We Are LYTAC
"LYTAC is a place where change can be made, and issues can be fixed. We, along with all youth in Lane County, constantly see areas of our transportation infrastructure that need improvement. Together, we advocate for solutions that bridge divides. The work LYTAC does centers on a youth-forward focus on transportation and brings Lane County and Oregon closer together." - LYTAC Co-chairs Jill Chihorek & Henry DeJong
LYTAC 2025-2026 Leadership
Jill Chihorek - Co-chair
Henry DeJong - Co-chair
Ibrahim Kellogg - Community Ambassador
Mission Statement
The mission of LYTAC is to represent and amplify the youth voice on transportation issues that shape their communities. LYTAC advocates for meaningful youth involvement in decision-making processes, ensuring the youth perspective helps guide policies, plans, and projects. LYTAC operates collaboratively with other youth and across sectors to pursue a shared vision for the built and natural environment.
Purpose
Youth Representation and Advocacy
To ensure the perspectives and experiences of youth are meaningfully represented in transportation-related matters. To promote and facilitate active youth participation in decision-making processes in Lane County and beyond.
Engagement and Education
To facilitate opportunities for engagement and education for youth on transportation-related matters.
Collaboration and Partnership
To work collaboratively with other youth, community organizations, and agencies across sectors to advance shared goals for equitable and sustainable mobility.
Vision and Stewardship
To champion a collective youth vision for a safe, inclusive, and environmentally responsible transportation system.
Current Council Members
LYTAC members are youth from around the Eugene-Springfield metro area and represent the youth of Lane County in transportation decision-making. LYTAC works closely with staff from Lane Council of Governments, Safe Routes to School, and school districts around Lane County.
Goush is a senior at South Eugene High School and is going on his 4th term with LYTAC. He is passionate about equity in accessibility to transportation and transit.
Goush Shaik
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a junior at South Eugene High School. I love baking, and you can find me selling my desserts at the Amazon Thursday Market and the Eugene Saturday Market. I'm in LYTAC because of my passion for sustainable and accessible transportation.
Jill Chihorek
She/ Her/ Hers
Hi! I'm a freshman at South Eugene High School, and I currently serve as Co-chair. Because of my love for photography, I enjoy how in a 10-minute drive from just about anywhere, there is beautiful scenery to be found. If I could change one thing about where I live, though, I would get rid of the hills near his home. Check out my photography account! @henry_cphotography
Henry DeJong
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a sophomore at North Eugene High and previously served as Co-Chair and Community Ambassador. My favorite things about where I live are the trees, plants, and bikeways, undisturbed by traffic and cars. I would make a change to the city by living closer to other areas to make commuting less of a hassle from places. I also have a special talent for color matching and mixing colors!
Lee Sunderland
He/ Him/ His
My name is Dean Cupples. I am in LYTAC because I am passionate about transportation.
Dean Cupples
He/ Him/ His
My name is Oscar Owens. I am 15 years old, and I am a freshman in high school. I joined LYTAC because of my own interest in transportation, infrastructure, and politics as well as wanting to advocate for transit in my community and my county.
Oscar Owens
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a sophomore at South Eugene High School, currently serving as Community Ambassador. As someone for whom biking plays a significant role in daily life, I joined LYTAC to advocate for youth interests and ensure that the transportation needs of young people are heard and represented.
Ibrahim Kellogg
He/ Him/ His
As a full IB student at Willamette High School, I joined LYTAC because I really enjoy alternative ways of traveling. Eugene is incredibly walkable/bikeable, and being able to interact with the pieces of the puzzle interests me. Learning about past legislation that impacts such things is fun as well.
Logan Green
He/ Him/ His
My name is Jaxson Carmichael. I am an African American artist and musician. I think that the transportation systems in Eugene as well as the community could have improvements to help things operate much smoother and make things feel much more welcoming.
Jaxson Carmichael
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a junior at South Eugene High School, and I am very passionate about making public transit in our community more accessible and effective for everyone involved. During my time in LYTAC, I have been involved in working towards implementing transit education curriculum in schools. In my free time, I enjoy drawing and spending time outside.
Rumi Paskalev
She/ Her/ Hers
Hi! I am a junior at South Eugene High School. I joined LYTAC because I'm interested in city policy and I want to encourage more people to use active transportation. On LYTAC, I've been involved with writing letters to decision makers and planning the Battle of High Schools Bike Ride. Some of my hobbies are running and gardening!
Jessica Chinitz-Mital
She/ Her/ Hers
Past Council Members
Where are they now?
Hi! I'm an 11th grader at South Eugene High School. One thing I love about where I live is how close it is to the mountains. If I could change one thing about the area, though, I would love to see a city-wide subway or rail system. A fun fact about me is that I can speak Bulgarian!!
Zachary Paskalev
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a sophomore at Sheldon High School. My favorite thing about Eugene is the nature surrounding it. I love all the amazing hiking spots, lakes, and cool places to explore. If I could change one thing about the area, I would make places like Coburg Road and River Road more accessible to pedestrians. My hidden talent is that I can name all 195 countries that are recognized by the United Nations!
Rosemary Ruiz
She/ Her/ Hers
Hi! I'm an 11th grader at North Eugene High School. While I love the trees where I live, I wish I could see more flowers throughout the year. I have a hidden talent for knitting, and like Auden, I like to make clothes!
Li Wolf
They/ Them/ Theirs
Hi! I am a junior at Wellsprings Friends School and love how relatively cheap living in Eugene is. If I could change one thing about Eugene, I would make walking more accessible to anywhere you need to get to.
Ben Mewes
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I am a student at Oregon State University in the College of Science and the Honors College. Currently, I am majoring in environmental chemistry and marine biology and ecology. I am a supplemental instruction leader for vector/multivariable calculus and am a member of the Menge/Lubchenco lab within the Department of Integrative Biology researching sea star population demographics on the west coast.
Auden Harker
She/ Her/ Hers
Hi! I'm an 11th grader at South Eugene High School and served as the co-chair of LYTAC in 2023. My favorite thing about Eugene is the many tree-covered biking and running paths. If I could change one thing about the city, I would remove the part of Highway 105 that spoils the waterfront between Autzen Stadium and the River Valley Center. I'm also a master at color coding for my Google Calendar!
Samuel Claassen
He/ Him/ His
Hi! I'm a sophomore at North Eugene High School and love the trees that surround where I live. I live in low-income housing, so I would change the size and quality of my home if I had the chance. I am a poet and a Japanese speaker of 11 years, and I've even been to Japan! I'm also a cheerleader at North Eugene.
Bex Aitken
She/ Her/ They/ Them
Current Projects & Subcommittees
Subcommittees
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Advocacy and Public Comment Subcommittee---Ibrahim Kellogg - Subcommittee Chair
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Campaigns Subcommittee-----------------------------Ibrahim Kellogg - Subcommittee Chair
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Youth Transit Education Subcommittee-------------Rumi Paskalev - Subcommittee Chair
Read about our projects below!
See us in action!
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WORLDWIDE
WORLDWIDE
WORLDWIDE
Read a letter we sent out to decision-makers below!
Past Projects
LYTAC started in 2022 as an initiative by the Lane Council of Governments to engage youth in transportation planning. Since then, LYTAC has seen 4 cohorts of members, countless projects, and multiple success stories.
Delaney Thompson
They/ Them/ Theirs
Hello, my name is Delaney Thompson (they/them) and I am an Assistant Transportation Planner with the Lane Council of Governments. I specialize in Transportation Options – which are transportation campaigns that support people walking, biking, and taking the bus! I also support the Link Lane transit service, marketing and public outreach campaigns, and anything else that needs doing in the transportation planning world at LCOG. Outside of work, I love spending time with my corgis, Juniper and Goose, gardening, and playing video games. I love the work that LYTAC does and feel so grateful to be able to support the wonderful youth of Lane County!
LYTAC Facilitators
Megan Shull
She/Her/Hers
Hi! I'm LYTAC's intern for the 2025-26 year. I'm a senior at UO, getting my degree in environmental studies. As a student, I am constantly engaging myself in classes that inform me of critical issues surrounding transportation. Outside of classes and work, I love to cook, read, and be outdoors. I'd do all of them at once, but burnt food doesn't taste good.
Basil Campbell
He/ Him/ His
LYTAC Events Calendar
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May 2026
