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• Dynamic youth-led workshops
• Deep conversations on critical issues facing young people in foster care
• The opportunity for 100 young people to educate legislators and their staff on how they can best support young people 
• Community building that facilitates lifelong connections among peers

California Youth Connection is pleased to announce the selection of Robin Allen as our interim executive director. 

Robin is a dedicated advocate committed to transforming the California foster care system, a trusted ally, and an experienced leader. She knows our organization's members and staff and has experience working with us as both a partner and as a previous interim director. 

We are excited to welcome Robin back and look forward to healing, renewal, and growth as we continue to live our mission and provide advocacy by, for, and on behalf of California youth in foster care - especially during this challenging time for our state, country, and world.

Please send your warmest wishes to Robin as she joins us on the next phase of our journey.

California Youth Connection cares deeply about its community, including its staff members, especially during this time of crisis in our country.

After a thorough review, all staff recently subject to a layoff have been offered the opportunity to resume their prior employment. Two staff are returning full-time and will take on staff management responsibilities in addition to their job duties; all others will return half-time subject to a furlough that was announced internally prior to the layoffs due to the statewide stay-at-home orders. We are working expeditiously to end the furlough. We are hopeful that this decision helps begin our journey of healing.  

During these uncertain times, the health, safety, and well-being of our staff and members must be a top priority, and will be a focus of CYC's new leadership. We are a community of dedicated youth and adult leaders and now more than ever our work has urgency. We are confident that our staff will continue to focus on the critical mission and programs of CYC, as we work to keep our advocacy agenda moving forward, and as we support foster youth in accessing the resources and support they critically need.

Best,

The CYC Board of Directors

The events in Minnesota and Kentucky have sparked outrage across the globe. And as an organization working to empower young people to transform the foster care system designated to serve them, we know how imperative it is to dismantle systemic practices, policies and attitudes. Many of our community members have ongoing trauma from their experience in foster care, the juvenile justice and mental health systems, and growing up in communities of color. For our black community members, these senseless killings have further shed light on this intersectionality, and the need for all of us to come together to uproot the constellation of systems that were built to disenfranchise them.

CYC staff will be here to listen, learn, and support you -- not just in the aftermath of this weekend's events but for the long haul. We are committed to transforming the foster care system in California, and we are committed to addressing and challenging racism and injustice wherever we encounter it. We aren't experts, but we are allies -- and we will continue to engage our members in this dialogue and advocate for the lives of the black community. We will challenge ourselves, and our organization, to stand up for justice and shatter the status quo.

As a community, let us work together to shape our future while uplifting and centering the voices of people of color, our black and indigenous members, and all of those who have experienced the trauma of broken systems. We have included a list of helpful resources below. Please reach out to us with any questions, thoughts, or concerns. We are here for you and we are with you. 

• Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma, by Teaching Tolerance
• Surviving & Resisting Hate: A Toolkit For People of Color, by Dr. Hector Y. Adames & Dr. Nayeli Y. Chavez-Due, #ICRaceLab
• Self-Care Tips for Black People Who Are Struggling With This Very Painful Week by Rachel Miller at Vice Magazine
• Movement for Black Lives Week of Action 
• A Detailed List of Anti-Racism Resources
• Note to Self: White People Taking in #BlackLives Matter Protests

In Solidarity,

Yaasmin, Jeannette, Janay, Kenny, Jordan, Miguel, Janel, Kate, Robin, Toshie, Meribe, Blade, Makayla, and Marissa (The CYC Team)

Dear CYC Community,

For more than 30 years, California Youth Connection has done the important work of transforming the California foster care system. 

Hayd?e Cuza has informed the Board of Directors that she is resigning from her position as executive director. Hayd?e, who is a founding member of CYC, has served as executive director for more than three years. The board wishes her the best in her new endeavors. 

The California Youth Connection is a youth-led advocacy organization that has developed leaders and transformed lives. We are committed to moving swiftly to resolve internal issues so that we can focus on the important work of authentic youth engagement.

Best,

The CYC Board of Directors

Dear Community,

This past year has been anything but easy. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have weathered these challenges with our CYC family. As we head into a new year tomorrow, I wanted to share some important thoughts with you as we reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. 

As Executive Director, it is my role to ensure CYC practices center our members and their experiences in our organization -- as it is our members who lead the decision making in our transformative work of system change. Let us come together and support their radical guidance and response to how systems should center youth and young adults in ensuring they have a voice in all aspects of their lives. There has never been a more important time to strengthen and elevate the ideas and leadership of our members, and I am ready to do that! 

Most members and staff know I have grown up in CYC -- my new role has been 20 years in the making. I became a member at 14, learning from other members how to advocate and make change here in California on issues affecting me as a current and former foster youth, as well as our juvenile justice brothers and sisters. As part of my CYC leadership development I learned about the importance of partnership and engagement. 

I have served in may roles within the organization over the years including: 1) Northern Outreach Coordinator, building community from Sacramento all the way to Yreka 2) Statewide Policy Director & Statewide Youth Council Coordinator, leading in partnership with membership, legislative advocacy  and implementation of AB 12 3)  Policy Team Consultant supporting leadership, innovation, and policy. Additionally, I''ve taken the CYC vision to the field in other roles working for partners such as the County Welfare Director's Association (CWDA), Child & Family Policy Institute (CFPIC), Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS), California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and most recent Youth Law Center (YLC/QPI). 

I am overjoyed for the opportunity to partner with our members to actualize their vision for CYC and all foster youth in California. In my role, I will always prioritize members'' guidance and leadership, support community building, and work to strengthen our impact at a local and statewide level. 

Thank you for believing in us in 2020 -- please consider making a year-end contribution to support our vital work for foster youth in 2021. Let''s do this together!

In community,
Janay