The Decay of Merced Parks
Youth United releases an article titled “The Decay of Merced Parks” presented at city council and published here on We’Ced Youth Media website.
yli makes me think of bonding and learning with folks from different cities and states, and becoming educated about some of our most pressing issues across the world. yli is truly an organization for youth and young adults.
Brideisha Harness-Parker, Alumni
Young people – particularly youth of color and their allies – are deeply motivated to address inequities in their communities. At Youth Leadership Institute, young people realize their power by learning to use their voices to create meaningful change.
We work within coalitions and with elected officials to promote policy change that makes our communities more equitable and just for young people, especially young people of color. And it’s paying off with over 130 policy wins so far.
Change happens when conversations take place. At yli, we believe that conversations of real significance only occur when all voices are heard. And we’re here to ensure that youth voice is heard. Loud and clear.
Filter…
Youth-Led Storytelling for Trans Visibility
Yvie Jett (16), a VoiceWaves youth participant, created her first video project—a recap of the 2024 Trans Pride Long Beach event—where she interviewed trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive community members about … Continued
REP559 Mental Health Awareness Campaign
REP 559 youth and their adult allies surveyed ~280 Fresno Unified students for their Mental Health Awareness Campaign. With this information they created outreach and educational materials that they then … Continued
Youth Financial Literacy Workshop
Youth Across Madera Coalition members hosted and facilitated a ITIN x Financial Literacy workshop for young people across the county at their local library, highlighting the importance of what an … Continued
Moving Forward & Cactus Flower Art Show highlighting artwork from youth who are in juvi and/or system impacted as well as holding a silent auction with items gifted by community members to raise funds for programs.
Youth Mental Health Town Hall
In partnership with Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, 2 yli youth participants sat on a panel for a Youth Mental Health Town Hall. They discussed the mental health needs of youth in … Continued
FUSD Candidates Forum
Youth Leadership Institute co-hosts FUSD Candidates Forum with Faith in The Valley, Power California, CV UP, Californians for Justice, Woven Coalition Justice, and CMAC. Read more about the forum here!
YAMs youth came together to create and disperse to the Madera community a postcard zine informing them on the transportation tax, Measure T
Grand opening of the Healing Generation Center
Grand opening of the Healing Generation Center. The HGC is a youth wellness hub dedicated to providing critical resources and services for the most vulnerable young people in Merced county. … Continued
yli Long Beach Youth Join the Never a Bother Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
yli Long Beach youth participant Gisselle Becerra Murillo (20) publishes a social media post raising awareness about mental health resources and destigmatizing seeking support. This post is the first of … Continued
The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit
yli ECV youth Daphne Ramirez presented at the Summit around Youth, Civic Engagement, and Environmental Action.
yli Long Beach Youth Help Launch Third Year of Youth Power Participatory Budgeting
For the third year, yli Long Beach youth rejoin the Invest In Youth Coalition in facilitating a participatory budgeting process where youth help shape summer programming through a multi-step approach. … Continued
VoiceWaves Publishes Article Highlighting Efforts to Address Food Insecurity
VoiceWaves youth participant Vanessa Rodriguez (21) publishes an interview with a local food bank representative raising awareness about the issue of food insecurity, who it affects in Long Beach, and … Continued
Moving Forward and Youth United youth co facilitate a Merced City council forum with candidates running for three Merced city districts, asking questions on issues such as housing, transportation, and economic development.
Alumni Speak Against Alcohol Permits
Sunnyside and Roosevelt FNL Alumni speak at Fresno City Hall to uphold the Responsible Neighborhood Market Ordinance and educate on the harms of allowing liquor stores in close proximity to … Continued
Youth Stand Against Alcohol Permits
Fresno youth came together to attend the September 12th Fresno City Council Meeting to advocate against the reissuing of a conditional use permit for alcohol sales. The group of staff … Continued
Extreme Heat Radio PSA
Youth Across Madera members created a radio PSA highlighting our extreme heat campaign with OCPSC to inform community members about the dangers of extreme heat and how they can best … Continued
LB Wins Youth Climate Action Fund
yli Long Beach is one of eight recipients awarded a $5,000 Youth Climate Action Fund micro-grant, empowering youth to lead climate action through community-based storytelling and printed zines.
2nd Annual Queer Housing Summit
yli co-sponsored the 2nd Annual Queer Housing Summit with South Tower Community Land Trust, Housing Now!, and Fresno EOC LGBTQ+ Resource Center at Fresno’s historic Tower Theater.
Summer Cooling Event
Calafia Talks AI At TechSoup
3rd Year Senior Fellows in yli’s statewide journalism program, Calafia, present their research on the impacts of generative AI on youth creatives to nonprofit leaders at TechSoup.
yli San Mateo’s VOICE program was celebrated at the 2024 Youth International Day Proclamation in Redwood City.
In collaboration with #GoodforMEdia, the HOPE Coalition launched the HOPE Podcast. A deep dive into the positive and negative aspects of social media that explores youth lived experiences with technology.
Listen here!
2024 Marin County Youth Commission
The new cohort of the Marin County Youth Commission was sworn in by Board of Supervisors President Dennis Rodoni.
yli Merced receives funding to develop and operate a Latinx Wellness Center.
The Creative Code
3rd Year Senior Fellows in yli’s statewide journalism program, Calafia, publish The Creative Code, a 4-part podcast on the impacts of generative AI on youth creatives. Listen to their podcast … Continued
Calafia Talk AI
Capital & Main feature the work of 3rd Yeasr Senior Fellows in yli’s statewide journalism program, Calafia, on the impacts of generative AI on youth creatives in an article entitled, … Continued
Coachella Unincorporated Summer Data Walk
Coachella Unincorporated Summer Data Walk – After weeks of research and data analysis, ECV young people were invited to participate in an indoor ‘data walk’ to review the Youth Participatory … Continued
BOOF PSA 2024
The kNOw Youth Media publishes their 2024 Betting On Our Future video PSA.
MORE Art Zine
Marin Organizing for Racial Equity created their first Art Zine that they showcased local BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth artist from Marin County. Check out the zine here!