2020-21

Queen

Hey y’all! I’m Queen Simmons, and I was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia- the deep South. I love all things sweet, and I’m an advocate for healthy love and wellness. I’m building my career at the intersection of entertainment/project management and community development.

Art and entertainment is life, so I received my B.F.A. in Marketing and Management from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I find joy in curating experiences, creative direction and project management. I believe that “celebration” is the purpose of life. I arrived at this concept after realizing that every aspect of our lives result in some form of celebration. A weekend, new year, birthday, transition, or any educational, spiritual, professional and personal milestone is followed by a celebration. I want to help people celebrate and enjoy their lives. And to me, this means helping them to sustain their lives, too.

I’ve been active in volunteer work from age 11 to present day. I started in my home church’s Extended Hands ministry/Berean Association where we served the homeless and nursing home residents with food and care packages and performed ministries of music. With time, I expanded to other initiatives like the Gwendolyn Goodman Girls of Excellence for character development for girls, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire, Woodruff Arts Center, Savannah Jazz Festival and others. Although all of these experiences varied in nature, the common thread was the promotion of health and wellness, and to exist as one’s best self. There were systems created that still operate today that disenfranchise and underserve many communities, which disrupts their quality of life- disrupts the celebration. Community development and poverty alleviation are essential to ensuring quality of life, and I am ecstatic to be a part of Jubilee Year Los Angeles where I will help to serve and inspire.

Ryan

My name is Ryan Lokhorst and I’m from Peachtree Corners, GA. I went to school at the University of Notre Dame. While we didn’t win any football national championships, the team made the playoffs my junior year and my college career ended with 17 consecutive home victories. Pretty good, but there better be a championship coming soon.

I majored in finance and sociology. Definitely two different worlds but it gave me a good perspective of both the business world as well as a wide range of societal issues. My studies and experiences inspired me to pursue a year of service because I want to get more involved in making a direct impact in communities on a local level. And to hopefully start a career that makes a positive change in the world.

I love to travel, make playlists and discover new music, and play pretty much any sport. I’m also pretty competitive so I’m down for competition anywhere at any time. I’m excited for life in LA especially because of the incredible diversity in the area. I’m definitely going to try to sample as much international food as possible.

Asma

Hey! My name is Asma Lee. I’m a 2020 graduate from the University of Baltimore with a B.A. in Digital Communication. I’ve lived in Maryland my whole life with a few extrusions along the east coast. During my four years in college, I explored my passion for art through graphic design, specifically, by using my art to build communities and bring people together. I’ve always been very passionate about creating art and giving others the opportunity to explore their artistic avenues. I’m also a huge advocate for the importance of mental health especially in black communities.

My hobbies include binging Netflix shows and anime classics, reading, painting, drawing, and hanging out with friends. This year will be my first time being on the West Coast and in California. Although there is uncertainty with COVID-19 right now, I’m really looking forward to participating in a spiritual and collaborative space. I can’t wait to meet my fellow corps members and start this exciting journey.

Jayne

Hey everyone, I’m Jayne! I’m 21 years old, and I’m from Wake Forest, North Carolina (just north of Raleigh). I just graduated from Elon University in Elon, NC with a degree in Psychology. I’m super friendly and I love working with other people, so I became a member of a service organization called Epsilon Sigma Alpha while I was at Elon. My time in ESA led me to strengthen my passion for serving others, and gave me some amazing opportunities that I’m so thankful for. I loved being able to help make a difference in the Elon community, and I’m looking forward to doing the same in LA.

I’ve lived in the South for my entire life, so moving to LA will definitely be a culture shock! This is a huge step outside my comfort zone, but I see it as an incredible opportunity for personal growth. I’m so excited to explore everything that the city has to offer and make the most of my year here!

Jannon

Hello! My name is Jannon Smith and I’m 21 years old, I am from Long Island New York and I am so excited to be moving to Los Angeles! I just graduated from Eastern Nazarene College, I majored in Religion and Business! I have a love for learning new things and discovering new ways I can serve others and better myself! I hope to grow a lot this year from both the great and not so great experiences I may have. I have learned so much from the past few years in college and I hope to continue this. My goals are to serve others, make lasting relationships and grow as a person in a multitude of ways!

Janiece

Hi! My name is Janiece Morgan, and Iʼm from Long Island, New York. I graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Neuroscience. In my free time, I enjoy singing, live concerts, and international restaurants (currently Korean food is my go-to!). Iʼm an aspiring psychiatrist hoping to emphasize the “care” in healthcare for underserved communities of color.
During college, I mainly focused on my love for music and science. I was in an a cappella group and the universityʼs gospel choir. I also did a research internship exploring the neural circuitry of eating. Then after graduating, I spent two years working as a clinical research assistant conducting nicotine and smoking cessation research.
During this time, I reflected on all that I had done and all that I wanted to do, and I realized that I craved more engagement with communities through service. As someone who is compassionate and people-oriented, Iʼd never given myself the opportunity to pour into others in a meaningful way.
In this new chapter for me, this opportunity to serve with the Jubilee Service Corps in LA will allow me to immerse myself into a life of community and service, and I am so excited for it!

Casey

Hello! My name is Casey. I am so grateful to serve as a JYLA corps member. I am an unconventional candidate for the program; I am a proud husband to my partner Amoni and a dog dad to a spunky Boston terrier named Bray.

I have spent the last four years serving pancakes, gardening, and welcoming newcomers as the administrator and campus missioner at Saint Michael’s University Church in Isla Vista, California. While working at Saint Mike’s I have also been working on my master’s degree in religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Before coming to Saint Mike’s I worked in youth ministry at the Cathedral of Saint Philip for a year while finishing my bachelors degree at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. I grew up a couple of hours southwest of Atlanta in Columbus. Georgia. While I come to the program with a unique set of experiences, I look forward to serving, learning, living, and growing alongside my
fellow corps members.