Betsy Valnes is the Executive Director for NYLN. She was part of NYLN’s inception [beginning]. She loves the value of empowerment. She wants people to recognize their full potential. Her main passion is international human rights. She has contributed to  events in eight different counties. Many of these events focused on inclusion justice.  Betsy works with other organizations as well. One example is the National Council on Disability. Another is the Mobility International. She also worked with the World Bank and the United Nations. She advocates for the power of young people and people of diverse cultures. Betsy completed her Master’s degree at American University in 2010. In her free time, Betsy likes to read, write, travel, create expressive art, mow lawns, and use power tools.

Stacey Milbern is NYLN’s Community Outreach Director. She is 23 years old. She hails from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Stacey loves NYLN because an NYLN introduced her to disability community in high school and taught her how to be an activist. Stacey has devoted the last five years of her life working with the Disabled Young People’s Collective to build community with disabled youth. Outside of youth organizing, Stacey runs a local tv show with two friends and works with the Azolla Story (a disabled queer people of color group). She is currently creating a careshift collective of people who will work to meet access needs when state solutions are not enough. She is most passionate about working with other disabled youth of color.  Her dream is to one day start a liberation school for disabled young people.

Ryan Pinion is NYLN’s Director of Partnership and Action. Ryan is a youth organizer. He was a founding member of the Disabled Young People’s (DYP) Collective. Ryan helped pass the law that requires North Carolina schools to teach about disability history. He co-organized the Southeast Disability Culture Fest in 2007. He also helped coordinate North Carolina’s first Youth Leadership Forum in 2008.  Ryan is passionate about disability justice, the power of youth voice, and self-determination for all people. Ryan enjoys collecting records, spending time outside, and chilling with his iguana, Vlad.