My name is Harnoor Gill (she/her/hers) and I am 18 years old. I am also an incoming student at UC Berkeley. Hayward, California feels like home, but honestly, a part of me still belongs in Punjab, India. My parents moved to the U.S. over 30 years ago, but I used to go there often as … Continued
It was remarkable to watch and experience young people working together. The 15 committee members, ranging from 15-25 years old, came from very different areas of the state, and from different experiences and backgrounds. They had never met before this meeting, and yet, they were instantaneously able to create rapport and a feeling of safety.Â
People who work in alcohol and drug prevention often come with a deeply personal story. Someone they loved was injured or killed by a drunk driver. They witnessed – and/or were victims of – the rapid deterioration of family members who use. Perhaps they were themselves the users, and carry regrets with them like stones. … Continued
Last month, girls and their adult allies from across Monterey County gathered for a 3-day intensive training with the Youth Leadership Institute to enhance their leadership skills. They are participants in Girls Health in Girls Hands, a girl-led movement that empowers girls to have a voice in their own healthcare. The training came at an … Continued
“How can we make Denver a better place?” That was the question at the heart of Rose Community Foundation’s Innovate for Good grant program, initiated in 2015. But, instead of focusing on the nonprofit community, the invitation to problem-solve was submitted to the whole community with the goal of taking innovation to a new level, … Continued
YLI Youth Voices Story! My name is Abdellatif Benterkia, and I am a youth philanthropist in BLING, a San Francisco YLI program. On July 9-11 I attended Free Minds Free People Conference in Oakland, California. It was my first time ever attending a social justice conference. I met a lot of people whom came from … Continued
As the program year comes to an end, our new CEO Jonathan Marker shares his reflections on his first few months at YLI. A mentor of mine, Brittany Packnett, recently reflected on her experience working with young people, and defined it as follows: Leadership is proximal, leadership is truthful, leadership is consistent, and leadership is … Continued
