Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Leadership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
California Youth Leadership Forum pitches regional expansion to Bay Area; program limited to 60 on-campus delegates
Summary
The statewide California Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) described a weeklong leadership program for high-school students with disabilities and said it receives 150–200 state applications each year but is limited by funding to 60 on-campus delegates; organizers said they want more Bay Area applicants and regional events.
Matt Baker, project manager for the California Youth Leadership Forum, told the Mayor's Disability Council on Oct. 17 that YLF is a weeklong residential program for high-school sophomores through seniors with disabilities that emphasizes peer-led self-advocacy, leadership workshops and exposure to state government through Capitol visits.
Baker said YLF is free for students (travel, room, board and reasonable accommodations provided) because of a public–private funding mix including the California Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Education, Department of Developmental Services and private sponsors. He said the program typically receives 150–200 statewide applications each year and selects 60 delegates for the on-campus week; in recent years the Bay Area submitted about 5–10 applicants, and the program is expanding regional events to reach more students locally.
Council members praised the program as life-changing and asked about local recruitment and historic participation; Baker said he would welcome more Bay Area involvement and regional events to increase access for students who cannot be part of the on-campus cohort.
What happens next: YLF representatives said information and videos are on the YLF YouTube and Instagram pages and invited the council to partner on outreach to boost Bay Area applicant numbers.
