The Bernalillo County Commission formally honored five local teenagers Tuesday night for their groundbreaking work as the inaugural youth ambassadors for the Summer of Nonviolence, a collaborative initiative aimed at providing safe and positive opportunities for area youth.
Generation Peace, known as “Gen P,” consisted of teen leaders from across Albuquerque-area high schools who spent three months organizing community events and promoting youth engagement throughout the summer. The program, which ran from June 4 through Aug. 2, was a joint effort between Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department and the City of Albuquerque.
The five Gen P ambassadors recognized were:
- Shaylah Apodaca, a junior at Albuquerque High School
- Ithzell “Izzy” Fernandez, a senior at West Mesa High School
- Pranav Joshi, a senior at La Cueva High School
- Jada Haye-Porter, a 2025 graduate of Eldorado High School
- Jaelynn Valdez, a senior at V. Sue Cleveland High School
During their tenure as ambassadors, the Gen P team organized and led numerous community events designed to keep teens engaged and connected during the potentially challenging summer months. Their programming included drive-in movies, teen dances and athletic activities that created positive spaces for learning and social connection.
“Their efforts helped create spaces that fostered learning and connection at a time when teens may face greater risks of isolation or negative influences,” according to the county’s recognition statement.
The young leaders went beyond event planning, serving as the public face of the Summer of Nonviolence through television and radio appearances, social media campaigns and active participation in community events throughout the program’s duration.
The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners formally expressed “great pride and sincere appreciation” for the team’s contributions, noting that although their official ambassador roles have concluded, their “impact will have a lasting legacy.”