Central Valley

“Building Our Future” Open Mic Night

 | 
Youth Opportunities

On Friday, October 11, 2019, the young people from Mobilizing Youth to Nix Tobacco (MYNT)* of Fresno County, in partnership with Amplify!** ( African American Statewide Coordinating Center), presented the “Building Our Future” Open Mic Night.

These are Our Demands: Reflections from Fresno’s Climate Strike

 | 
Campaign Victories

The effects of environmental and climate catastrophe are devastating communities on a global scale. Right here in the Central Valley we can feel our summers getting hotter, we taste our water becoming unsafe or scarce altogether, and we see our politicians continuing to collect major dollars from the fossil fuel industry.

Tina La Boo: The Story of My Name Series

 | 
yli is My Story

Fun Facts: I was supposed to be a boy and throughout my mom’s pregnancy with me my mom called me Ricky. I have 10 nicknames and I answer to them all (Trina, Trinabell, Tinabell, Tina, Boo Boo Face, Tina La Boo, Tinker, Tinkerbell, Trin, and Catrin). These come from aunts, uncles and older cousins. Each nickname for me is special, but I use Trina most often and am known to many friends and introduced myself to my partner as Trina.

Reflecting On Black History Month Illustrations

 | 
yli is My Story

As you probably know, February is Black History Month, a month where famous and influential black members of society are recognized and celebrated. Back in January, Kody, our Program Manager with The kNOw, asked me if I would be interested in doing illustrations that celebrate famous and less well-known leaders in the African American community for Black History Month. I gladly accepted, and I’m glad I did.

Yammilette G. Rodriguez Receives the 2019 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award

 | 
Campaign Victories

On February 11th it was announced that Central Valley Senior Director of Programs Yammilette  Rodriguez was awarded the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. These awards, “recognize and support individuals who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant state issues” and provide a $250,000 investment in the work.

The Revolution Inside Me

 | 
yli is My Story

Cultura, Organizing, Resistance and Action (CORA), Merced’s first-ever youth leadership academy was held last month over the course of two weekends. A diverse group of 12 young people — including … Continued