California Governor Appoints Indian-American Leaders to Youth Commission

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Raj Bhutoria and Avanti Ramraj to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. The commission, established in 2023, aims to engage disadvantaged youth in civic matters. Bhutoria and Ramraj bring extensive experience from their previous roles in different organizations.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed two Indian-American community leaders, Raj Bhutoria and Avanti Ramraj, to his youth empowerment commission.

Established in 2023, the California Youth Commission aims to provide meaningful opportunities for civic engagement, especially for disconnected and disadvantaged youth. The commission advises the Governor, State Legislature, and Superintendent of Public Instruction on a variety of youth-related issues, with a mission that includes drafting and proposing model legislation.

Bhutoria has been Chief of Staff at Snappr since 2023, and has experience as a Strategy Analyst at Accenture and a researcher at the Financial Economics Institute. Ramraj, based in Santa Clara, has been an intern at Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine (SIRUM) since 2024. She has also worked with the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association and the California Democratic Fund-Raising Association.

Both Bhutoria and Ramraj expressed their commitment to addressing critical issues such as climate change, education affordability, and fair economic opportunities. Assemblymember Luz Rivas highlighted the importance of the commission in creating a pathway for civic engagement and ensuring young voices are heard in policy-making.

(With inputs from agencies.)