Calafia is yli’s statewide youth policy journal that amplifies the narratives of young people on topics and issue areas important to them and their communities.
Calafia Fellows are selected every year from each yli office to create and edit the issue’s theme and the stories presented. They are also mentored by experienced reporters, travel to statewide and national media conferences, and learn the steps to producing a printed publication.
The program is currently on hold, until further notice.
Podcasts
Calafia’s 2425 fellows have just launched their newest podcast, Beyond the Broken Dream to uplift the voices and experiences of people impacted by injustice.
In 2024, Calafia veterans Nancy Aguilar and Katelyn Chang helped us pilot our newest component of the program, the 3rd Year Special Project. Working with Pulitzer finalist Bernice Yeung as their mentor, they developed a 4 episode podcast called The Creative Code, which explores the impact of generative AI on youth creatives. Over the 9 months, they built their own project curriculum, conducted interviews with representatives from the National Writers Union and former Marvel employees, and surveyed over 100 youth creatives about their experiences with AI. The podcast (below) was picked up by the online news outlet, Capital & Main, which wrote a feature story about the project: Young Artists Worry About a Future Supplanted by Artificial Intelligence.
Previous podcasts include: Represent!, Mind the Gap: Suppressed to Addressed and False Promises: the chasm between home and hope.
Publications
HOT OF THE PRESS!!!! Our 2025 publication, Beyond the Broken Dream, has been finally been released!!!! Download a copy in English or Spanish, or contact María Schindler for a free copy at mschindler@yli.org!
Calafia’s past issues have focused on youth criminal justice reform, educational equity, and addressing stigmas within communities of color – the issues are available for download below!
Documentaries
This year, third year Fellows Clarissa Wing and Adamari Cota have embarked on 3rd Year Special Project in a brand new medium: filmmaking. Working with Emmy Award winning filmmaker, Sebastián Díaz as their mentor, they are working on documentary about the experience of first generation college students at UC Berkeley. Watch the trailer below and stay tuned for screenings near you!
