Raised by a single mother in Casper, Wyoming, Janessa has deep gratitude for her community and its opportunities for youth to make a difference. When she was a high school student, Janessa served as a member of the Youth Empowerment Council through the Mercer Family Resource Center and as a member of the youth-focused participatory grantmaking program of the Natrona Collective Health Trust. She has served as a member of the Health Trust's Program Committee for the past two years. Graduating with honors from Kelly Walsh High School in 2024, Janessa is now a student at Casper College.