Clients & Testimonials

yli worked closely with us to tailor the trainings to the unique structure of our coalition…the professional staff who are flexible, work well with a variety of personality types, and are quick to adapt the training as the need arises.

– Siskiyou Substance Abuse Coalition, CA

What really got to me was that these are regular kids who recognize that they have the power to make a difference in their communities.

– Clarysse Nunokawa, County of Hawaii

It is incredibly rare, the work that yli does. yli touches that ‘sweet spot’ of youth voice and empowerment, helping youth to move the needle on real community issues.

– Sarah Indyk, Director, Rose Community Foundation

When I was in high school, I wish I had had these kinds of opportunities. It was an honor to work alongside with yli’s youth. It was great to see how they engage youth, how they work with youth, how they build them up to be the next leaders, policy leaders, and advocates.

– Justina Felix, American Lung Association

yli helped us by providing comprehensive support and training on youth-led advocacy initiatives and helping to guide the implementation process of an advocacy – action campaign. The result was the ability to create and realize realistic yet powerful goals together as a collaborative of organizations, youth and educators. I found the experience extremely rewarding because it embodied powerful youth development work that is truly youth-centered and based in social justice.

– Eva Holt-Rusmore, Program Manager, Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands Community Foundation for Monterey County

For decades student leadership has been limited to established traditions that often muted their voices and stifled change. WE BELIEVE that through our partnership with yli an entirely new level of public service, leadership, justice, and equity is being achieved by students and staff. Our yli student-leaders are transforming school culture through their ongoing advice and advocacy with our adult-leaders. Together we have discovered new ways to serve, challenge, lead, and value our students’ experiences!

– Todd Lile, Superintendent, Madera Unified

My experience with the VOICE program was really fun. I learned how to be a leader and I learned how to advocate for myself when I know that some situations are unfair, and with the VOICE program I learned that it’s okay to speak up and even as a teen, as a youth your voice does matters and overall, the program was such a fun experience and we made new friends we grew together.

– Ange Vail