a lack of representation, opportunities, and voice for youth here. As an artist and art director for JOC, I hope to change that.
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