Ever ride the bus? When you take the Fresno Area Express (FAX), a would-be 20-minute car ride can easily turn into a 2 ½ journey depending on the bus route you take. Riders can wait up to an hour along certain routes, and the frequent stops all add up. Turns out, there’s nothing “Express” about … Continued
Last Wednesday, the Merced Girls & Womyn of Color (GWoC) stood up against sexual harassment in their schools — and WON. The June 13th Merced Union High School District (MUHSD) Board meeting was filled to capacity. Students and other community members wore t-shirts and carried signs. Brave young leaders stood up before the Board, their … Continued
When a critical new law is passed, we celebrate. There’s that flood of relief, that flush of jubilation, punctuated by cheers, tears, and hugs all around. Those of us who have spent months, years, decades fighting for change – taking surveys, holding community meetings, meeting with decision-makers, staging rallies, collecting signatures and endorsement letters, and … Continued
“There is no way to get out if there is nothing to do. That was my personal connection, the increasing gang violence, and what it has done to my community….Youth want to work, and they need work.” –Jaylin White, Fresno Youth Commission Youth unemployment means something different depending on where you are. In affluent communities, … Continued
On Wednesday, February 28th, YLI will be expanding our offices for the first time in 14 years! This expansion celebrates the incredible work of YLI’s youth, communities, and staff over our 27 years to include youth voice in local decision-making. The strength of our youth leadership programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno County have paved … Continued
Where do community health professionals go to find effective interventions for preventing and treating mental illness and substance-use disorders? The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, a database containing hundreds of scientifically-proven therapies, is the go-to for mental health and addiction specialists. But new additions to this invaluable resource have been blocked indefinitely by … Continued
The air was still cool on the morning of October 28th when youth leaders from YLI and Fresno County Friday Night Live gathered in front of the local FoodsCo with banners, buttons, pledges and a slew of bright yellow stickers. These dedicated young people had risen early on a Saturday to educate the community about … Continued
In high school, lecture notes were projected onto a screen, and dotted with blanks for the students to fill in. “It was as though we couldn’t write the notes ourselves,” reflected Nailea Lazarit, who is now a freshman at Fresno State University. She believes that young people’s sense of competence and ability is deeply shaped … Continued
