California Youth Connection, San Francisco
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Compassion is easily discussed in our society; however, when it comes to the needs of young people lacking the support system of a functional extended family, the story changes. Since 1988, California Youth Connection (CYC) has worked diligently to help change that dynamic among the public and politicians alike. Driven by a staff and membership filled with current and former foster youth, the organization has an understanding of the needs of those being served due to their personal experience.

The power of effective advocacy is one key element of their success. Each year, CYC trains 450 young people in the foster care system in California how to speak truth to power. The youth are taught how to tell their stories to those charged with creating the policies that govern the bureaucracy they deal with every day. This preparation has a profound effect on the foster youth who are empowered by their increased knowledge and given a commensurate boost in confidence. The following quote from Tiffany Johnson, an Associate Director with CYC, exemplifies their accomplishments: “When I joined CYC’s San Francisco chapter in 1991, I never imagined I would become an Associate Director… . CYC helped me become a strong adult, convinced me I could become a leader, and gave me the personal support I needed to succeed.”

CYC’s “collaboration” with the San Francisco Chronicle for their ongoing editorial series on foster care was designed to shed light on current policies for their millions of readers so that those readers could, in turn, express their opinions to their local and state elected officials. Those on the California State Assembly’s Select Committee on Foster Care who heard direct testimony during all six of their special hearings from CYC representatives learned in detail the ramifications of past decisions and received informed wisdom about what can and should be done moving forward. We support California Youth Connection because there is more than hope for the young people involved — there is real talent being cultivated and allowed to blossom, providing a tangible benefit to us all.