Our Position
We want to live in a world where every student has a role in creating the culturally and cognitively appropriate tools and support they need to pursue their dreams and talents. In this world, teachers, counsellors and administrators are highly trained, highly valued, and deeply invested in building school communities that center whole person learning – and wellbeing! – for each student.
Because the education of our youth is among the highest priorities in this world, there are abundant resources to meet all the learning needs of each student. Students have access to the best equipment and technology. Broadband is available to everyone. Environments at school and at home are set up to support learning – which means, first and foremost, that youth have stable housing, parents/caretakers can make living wages, and all other family members are well-cared for.Â
Social-emotional learning through strong, trusting, intentional relationships – peer-to-peer and teacher-student – fosters a deep sense of belonging. Youth feel safe to share their experiences and ideas with others in their school community, counsellors are always available, and mental health support is built into school routines, including mindfulness practices and quiet spaces to process. Language for describing emotions – and strategies for regulating them – are integrated into everyday conversations.
Classes are small so that teachers can attend to each student and their unique learning style. Content is engaging, fun and includes multiple perspectives that help youth explore their own identities, and understand and appreciate the many cultures that make up their communities. Curricula shares an accurate, unflinching version of U.S. history, so that youth know how we got here, how we can begin to repair the damage, and how we can avoid repeating harm. It is also designed to prepare youth for life, with courses on job skills, taxes, civic engagement, trades, and navigating college – which is free to all youth who want to attend.
Most importantly, schools draw on youth resilience, brilliance and resourcefulness by partnering with students to ensure that systems continue to provide the education that young people want and deserve. Student Advocacy Councils exist for all grade levels, and youth sit at the decision-making table with school districts, City Councils and County Supervisors as school systems continually evolve to meet youth needs.
The Issue
Education is a reflection of, and often perpetuates, the oppressive systems that exist in the United States. The vast disparities among schools – in resources, in teacher training and compensation, in courses and content – mirror the disparities between white communities and communities of color, and rural and urban areas. Course content offers a single narrative about the world that reflects and sustains the position of those in power.Â
Without the tools to support social-emotional learning, identity formation and cultural competence, peer pressure to assimilate to certain “right” ways of being is enormous. Stereotypes and status symbols leave youth feeling disconnected and alienated, and often the targets of bullying and harassment. Providing few life skills and trades courses, school systems put pressure on youth to attend college – or funnel them to prison through exclusionary punishments. School counselors and mental health resources to help youth cope with these pressures are scarce, and Student Resource Officers target youth of color and young people struggling with mental health issues.Â
In 2020, COVID-19 only exacerbated underlying disparities in education. Since the digital age began, youth in rural areas have struggled to fulfill assignments that require internet access. With shelter-in-place orders, these youth struggled to attend school at all. Many low-income youth lack the technological equipment and skills that affluent youth take for granted. The burden of contributing to the family income and caring for younger siblings only increased in the pandemic, and living in close quarters with family members made concentrating on online classes only that much more challenging.Â
“When you have siblings, you can’t just help yourself, you also have to help them. I help my little cousins, and sometimes I have to stop during class. And we don’t have enough internet for everyone in the house who needs it.”
Most importantly, students have little say in designing the systems – curriculum, teaching methods, staffing, discipline, and scheduling, among other components – in which they spend most of their waking hours, and which fundamentally shape them as they grow into adulthood. Even when opportunities are available for youth to provide input – like youth commissions and student advisory councils – adults struggle to get past their assumptions about youth and listen deeply to youth voice, especially when they bring up issues that challenge the status quo.Â
“At the school board meeting, it was really clear that the adult board members were comfortable with certain kinds of updates – they expected the youth board members to talk about dances, the PTA. But when the youth started bringing up deeper issues, like racial justice, the supervisors didn’t want to talk about it and actively shut down the conversation.”
Young people are often hand-picked for these kinds of positions, favoring youth who come from privilege and/or can “code switch” – who look like little adults in their dress, speech and manner. Few spaces where decisions are made are youth-friendly.
“I felt like I didn’t belong there, and I was afraid to speak because I didn’t have the right words.”
Our Strategies
Timeline of Wins in Education Justice
November 14, 2023 · Marin
These youth were Jessica Mendieta and Sammy Lee. Awards will be announced on January 11th, 2024 at the 31st Annual Heart of Marin Awards Luncheon and Celebration.
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September 15, 2023 · Merced
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September 9, 2023 · Merced
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September 1, 2023 · Merced
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August 30, 2023 · Marin
These include: Cole Greene, Sammy Lee, Jessica Mendieta, Walt Novosardian, Annika Parmar, Marguerite Walden-Kaufman, Roshan Belani, Xophia Cabello, Franccesca Calle La Bou, Annie Carmona, Alex Fooman, Caroline Foster,Tara Fullerton, Maya … Continued
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August 26, 2023 · Eastern Coachella Valley
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August 17, 2023 · Merced
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August 17, 2023 · Merced
The ‘zine highlights the internal battles Merced youth face in a world where mental health among youth is at its worst due to lack of resources.
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August 14, 2023 · Marin
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July 1, 2023 · Fresno
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July 1, 2023 · San Mateo
A summer youth workforce development program rooted in the belief that education is for liberation, YEEE! was launched in partnership with San Mateo County Office of Education, Peninsula Conflict Resolution … Continued
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June 1, 2023 · Fresno
Check out the ‘zine in English and Spanish HERE.
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March 25, 2023 · Fresno
Sunnyside Friday Night Live, Roosevelt Friday Night Live, and Betting on our Future (BOOF) hosted the Fresno Teen Summit with 71 youth participants. The event featured a local community leader … Continued
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November 14, 2022 · Marin
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September 15, 2022 · Madera
Youth Collective members launch a club that focuses on youth-led change at Madera South High School and Madera High School.
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September 1, 2022 · Fresno
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July 14, 2022 · Long Beach
The winning project was to design and implement their own program advocating for educational equity through direct resources and a multi-media campaign.
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June 15, 2022 · San Mateo
Silicon Valley Community Foundation Journalism program launches first ever cohort of 10 youth, who publish a total of 20 works on yli’s blog. One of these is picked up by … Continued
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June 6, 2022 · Merced
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June 1, 2022 · Fresno
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June 1, 2022 · Fresno
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April 26, 2022 · Eastern Coachella Valley
Publications were developed in collaboration with UC Riverside School of Medicine Center for Health Disparities Research
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April 23, 2022 · Fresno
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April 2, 2022 · Fresno
Transform Fresno Youth Leadership Development Program Youth leaders co-facilitate a workshop at the 2nd Annual Transform Fresno Summit. The purpose of the Program is to nurture creative project ideas and … Continued
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April 1, 2022 · Fresno
The English Learner Storytelling Project is designed for English Learners in Fresno Unified School District to share their experiences as EL students in FUSD – the good and the bad. … Continued
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March 1, 2022 · San Mateo
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February 6, 2022 · Merced
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January 29, 2022 · San Mateo
In partnership with Daly City Youth Health Center, yli carries out a Civic Empowerment Training Series. Youth were able to speak directly to city council leaders, advocates and school board … Continued
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August 31, 2021 · San Mateo
Five high school to transitional age youth across Silicon Valley are chosen to participate in the first cohort of San Mateo County yli’s youth journalism program
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August 5, 2021 · Madera
This 1 day service learning conference trains a strong cohort of Madera youth to lead action oriented mini projects within the City of Madera.
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July 26, 2021 · Eastern Coachella Valley
View and download the ‘zine here!
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July 14, 2021 · Marin
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July 11, 2021 · Long Beach
For the first time, the Long Beach office established a summer program for local youth to learn about social justice issues in Long Beach.
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June 22, 2021 · Marin
The Marin County Youth Commission education committee submits a resolution to the Marin County Office of Education to support the implementation of Ethnic Studies in Marin schools.
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April 30, 2021 · Fresno
Click here for links to English and Spanish versions!
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April 30, 2021 · Fresno
Hazel Ventura was published in The kNOw’s “New World” print publication, and then again in yli’s YALL publication “¡oye! ntsia nov! Our Youth Experience Vol. 1.”
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March 21, 2021 · Madera
The Student Advocacy Council and Madera Youth Commission train Madera Community College staff and students to implement their own Student Advocacy Council.
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March 11, 2021 · Long Beach
VoiceWaves partners with Compound, a local culture and arts center, to host monthly workshops where Youth Reporters share the skills they learn with members of the public.
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February 11, 2021 · Long Beach
The Long Beach City Council received a presentation on the 62-page youth strategic plan created by a coalition of local youth.
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August 24, 2020 · Statewide
The new Youth Coalition ensures that youth voice is included in the movement to create healthy social media environments.
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February 28, 2020 · Fresno, Merced
Not So Golden, a statewide youth media project, centers on the issues affecting young adults in California.
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February 19, 2020 · Marin
yli hosts the 33rd annual Peer Summit for over 150 middle school students across the county.
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October 30, 2019 · Fresno
Click here for links to English and Spanish versions!
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October 18, 2019 · Fresno
Friday Night Live California Youth Council (CYC) accepts two Fresno County FNL Leaders to represent Fresno County at the Sate Level. Nicole Lee, leader from Roosevelt High School FNL and … Continued
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September 26, 2019 · Marin
yli staff partnered with youth and staff to design and create a student lounge for all students at Hamilton.
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July 17, 2019 · San Mateo
KHMB Radio interviews Program Coordinator, Rubi Salazar, about her work in Half Moon Bay
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June 7, 2019 · San Mateo
yli’s San Mateo office hosts and end-of-year event showcasing youth work in 2019.
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May 13, 2019 · Madera
On April 3rd, 5 young people were officially sworn-in to serve on the very first term of the newly established City-Wide Youth Commission. This is an historic moment in the history of the City of Madera, demonstrating City Hall’s commitment to including youth at the decision-making table.
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April 25, 2019 · Eastern Coachella Valley
Coachella Unincorporated and ¡Que Madre! Media programs partnered with KQED’s The California Report to create, edit and co-host a show uplifting stories from the Eastern Coachella valley related to mental health, community, education and youth power.
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February 27, 2019 · Merced
In January 2019, the Merced Sun-Star delivered copies of Walking our Paths to communities across the county. This is We’Ced Youth Media’s 7th such publication, featuring the stories of young people, but with a very special twist. The entire publication was produced by the young people themselves.
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January 10, 2019 · Marin
Loughlin Browne was recognized at the annual Heart of Marin award ceremony for her outstanding service in the community of Marin.
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January 1, 2019 · Eastern Coachella Valley
YLI Eastern Coachella Valley opens new office in Coachella, CA. This office houses both Coachella Unincorporated and ¡Que Madre! Media.
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December 14, 2018 · Merced
BHC Merced awarded two ‘Cultivators of Change’ awards to YLI young people. First, We’Ced Youth Media was recognized for their part in leading the Trans Day of Remembrance + Trans … Continued
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October 1, 2018 · Eastern Coachella Valley, Long Beach, Statewide
YLI welcomed YouthWire, a cutting edge statewide youth media program, into the organization on October 1, 2018.Â
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September 5, 2018 · Madera
The City of Madera voted unanimously to establish a Youth Commission on September 5, 2018
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March 30, 2018 · Fresno
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February 28, 2018 · Merced
On Wednesday, February 28th, YLI expanded our offices for the first time in 14 years!
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May 30, 2017 · Fresno
Click here for links to English and Spanish versions!
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March 8, 2017 · Fresno
Fresno Unified adopts Safe Spaces policy for undocumented students after YLI youth speak out at school board meeting.
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December 30, 2016 · Fresno
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July 30, 2016 · Fresno
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July 30, 2016 · Fresno
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May 22, 2016 · Fresno
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June 1, 2015 · Fresno
YLI youth, staff and community partners worked tirelessly to get Fresno City Council to create the city’s first-ever youth commission.
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