Shruthi spent a decade as a television journalist at the United Nations for channels in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This experience gave her a deep appreciation and first hand look into the inner workings of the United Nations daily operations on every level and a desire to work with like-minded peace building advocates from all walks of life. Shruthi has also worked at cultural institutions like the Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, and the US National Heritage Areas. She joined the American Red Cross DC chapter at the age of 15 and volunteered in a variety of capacities at the chapter level, as one of 8 regional ambassadors, and eventually on the ARC National Youth Council. Her advocacy work continued when she was selected as a speaker at the National UNICEF Summit and joined a Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill to lobby for children's rights. The new mother and television writer for Disney and Nickelodeon is also a mentor with Etre Girls and an advocate with UN Women. Shruthi is so excited to merge her passions for art, advocacy, culture, and community to work alongside fellow members of the United Nations Association community of L.A. in creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all!

Itzel Romero is a high-performance operations and brand strategist with a diverse background spanning humanitarian work, political campaigns, influencer marketing, and large-scale construction. She previously served as a Sales and Campaign Specialist for Doctors Without Borders, volunteered on major political campaigns, and managed large construction projects across Southern California. She’s also helped lead social media and event strategy for top influencers and global brands like Bodybuilding.com. Currently, Itzel is the COO of one of the largest marketing companies in the world, where she oversees multi-million-dollar product launches, elite mastermind events, and global brand campaigns. Known for her operational precision and viral creative execution, she specializes in scaling complex businesses and building standout brands that dominate their industries.

Angela Yee is a Finance and Risk Manager as well as the Executive Board President of an educational non-profit. Additionally, she is an actress and a regular performer at the Los Angeles Opera and smaller black box theaters. As an advocate for the international performing arts communities, she is especially excited how the Los Angeles Chapter of the United Nations Association has started to engage and partner with the vibrant arts and cultural communities here in this beautiful city. Angela's passion for traveling fuels her storytelling inspired by different cultures, traditions and cuisines. With her degree in finance coupled with her non-profit experience, she believes in accuracy, transparency and timeliness to improve humanity around the world and has been excited to advocate for the United Nations through the Los Angeles Chapter.

Ilia Sargent-Barba is a writer, creative producer, and animation professional driven by storytelling with heart and purpose. A graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s University, Ilia began her career freelancing across the entertainment space—writing scripts, directing her short film Oops (watch here), and exploring the worlds of live-action and animation before finding her passion in production. Beyond the studio walls, Ilia is deeply committed to community uplift. She volunteers at local homeless shelters and serves as a Development Councilor with the Creators Society, where she moderates “How to Get Your First Job in Animation”—a speaker series featuring professionals across the animation pipeline who share how they got their start. The goal: to help newcomers get their foot in the door and see what's truly possible. Ilia’s long-term mission is to bridge animation and advocacy—using storytelling to inspire, empower, and educate, especially young women who’ve never seen themselves reflected in the industry. She hopes to collaborate with global organizations like the United Nations to integrate fieldwork and storytelling in service of impact.