California Stories

Learn how California local agencies are successfully involving youth in the civic, economic and political life of their communities.

Canal Youth Create Urban Garden for Community
The Canal Alliance and Canal Youth Concilio has worked together to develop the Urban Garden Project. The group has created five gardens throughout the community. With cooperation from residents’ the group builds a garden so residents have access to fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, residents are taught how to tend to the garden so they can take care of the garden themselves.

Riverside Youth Council
Established in March 2004 by Mayor Loveridge and the Riverside City Council, the Riverside Youth Council (RYC) serves as a means for youth to voice their opinions, develop their leadership skills, and participate in city governance. Since its creation, the RYC has worked extensively through various initiatives towards achieving their vision statement: youth advocating for youth with integrity and purpose; empowering youth with a voice to shape the future of Riverside.

San Carlos Youth Advisory Council Campaigns to Survive Budget Cuts
This past fiscal year, San Carlos acquired a demoralizing 3.5 million dollar budget deficit. When Measure U, a half-cent sales tax, failed to pass, the city was left with one option- massive budget cuts. Budget cut proposals included outsourcing the Fire and Police Departments, and cutting 20 percent of the Parks and Recreation Department. Cuts in the Parks and Recreation Department would include the closure of several major parks in the city, along with the closure of the city’s beloved Youth Center. The closure of the Youth Center would also effectively disband the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of San Carlos.

La Mesa Youth Advisory Commission Promotes Healthy Eating and More
Read more to learn about past and current activities from the La Mesa Youth Advisory Commission, which includes working with the California Department of Health's Network for a Healthy California to educate and promote healthy lifestyles to low-income children. 

Sacramento Youth Commission Working for Youth
The Sacramento Youth Commission has undergone quite a transition during this past year. The City of Sacramento created the Office of Youth Development who is now responsible for facilitating commission meetings and supporting the commission's sub-committees. The commissioners are now meeting with their city council members and are actively seeking ways to improve the lives of youth in Sacramento. This year, the Youth Commission has formed two subcommittees that will serve to move new youth policies forward in the Sacramento area.

Indio Teen Center
How would you like a place to go to after school where you can play air hockey, learn how to cook, receive tutoring, and learn about employment opportunities? Teens in Indio, California have such a place – the Indio Teen Center.

Santa Barbara's Youth Speak-Outs
The City of Santa Barbara’s Youth Council plays an important role in providing city leaders with information about the needs and desires of youth in their community. The council, composed of 16 high school students and 4 junior high students from the community, holds twice yearly “Youth Speak-Outs”. These forums give young people a chance to make their voice heard on important local issues that affect both youth and adults in the community.

City of Palo Alto Youth Master Plan
The Palo Alto Youth Master Plan originated from a joint study session of the Palo Alto Youth Council and the City Council. Their goal was to define a process to develop a focused and organized approach to the delivery of programs and services to youth and teens.

Elk Grove's Youth Master Plan
The City of Elk Grove spearheaded the city’s need for a Youth Master Plan by creating a committee consisting of local community leaders whose primary goal was to develop a focused approach to delivering programs that would help Elk Grove’s youth lead healthy and productive lives.

Canal Youth Concilio Fills the Gap
In early February 2009, teenage members of El Concilio, the Canal Community Council, launched a Canal neighborhood greening/recycling cooperative.

New Rules on How Police Interact with Youth
Four years ago, the San Francisco Youth Commission was approached to work with community members, CBOs, and the Office of Citizen Complaints to help rewrite rules police officers must follow in their interactions with youth. After four years of collective work, the San Francisco Police Commission adopted DGO 7.01 in May 2008.