get to know our team
Interesting Fact
Seth is obsessed with sharks! He has cage dived with Great Whites eight times!
Favorite Quote
“It's kind of fun to do the impossible.” - Walt Disney
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Seth Maxwell
Chief Executive Officer and CoFounder
Legacy Youth Leadership is not the first organization Seth has founded. Previously, Seth created The Thirst Project, the world's largest YOUTH water organization. Raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Seth grew up with a love for sharks and being on stage. Interested in storytelling, Seth started acting at the age of seven and moved out to California to earn a B.A. in Theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts- LA. Although all paths lead to entertainment, Seth’s direction changed completely when one of his friends educated him about the global water crisis. Moved to take action, Seth started with the community he was already part of- schools, students, & young people. He set out to raise awareness about the global water crisis in school communities all over the world and move his peers to work to end it. More than a decade (and many schools later), The Thirst Project has now raised over $11 million and brought clean water to more than 500,000 people in 13 countries. While working at The Thirst Project, Seth discovered a passion for helping young people develop into the best leaders they could be. After years of building programs that accidentally did this, he created Legacy to intentionally develop students' leadership skills, support them on their academic journeys, and equip them to be the most powerful agents for social change in the world for ANY cause. Seth has spoken internationally at over 300 schools, countless churches, and numerous conferences including TEDx Hollywood Youth Conference, the Global Youth Summit, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, and meeting with Obama Administration Officials at the White House. For all of this work and more, Seth has been honored by Forbes 30 under 30, DoSomething Awards and even rang the opening NASDAQ bell on Wall Street.
Interesting Fact
Evan sleds down hills on blocks of ice... for fun.
Favorite Quote
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says IMPossible. Always. ALLWays.”
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Evan Wesley
Chief Program Officer and CoFounder
Just because he’s the tallest, doesn’t mean he’s all grown up. Evan is our resident big kid and hype master, so you can always bank on him having the energy of a golden retriever puppy. If you’ve ever heard Evan give a speech, you’ll know why we’ve got him educating all of you about our sister organization, Thirst Project and how you can help end any humanitarian crisis. If you want to get involved, start a campaign, or fundraiser for clean water, call Evan, because he needs more friends. Evan bleeds blue with deep roots in Kentucky, which is why he loves to chase sunsets, fireflies, and apple pie. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Environmental Science with a focus in water resources, Evan decided to ditch his degree and become a ziplining guide. When this adrenaline junkie put down the ropes, he hit the road with on our School Tour as a Road Warrior. Evan fell in love with the road life and the students of Legacy Youth Leadership, leading him to work for us full-time and calling LA home. What do Cody Simpson, jorts, Our Lips Are Sealed, and Disney have all in common? Evan is obsessed with them all (shocker).
Interesting Fact
Robin was actually named after Robin Hood! That resonated with him & he loved what it stood for.
Favorite Quote
For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” George Elliot, "Middlemarch."
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Robin Hall
Director of Business Development
We’d like to introduce you to one of our most unique staffers at Legacy Youth Leadership, Robin Hall. Robin was born in England, raised in West Auckland, New Zealand and currently resides with us here in Los Angeles, California. Robin might have been the first, but is not only PARENT on our team, which he feels is the greatest thing to ever happen to him because it showed him how important the youth truly are to our collective future. Before parenthood, Robin graduated with a degree in Theatre & English from Otago University (NZ) and developed a lifelong relationship with fitness & endurance sports. Before joining our team here at Legacy, Robin worked for the American Cancer Society & Los Angeles LGBTQ Center helping to lead their fundraising efforts as well as ran a marathon, cycled from San Francisco to Los Angeles and also completed an Ironman challenge all for charity. We completely agree that he is a perfect fit as our Director of Development and when he is not busy using his time & energy to make the world a better place, you can catch Robin hanging out at the beach with his lovely wife & little munchkin just enjoying the good life.
Interesting Fact
I often find myself tap dancing when I stand still for too long
Favorite Quote
"We all go, what you leave should be bigger than you" - Cameron Boyce
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TJ Eaglin
Director of Marketing
Started as an intern, now TJ is here. *drake voice* Our resident gen-z expert graduated from Texas Tech University (Guns Up!) with a BA in Advertising, along with a minor in Creative Media Industries + Media Strategies. After a number of years working as a Marketing intern and former Road Warrior for our cause partner, Thirst Project, TJ has joined the Legacy fam full time as Director of Marketing. Originally from Houston, TX, & now based in Los Angeles, TJ has a passion for photography, videography and anything you can think of on stage (acting, singing, dancing, etc.). He is inspired most by his family, friends and others around the world who take action on the issues they care about and his favorite part about working at Legacy is the opportunity to be surrounded by young people and help them make a difference in their own communities.
Interesting Fact
Kristen graduated college in 3 years.
Favorite Quote
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” - Mother Teresa
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Kristen de Guzman
Business Development Manager
Introducing Thirst Project's first ever former Power of Youth award winner to join our team, Kristen de Guzman has been a force to be reckoned with since joining our team at the age of 17. After coordinating a School Club that raised enough money to fully fund a clean water well in the Kingdom of eSwatini, Kristen had the privilege of traveling with our team to build the well and be featured in our School Tour documentary that is played at schools we work with across the nation with our sister organization. Kristen went on to college and earned a degree in Business Administration, so it only made sense that she returned back to Legacy Youth Leadership to join our Biz Dev team after graduating. Inspired by young people, Kristen knows that she belongs to the loudest, most active, and creative generation history has ever seen — this is one of her favorite aspects of working with Legacy. If Kristen isn't drinking way too much caffeine and oversharing information around just about anything, she is busy developing new relationships with partners, cooking up life-changing ideas, and highlighting the amazing work of our young people.
Interesting Fact
Until she left for college, Haley lived her whole life in the exact same spot but in three (3) completely different houses.
Favorite Quote
"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." -Nelson Mandela
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Haley Thompson
Director of Outreach
Put your hands together because a homecoming celebration is in order for one of the newest, yet well seasoned teammates here at Legacy Youth Leadership! Haley first got introduced to our work back in 2016 and after finishing up her college volleyball career and getting her degree in Child & Family Development from the University of Central Missouri (Go Mules!), she made the spontaneous decision to become a Road Warrior for our partner organization, Thirst Project (#StreetNinjas4Lyfe). Along the way she met some of the most EPIC world-changers, including her now colleague Kristen de Guzman and instantly knew she wanted to spend her life empowering students to use their power for good. Although she'll never give up her midwesterner status, she's spent the last three (3) years learning to embrace the Cali life and, like many before her - there is no turning back now! As our Director of Outreach at Legacy, Haley will be spearheading all of our initiatives, like our School Tour, that seek to get as many young people involved in our education programs. You better watch out, because she won't rest until EVERY young person around the world has been welcomed into the Legacy fam and given the opportunity to make the world a better place! If you're looking to win Haley over, you should invite her on a platonic coffee date, to a NEEDTOBREATHE concert, or a day on the links so she can flex her new golf skills, but first-- let's join her in changing the world!
Interesting Fact
Gina eats dessert for breakfast.
Favorite Quote
"Train your mind to see the good in every situation"
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Gina Mitzman
Executive Administrative Assistant
Need some extra sun in your life? Either talk to Gina or make her give you a spray tan. Gina literally brings the sunshine to Legacy Youth Leadership HQ. She studied Sociology at LMU, so she’s who you want reading your horoscope, giving love life advice, or a having as a listening ear. She’s basically a family and relationship expert. Gina enjoys ballet, watching murder investigations, and animal advocacy. We can only do our jobs well because of the hard work Gina puts in–she’s the true MVP! Call our offices and you’ll get a brief glimpse of this magical amazing human named Gina.