Whitestone Legislative Advocacy

Youth-led, non-partisan org drafting bold legal policy, with a niche in political and economic corruption policy in U.S. policymaking and beyond.

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

James Baldwin

Domestic Affairs

Whitestone Legislative Advocacy’s domestic policy team is focused on strengthening democracy by making the federal government more transparent, ethical, and accessible. We are actively working on policy proposals that address gaps in government accountability, modernize outdated procedures, and expand civic education across public school systems. Our goal is to ensure that young people and historically excluded communities have a voice in shaping the systems that impact them. Through research, youth engagement, and legislative drafting, we’re building a foundation for long-term reform.

We push for clearer communication from federal agencies, greater public input, and stronger civic infrastructure nationwide. Domestic policy is where structural change begins—and we're building that change now.

Core Leadership

Michael Lihanda

Executive Director

Languages: Swahili, French, English

Michael Lihanda is the founder and executive director of Whitestone Legislative Advocacy, where he leads national and international initiatives to expand youth access to policymaking. Under his leadership, Whitestone has worked across both U.S. legislative offices and multilateral institutions, crafting forward-facing domestic and foreign policy rooted in legal literacy, equity, and youth representation. Michael works hands-on with teams to help author key legislative proposals and institutional policy frameworks, shaping the organization’s strategic vision from the ground up.

He is a nationally awarded Model UN delegate, having earned top individual honors at conferences hosted by Yale, Princeton, and Dartmouth. His legislative experience also includes work as a Federal Client Services Consultant for the Centre for Voters Initiative & Action (CVIA), where he supports youth-led advocacy in Congress and at the United Nations in Geneva.

Department Heads

Anne Lee

Head of International Affairs

Languages: Korean, French, English

Anne Lee is an emerging leader in international affairs, education equity, and cultural advocacy. She is the Founder and Executive Director of AANHPI LitBridge, a national initiative dedicated to expanding Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in school curricula through literature, policy engagement, and youth empowerment. Anne currently serves as Head of International Affairs at Whitestone Legislative Advocacy, where she helps lead foreign policy research and diplomatic initiatives alongside multilateral institutions and UN-affiliated bodies.

She also serves as the New Jersey State Assistant Director at the Saphron Initiative, and is the Chair of Global Affairs and DEI for the United Nations Association of the United States of America – Northern New Jersey Chapter, where she oversees programming at the intersection of multilateralism and diversity. She is also a classically trained flutist and was the Second Chair Flutist with the Mannes Prep Philharmonic Orchestra at The New School.

The Whitestone Ledger Editorial Team

Audrey Kolber

Editor-in-Chief of the Whitestone Ledger

Languages: French, English

Aurey Kolber is the Editor-in-Chief of The Whitestone Ledger, where she leads the publication’s editorial vision, oversees its reporting infrastructure, and ensures each piece speaks with both clarity and consequence. Her work reflects a deep understanding of domestic policy and a sharp editorial instinct shaped by years of debate, legal inquiry, and investigative writing.

Aurey serves as vice president of her school’s mock trial team, where she has developed a command of courtroom argumentation and legal strategy. Her background in law and communications converged during her time at the New York Times Summer Academy, where she studied journalism under working reporters and editors while exploring how narrative shapes public understanding of politics, justice, and power. Her reporting is driven by the belief that journalism, like law, is a tool for accountability.

As both a newsroom leader and policy thinker, Audrey brings structure, vision, and rigor to Whitestone’s publishing operations. She ensures that The Ledger is more than just a bulletin—it’s a record of the future youth are fighting to build.