Youth Oriented Led Empowerment
About
Youth for Action (Y4A) was established in September 2020 as an official committee of the Leadership Council to make recommendations on standards, policies, and protocol for youth systems. Y4A committee members represent youth with lived experience in homelessness within and around Monterey/San Benito counties.
A Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group of youth and young adults who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness, and work with communities to improve systems and service delivery. YAB offers a safe space in which youth can collaborate with agencies to improve services, identify gaps in services, advocate for youth needs, and gain new connections. By prioritizing youth centered values, Y4A honors a Youth Action Board that is truly youth led, youth-centered, without being exploitative, decorative, or tokenizing.
Our aim is to empower youth and young adults (YYAs) experiencing homelessness to provide authentic feedback to improve the services and systems designed to support them. Through YAB, members create space to develop their own strategies, missions, values and goals.
Mission
Empowered by the lived experience of our members, we fight to eradicate adultism, racism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, and classism. Together, we uplift youth and young adults (YYA) into positions of leadership to redefine how our community supports YYA facing housing insecurity and homelessness. We empower youth by creating opportunities to influence local policy and programming. We advocate for the rights of young people, to ensure that youth homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Vision
A community that is youth-centered and youth-led. A community where youth homelessness does not exist. A community where youth are offered supportive services. A community where housing is affordable. A community where youth are offered housing when in need. A community where youth are included at all tables and conversations. A community that is an equitable safe space. A community where youth are empowered and enact change.
Y4A Committee Members
- Kiara N - YLE Coordinator
- Danielle F - Youth CARS Coordinator
- Willow Celeste - YAB Member
- Riley K - YAB Member
- Phoenix S - YAB Member
- Billy A - YAB Member
- Nataly A - YAB Member
Get Started!
Check out our YAB NEWSLETTER
Founders
Diane Sikkens
Diane is a master’s student at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, studying International Environmental Studies. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer completing her Coverdell service requirement as a policy intern at the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers. She is a native of Alabama but loves her new home in Monterey and engaging with the Central Coast of California. You will most likely find her on the beach, in the ocean, or on top of a mountain.
Kai Reynolds
Kai is a bachelor’s student at the California State University of Monterey Bay studying Psychology and Visual and Public Art. They are the youth liaison to the Youth Action Board at the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers. They are passionate about their community and a strong advocate—whether that be through art, policy, or collaboration. As a queer, person of color they are trying to pave the way for others like them.