How do I get involved in the CMTA Youth Council? How can I help empower the youth? What can I do to make a difference? If you have ever asked yourself these questions, you have come to the right place! We can’t wait to work with you and together empower the youth living with CMT. Sign up now and get involved in the CMTA Youth Council by helping us complete the projects we are currently working on. Check out our membership requirements by visiting Youth Council Membership Requirements
CMTA Youth Council Committees
Fundraising Committee: The fundraising committee organizes projects that aim to engage youth to raise money for the CMTA. We have a fundraising outline that helps to guide youth when coming up with their own projects. Additionally, we run yearly Projects such as Social Media Bingo, Piggy Banks, and the Dance4CMT. Our work is designed to raise money for research and support the mission of the CMTA.
Contact the Fundraising Committee
Special Projects Committee: The Special Projects committee aims to educate and engage the community through our events and largescale projects. We enlist the experiences, feedback and talents of our youth to better serve the youth community. Our goal is to develop fun and amazing new projects to build our community even stronger!
Contact the Special Projects Committee
Social Media Committee: Social media committee is a passionate group of youth using the power of social media in the youth community. Our committee uses social media to spread the word on events, highlight wonderful youth and their accomplishments, and cultivate an empowering connection of youth from all around the world. Please take a moment to support our posts and projects by following us on Instagram, at @cmtayouth, and like our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/CMTAYouth
Contact the Social Media Committee
Engagement Committee: The purpose of the engagement committee is to craft unique and diverse ways to connect the youth community living with CMT. Our mission is to welcome new members to the youth movement while driving deeper engagement with past and present friends!
Contact the Engagement Committee
CMTA Youth Council Membership
Jonah Berger, National Youth Programs Manager and Youth Council Leader
Jonah, who also serves as director of the CMTA’s Camp Footprint, lives in Dewitt, Michigan and helps coordinate the activities of the CMTA Youth Council.
Hannah Roberts Cook, Youth Council Co-Leader
Cleveland, Ohio
Hannah graduated from Kent State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing. After graduation, she joined Northern Trust, a Wealth Management bank, as the Cleveland sales associate and marketing coordinator, where she is responsible for the coordination and execution of all marketing efforts, including events, as well as new business generation and sales processes.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoy the great outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking), cooking, watching documentaries, travelling to new places, and the theater. She love sunsets/sunrises, a good veggie burger with fries, the mountains, all things CLEVELAND, baseball, her dog Fitz and, above all, spending time with my family and friends.
Sebastian Bruce
Ontario, Canada
Social Media Committee
Sebastian Bruce is from Ontario Canada where he attends a local College for computer programming. He was diagnosed with CMT 1A at 12 years old along with his twin sister which was inherited from their dad. He became involved with the CMTA Youth community in 2019 at camp footprint, and joined the Youth Council in 2022 where he continues to serve on the Social Media Committee. His goal is to educate more people about CMT and help youth get involved with the community.
Toby Fantl
Calgary, Alberta
Special Projects Committee
Toby Fantl lives in Calgary, Alberta and attends Western High School as a sophomore. At age 8 he was diagnosed with CMT type 1A and has attended camp footprint for 4 years. He is super excited about serving the youth council on the special projects committee. For fun, Toby enjoys editing movies, anything involving computers such as programming and studying hardware design, and woodworking.
Elsa Groenink
Hudsonville, Michigan
Engagement Committee
Hello! My name is Elsa and I have CMT 1A. I inherited my CMT genetically from my mother. I got involved with the CMT youth movement about seven years ago when I first went to Camp Footprint. I love working with kids and have a passion to teach others about CMT. I am currently in culinary school at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. In my free time, I love to swim, spend time with my family, go line dancing, and hang out with my dog Charlie!
Hannah Hokenson
Kissimmee, Florida
Special Projects Committee
Hannah Hokenson lives in Kissimmee, Florida. She is working towards a degree in English to become an editor and author. Diagnosed at 16 years old, she found the CMTA through Camp Footprint the next year. Hoping to use her creativity to make an impact in the lives of other kids with CMT, she joined the Special Projects Committee on the Youth Council.
Joseph McCullough
Aliquappa, Pennsylvania
Special Projects Committee
My name is Joseph McCullough, I have CMTX. I got involved with the CMTA through Camp Footprint in Pennsylvania. I was recommended to the CMTA by my friend Toby who I met there. I hope I can bring more ideas and a positive mind to the CMTA. I have always wanted to be a better leader and make a good impact on the world. I think with the CMTA I can accomplish these goals while helping the CMTA to be a better organization. I am serving on the Special Projects Committee.
Ashlyn Montisanti
Boston, Massachusetts
Social Media Committee
Ashlyn Montisanti is from Boston, MA and she has CMT Type 1A which she inherited from her mother. Ashlyn serves on the Social Media Committee with the goal to spread awareness and raise money for a cure! In her free time, Ashlyn loves to spend time with her family and friends, especially her dog, Lucky. She also enjoys traveling and going to concerts. Ashlyn hopes to be a role model for youth living with CMT and spread positivity in the community.
Shelbi Ritter
Jefferson City, Missouri
Social Media Committee
Hi! My name is Shelbi Ritter. I was diagnosed with CMT 1E when I was 12. A few years later I found out about Camp Footprint and now I’ve been going for 3 years. Recently I’ve found joy in advocating not only for myself but for others similar to me which is why I joined the Youth Council. Some things I enjoy are archery, designing architecture, voice acting, rocking out to loud music and going to concerts, and cooking (Especially eating the food).
Lily Sander
Charlotte, North Carolina
Social Media Committee
Lily Sander lives just South of Charlotte, NC. She was diagnosed with CMT type 1e and HNPP at four years old. She joined the CMTA Youth Council after getting to know the leadership and some of the members at Camp Footprint. Lily immediately knew she wanted to make her mark and aims to empower youth living with CMT to live their lives to the fullest. She works on the Social Media committee.
Em Sayward
Bloomington, Indiana
Engagement Committee
My name is Em Sayward, and I have CMT type 1b. I found out about the CMTA through Camp Footprint in 2016, and I’ve been apart of the community ever since! I want to be someone that other youth with CMT can look up to. I love this community so much and I love meeting other people that have CMT, which is why I’m on the Engagement Committee!
Hannah Spencer
Springfield, New Jersey
Special Projects Committee
Hannah Spencer is fifteen years old and resides in Springfield, New Jersey. Hannah is diagnosed with CMT Type 1A and got involved in the CMTA after attending Camp Footprint which she states was “a great experience.” She hopes to be able to change CMT lives across the world while being a part of the Youth Movement.
Abigail Thompson
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Engagement Committee
Abigail Thompson has CMT Type 1A and lives in Latrobe PA. Abigail is apart of the CMTA Youth Council and works on the engagement committee. Abigail is 18 years old and attends Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is currently studying communications media marketing. Abigail joined the Youth Council to empower the youth and hopes to one day have a future without CMT.
Amanda Vorpahl
Des Moines, Iowa
Social Media Committee
Amanda Vorpahl currently resides in Des Moines Iowa, where she attends the local collage as a freshman. She was diagnosed with CMT4C at 9 years old, along with her two sisters. Now at 18 years old, Amanda joined the Social Media committee of the Youth Council, with a special focus on fundraising. She has been attending camp footprint since 2018.
Evan Zeltsar
Boston, Massachusetts
Engagement Committee
Evan Zeltsar is a 4-year member of the CMTA Youth Council, as well as a member of the CMTA Advisory Board. He has CMT type 1A. He lives in Boxford, MA and is currently in his first year of college at Williams College. Outside of the council, he can be found skiing, playing frisbee, or playing clarinet and saxophone.