San Mateo
Youth Leadership Institute opened its doors in San Mateo in 1998, just as our collaboration with California Friday Night Live Partnership — a statewide organization that addresses underage drinking — was taking off. Since then, yli has implemented youth programs and initiatives surrounding community organizing, voter education, health education/drug prevention, social-emotional learning, and wellness throughout San Mateo County including Daly City, South San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo Redwood City, and North Fair Oaks.
In addition to youth programming, yli San Mateo conducts health education presentations throughout the County and participates in key coalitions and partnerships, including the Coastside Collaborative, San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition – Multiunit Housing Workgroup, San Mateo County Jobs for Youth Workgroup and more. yli San Mateo also led the Transportation Equity Allied Movement (TEAMC), which was the driver behind Measure W – a countywide tax measure to invest in equitable and environmentally sustainable transportation options – in 2018.
In addition to the youth programs listed below, yli San Mateo’s current projects and partnerships include AllCove Half Moon Bay, SMC Tobacco Education Coalition & San Mateo County Office of Education’s Youth Advisory Group training series, San Mateo County Office of Education’s Green Internship Pilot, and an Internship placement program with SF State’s Department of Public Health.
Follow yli San Mateo on Instagram at @yli_SanMateoCounty for local events, activities, and opportunities to get involved.
Current Programs
Past Programs
Timeline of Wins in San Mateo
yli San Mateo’s VOICE program was celebrated at the 2024 Youth International Day Proclamation in Redwood City.
Community Education
yli San Mateo completes 20 community education presentations on topics such as Vaping, Alcohol & Drug Prevention, Mental Health, and Wellness to 975+ youth and over 10 schools/CBOs throughout San … Continued
FNL/H@H youth complete their public service announcements.
View their video here!
FNLCYC youth complete their positive social norms campaign.
View their video here!
FNL youth host a Hallmark Celebration to showcase their FNL month activities.
Check out some photos here!
VOICE Program Celebration 2024
In the first year of the pilot program, 12 youth completed a 6 month leadership program that cultivated a relationship between youth and the Redwood City community. Youth Leaders walked … Continued
VOICE program hosted Strengthening Youth Power in Local Government, a space dedicated for youth to meet with those sit on boards, commissions, and committees in Redwood City.
Social Media and Mental Health Workshop
HOPE hosts a bilingual (English and Spanish) workshop on Social Media and Mental Health at the 14th Annual OYE Conference at Cañada College. This workshop was a dynamic conversation between … Continued
Integrative Voter Engagement Campaign
Daly City Bay Leaders and San Mateo County Youth Advocates join forces to lead an Integrative Voter Engagement Campaign. The campaign reached and distributed over 1,200 flyers in multiple languages … Continued
Beep beep – New Car For Youth Programs!
Bothin Foundation awards $50K to yli San Mateo to purchase a vehicle for program transportation. The vehicle will significantly impact the total number of youth reached and served by increasing … Continued
New Interns!
yli San Mateo partners with San Francisco State University Department of Public Health to host interns as part of their fieldwork experience. This partnership highlights the school-to-workforce development pipeline.
FNLCYC chapters complete a series of PSAs focusing on Social Emotional Learning with Royer Studios.
Check out the PSAs here!
San Mateo’s VOICE program hosts People’s Panel
San Mateo’s new VOICE program hosts a leadership panel to learn how city councilmembers, directors of nonprofits and youth leaders make decisions
Basic Needs Drive
FNL Pilarcitos, Cunha Club Live, and Daly City Bay Leaders join forces to host yli San Mateo’s first Basic Needs Drive. Youth leaders gathered and distributed hygiene kits to 50 … Continued
Annual Roadwatch in Half Moon Bay
FNLCYC completes the Annual Roadwatch event in Half Moon Bay. The purpose of the event is to observe and record the number of distracted drivers at traffic stops and intersections … Continued
Friday Night Live Youth Summit
yli San Mateo attended the Friday Night Live Youth Summit in Anaheim alongside yli Marin and yli San Francisco. Six San Mateo youth leaders returned from the conference with a … Continued
yli San Mateo helps to launch the pilot year of Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and Employment!
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
Daly City Bay Leaders conduct a survey on the sexual assault culture on their school campus
Westmoor High School students stage a walk out to bring attention to sexual assault culture on campus
Youth journalists publish 20 pieces
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
yli launches San Mateo Youth Advocates Program
yli carries out a Civic Empowerment Training Series
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
KHMB Radio Interview yli Program Coordinators
KHMB Radio interviews Program Coordinators Rubi Salazar and Rod Spikes to uplift their Friday Night Live chapter’s campaign on alcohol prevention.
Youth lead new mental health app pilot project
Help@Hand pilots new mental health app across San Mateo County based on youth recommendations.
FNL Coastside Youth Council completes social norms campaign
Young people in Friday Night Live’s Coastside Youth Council (FNLCYC) tackle the issue of underage drinking by promoting a positive narrative around not using alcohol before age 21.
yli San Mateo launches its first youth journalism program
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
yli joins Half Moon Bay City’s Public Safety Focus Groups on Coastside Mental Health
Half Moon Bay launches pilot Community Responders Program
The Half Moon Bay City Council launches a pilot Community Responder crisis-intervention program to improve the city’s response to mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.
yli joins Half Moon Bay City’s Public Safety Focus Groups on Coastside Mental Health
New website with COVID-19 resources launched
The Coastside Collaborative COVID-19 Relief Coalition launches a new website with resources for individuals and businesses to obtain and provide support and relief.
yli hosts a response meeting to the closing of Bay City Flowers
yli, Half Moon Bay City and ALAS hosted an emergency Coastside Collaborative meeting in response to Bay City Flowers Closing
yli Program Coordinator interviewed by KHMB Radio
KHMB Radio interviews Program Coordinator, Rubi Salazar, about her work in Half Moon Bay
yli Program Coordinator speaks up about the Immigrant Experience
During the Lights for Liberty vigil – a nationwide event to protest inhumane conditions faced by refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants – Program Coordinator Rubi Salazar shares their experience … Continued
San Mateo yli Showcase
yli’s San Mateo office hosts and end-of-year event showcasing youth work in 2019.
Measure W Passes, Raising $80 Million a Year for Transportation
After weeks of counting votes for an unprecedented midterm election turnout, it appears that San Mateo’s transportation tax, Measure W, has passed by a razor-thin margin. The measure will generate … Continued
Pacifica Caps Payday Lending in City Limits
San Mateo youth successfully led campaign to end predatory payday lending practices in Pacifica.
San Mateo City Council Pass Smoke-Free Ordinance in Multi-Unit Housing
Daly City and South San Francisco Councils Pass Resolution Supporting Strong Payday Loan Regulations
City of Brisbane Amends Smoking Ordinance
Burlingame City Council Pass Smoke-Free Ordinance in Multi-Unit Housing
Parkway Heights Middle School Improves Packaging and Meals
Daly City Council Pass Smoke-Free Ordinance in Multi-Unit Housing
San Mateo County Passes Smoke-Free Ordinance in Multi-Unit Housing
Daly City Limits Payday Lenders in City Limits
South San Francisco Passes Anti-Payday Lending Ordinance
Daly City Passes Social Host Ordinance
Redwood City Passes TRACE Ordinance
Pacifica Passes Social Host Ordinance
Menlo Park Adopts Social Host Ordinance to Reduce Alcohol Access
Menlo Park Adopts Tobacco Retail License
Redwood City Passes Smoke-Free Parks Ordinance
Resolution for Smoke-Free Special Events and Activities in Foster City Parks Passes
Belmont Adopts Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Ordinance
Pacifica Passes Strongest Tobacco Sales Standards in County
College of San Mateo Smoke-Free
Pacific Coast Farmer’s Market Association Adopts Smoke-Free Policy
Skyline College Adopts Smoke-Free Policy
Redwood Council Adopts Smoke-Free Hollywood Resolution
Daly City Council Adopts Smoke-Free Hollywood Resolution
Pacifica City Council Adopts Smoke-Free Hollywood Resolution
Belmont City Council Adopts Smoke-Free Hollywood Resolution
San Mateo Resolution to Enforce Tobacco Access Laws
San Mateo County Tobacco Retailer Permit Ordinance
YO MATEO! sought a policy solution to address youth access to tobacco in the retail environment.