I joined yli in high school as part of the first-ever Fresno Youth Commission in 2016. In college, I used the skills I learned at yli to facilitate workshops and introduce campus safe spaces as a resident advisor and student government Director of Diversity & Inclusion. I plan on making an impact wherever I go using yli’s advocacy lens.
Marissa Vang, Alumni
This is both an approach to working with young people as well as a set of skills that are made available to young people through dynamic and interactive training. As an approach, yli comes to the work with a deep belief that young people are assets and that their experiences, strengths and insights make them leaders – even if other forces do not recognize them as such. Based on that understanding, it is the job of yli programs to help young people uncover their gifts, build confidence in their ideas, and hone the skills they need to continue to make positive community change.