Leslie joined Youth Food Advocates at Community Food Advocates in 2020 as a high school student, where she mastered food policy advocacy from the ground up and began her interest in equitable systems in food and urban spaces. Through intensive YFA training in the food justice ecosystem, policy analysis, and government processes, she developed sophisticated research, communication, and leadership skills that immediately translated into real-world impact. As a standout leader in her YFA cohort, Leslie participated in advocacy that helped secure $275 million for the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience (CEE) initiative. Her compelling City Council testimony even caught the Daily News' attention! At her own Midwood High School, she successfully advocated for restoring the enhanced cafeteria format post-COVID and celebrated the victory with a joyful reopening event. Leslie also designed and conducted student surveys, presenting her findings directly to Midwood High School’s leadership to drive meaningful changes.

Inspired by her deep understanding of how food access intersects with racial equity, Leslie expanded her impact beyond school walls. As a Summer Youth Employment Program intern, she served as a Youth Community Leader at El Puente’s Williamsburg Leadership Center, where she mobilized residents to address the harmful effects of toxic air quality in North Brooklyn as part of the “¡Nuestro Aire!” campaign. CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute recognized her exceptional potential, and selected her through a highly competitive process as their CUNY Food Justice Leadership Fellow, where she delivered four student-led presentations tackling pressing food justice challenges from policy, environmental, and equity perspectives across CUNY’s network. Through this fellowship, she joined Equity Advocates as an intern, where she managed coalition communications, designed newsletters and co-led workshops on civic engagement and government to youth. Her impressive work led Equity Advocates to hire her as a Program Coordinator, where she spearheaded an end-of-year fundraising campaign to gather impact stories and created campaign visuals to strengthen donor engagement. Most recently, Leslie interned at Council Member Sandy Nurse’s District Office, where she worked directly with constituents to address neighborhood concerns and achieved resolutions to community member’s needs by collaborating with city agencies to resolve local issues.

Leslie continues to champion food security and racial equity through advocacy with elected officials and powerful City Council testimonies. As a proud NYC public school graduate who launched her career fighting for better school meals, Leslie embodies the transformative power of centering lived experiences in policy change and continues to inspire new generations of YFA interns by sharing her remarkable journey with them. Outside of the classroom and work, Leslie enjoys going to concerts and spending time with friends and family.