Chapter Surpasses 100 Active Student Members

The Contra Costa County chapter of the ACS Society of Emerging Leaders has officially surpassed 100 active student members — a milestone that reflects the extraordinary momentum our chapter has built since its founding.

The growth comes largely from two recent onboarding cohorts drawn from San Ramon Valley High School and Monte Vista High School, both of which joined following outreach campaigns led by our Co-Founders and Outreach Manager Prajit Anand. These cohorts brought in over 30 new members combined, pushing the chapter past the landmark figure.

This makes the Contra Costa County chapter the largest SEL chapter in Northern California — a distinction that speaks to the passion and commitment of our members, the strength of our local school partnerships, and the urgency our community feels around cancer advocacy.

"Reaching 100 members isn't just a number," said Co-Founder Devansh Karavati. "It means 100 young people in Contra Costa County who are ready to show up, speak up, and fight for evidence-based cancer policy."

Co-Founder Aahan Shah added that the chapter has plans to expand into additional Contra Costa County high schools over the coming semester, with tabling events and informational sessions already in the pipeline.

Members who joined as part of the new cohorts will be onboarded through the chapter's standard orientation process, which includes an introduction to ACS CAN's five advocacy priority areas, training on how to meet with local legislators, and an overview of active California cancer bills.

We are grateful to every member, advocate, and community partner who has helped us reach this milestone. The fight against cancer doesn't stop here — it's just getting started.