826 Boston’s Youth Literary Advisory Board (YLAB) represents students from across Boston. YLAB members apply and are selected in the fall and receive paid stipends for their work during the school year as artist-leaders and peer editors. The students meet weekly, and their work culminates every year in a final project. Past projects have included a podcast and a professionally printed book.

YLAB’s mission—as written by the inaugural cohort of participants—states:

826 Boston’s Youth Literary Advisory Board (YLAB) is a program that exists to inspire youth. It provides a supportive community,  a safe space for teens,  and a place to fulfill self- expression. It’s a transformative experience that encourages students to be comfortable with their self-identity.

YLAB is student-driven. We are a collective providing students support to discover their artistic voice through book publishing, podcasts, and civic engagement opportunities to fuel change. We strive to break the mold, push back against stereotypes about our generation, and take power in society.

YLAB believes that our identity should not be defined by adults or society. Our identity should be defined by us. We believe in ensuring that unheard voices are heard. We believe in limitless expression. 

The Youth Literary Advisory Board Members for 2025-26 are:

Fionnuala is a 16-year-old junior at Newton South High School. In her free time, she likes reading and writing, spending time with friends, listening to music, and photography. She’s excited to explore new ideas and styles through her writing this year.

Muna is a 16-year-old junior at Boston Latin School. Her favorite hobbies are reading, writing, biking and spending time with her family and friends. This is her third year at YLAB and can’t wait to explore and express herself through new styles of writing.

Ketura is a 18-year-old senior at Brooke High School. A passionate coder and creative problem-solver, Ketura is a MassRobotics JumpStart Fellow, where she deepened her expertise in programming, circuitry, and design through hands-on projects with Arduino and SolidWorks. Ketura is also a youth journalist with Teens in Print, where she uplifts diverse perspectives and stories that matter.She loves to immerse herself in nature, watch movies, read books, and listen to music. This is Ketura’s first year and she hopes to experiment with different styles of writing such as poetry.

Camila Guerrero is a 16 year old sophomore at Academy of the Pacific Rim and a member of the Youth Literary Advisory Board at 826 Boston. A child of Dominican immigrants, she speaks Spanish and English. Controversially, she is a Yankees fan and an Eagles fan, but she wears it proudly!

Mary Ishola is a 16 year old junior at Reading Memorial High School. She loves watching TV shows and pulls most of her writing inspiration from them. She is curious and excited to discover new things around her.

Joseph (He/Him, Chinatown) is a rising novelist who is currently working on his debut novel, an immersive magical fantasy world led by Takemi, a young talented wizard, learning to appreciate suffering as a gift. At just 16 years old, Joseph is currently honing a writing style marked by deep character development, nuanced emotional struggles, and a focus on personal transformation. His passion for writing has already gained mass attention like his article from Teen In Print, namely “Top five ways to grow in your artistic journey” and “The Boston Comics in Color Festival.”

Laylah is a grade 11 student at Connections Academy. She loves to read, go for walks and make art. One of her absolute favorite things is lying outside and looking up at the sky!