Janhitha Veeramachaneni

Janhitha (18) is a youth advocate and community organizer dedicated to strengthening democratic participation through youth leadership and civic engagement. She is currently a freshman at Barnard College of Columbia University, where she is exploring her academic interests while working to create meaningful social impact. 

She is the Founding Chairwoman of the Jersey City High School and College Democrats, which she built from the ground up; mobilizing young people to engage in elections, advocacy, and party organizing. Through this work, she collaborated with youth across Hudson County to help lead the largest active statewide chapter of the High School and College Democrats of America. Most recently, she has taken on the role of Co-Chair of the Hudson County Vote16 initiative, advancing efforts to expand youth participation in local democracy. 

As a Legislative Intern in the Office of State Senator Raj Mukherji, Janhitha conducted policy research and assisted in drafting legislation focused on expanding youth civic engagement in New Jersey high schools, with an emphasis on experiential civic education that empowers students to participate meaningfully in their communities. She also served as Lead Youth Volunteer Coordinator for AAPIs/MENA for NJ Victory during one of New Jersey’s most divisive election cycles, engaging diverse communities and supporting youth-focused voter outreach. Through her organizing, she has mobilized hundreds of young voters and helped build one of the most active youth Democratic infrastructures in the state. 

Janhitha recently co-founded Pluribase, an organization dedicated to educating, training, and supporting the next generation of progressive leaders. Through Pluribase, she works to identify and develop grassroots leadership by partnering with school districts and local organizations to host mock elections nationwide, while also advocating for municipalities to adopt youth advisory councils as part of their education and youth development strategies. Her work centers on translating youth voices into policy, fostering inclusive leadership, and building a more responsive democracy. 

In Jersey City, she was appointed the youngest member of the policy committee on the Mayor’s transition team for the first four years of the administration. She has been highlighted with her work supporting youth through the New Jersey Governor’s Volunteerism Award, ADL’s Cynthia Marks Student Legacy Award, and several others.  

Her commitment to civic engagement is rooted in the belief that young people are not future leaders; they are present-day stakeholders whose voices deserve institutional power. Janhitha’s leadership emphasizes coalition-building across age, race, and community lines, with a focus on converting grassroots energy into durable policy outcomes. After college, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in constitutional law.