Merced

Opening in February 2018, the Merced office was the first yli expansion in 14 years. Program staff and freshly minted youth leaders in the Girls & Women of Color (GWoC) and Rise & Lift programs dove right in with their #MErcedToo campaign, addressing sexual misconduct in the Merced Unified High School District.

By summer, the office was already growing as yli merged with youth media organization, YouthWire. As part of this merge, Merced’s yli office took in the We’Ced program, which had been operating in Merced since 2011, training young people in storytelling skills and amplifying their voices on issues that matter to them and their communities.

Merced yli’s mission is to elevate the voices of the youth and provide them with the resources they need to thrive. Our programs are safe spaces rooted in decolonization where we are actively working to dismantle racial and class inequalities, in ourselves and in our communities. We strive to empower the youth to be aware of community struggles and uplift them so they may create a positive impact within our community.

Current Programs

Past Programs

Timeline of Wins in Merced

September 9, 2023 · 

We’Ced Youth Media covers Merced’s County PrideFest 2023

June 6, 2022 · 

We’Ced Youth Media releases Not So Happy Memories, a ‘zine highlighting mental health and toxicity

February 6, 2022 · 

We’Ced Youth Media’s The Power of Choice is distributed by the Merced County Times

February 27, 2019 · 

Walking our Paths: We’Ced Releases its 7th Youth-Led Publication

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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October 21, 2018 · 

GWoC intern, Guadalupe Reyes-Calderon Wins 2018 TCE Youth Award