Advocate Spotlight: Ishanth Talanki & Kahan Patel

Student Voices Drive Advocacy Forward in Georgia

For Heart Club members from Alliance Academy for Innovation, Ishanth Talanki and Kahan Patel, advocacy is rooted in family legacy. “We both had family members who were prominent figures in Indian politics, giving us our passion for making an impact through policy change. This, coupled with the cardiac emergency of one of our friends, drove us to help others through advocacy work.”

At Georgia Lobby Day in February, Ishanth and Kahan met with their state senator, Shawn Still. Reflecting on the experience, they shared, “Our favorite part of Lobby Day was easily talking to Georgia Representatives and Senators and hearing how motivated they are to fight against the same problems as us. Talking to them about the impact of different possible bills and hearing their advice was a life-altering experience.”

Inspired by this experience, the students took the initiative to continue the conversation by inviting Senator Still to their school for a Heart Club meeting on October 21. The students led the planning and welcomed Aline Stone, Region Grassroots Manager and Caroline Choe Ramoso, School Engagement Director. During the meeting, they discussed youth advocacy, the American Heart Association’s state public policy priorities, and presented Caroline with a fundraising check.

“It felt very empowering and relieving to get to spend more time with Senator Still and realize that he cared about the same problems as we did,” they said. “It was also really lovely to see legislators who listened to the general population and cared about them.”

So, what powers their advocacy with the American Heart Association? “When our grandparents faced cardiovascular disease, it opened our eyes to how common and serious heart issues can be. That experience sparked our interest in advocacy and encouraged us to help others stay healthy.”

Their drive to speak up and to take action on health issues stems from “The thought of making sure that we are doing something to keep other people safe and healthy encourages us to continue in this line of work and enables us to try our best.”

Their advice to other youth interested in advocacy with the Association? “We would say to go for it. It may be a bit intimidating to put yourself out there at first, but that is precisely what everyone is looking for. They want to get to know you better so they can do their job properly and serve you.”

Ishanth and Kahan exemplify the power of youth advocacy—bringing personal stories, passion, and leadership to the forefront of policy conversations. Their voices are not only being heard—they’re making a difference.