Preparing historically marginalized youth to create social change in their local communities

CYLC Fact Sheet 2023

California Youth Leadership Corps (CYLC) programs are expanding our presence and reach across California

California Youth Leadership Corps (CYLC), a unique statewide initiative of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, CLP, selected community colleges, social justice organizations and private philanthropy, was created as a response to the global pandemic and the economic crisis. 

CYLC prepares historically marginalized youth to become community organizers and change agents in their local communities. CYLC is collaborating with its state and local partners to scale up community change learn-and-earn career pathways across California. CYLC has launched community change career pathways in the cities of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, and Cupertino/San Jose.

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Interested in Participating in CYLC?

CYLC programs currently operate at De Anza College, Riverside City College, Fresno City College, East Los Angeles College, and Los Angeles Trade Tech College. CYLC is designed to serve community college students with low incomes, students of color, and immigrant youth primarily between the ages of 18-24. This includes Opportunity Youth – youth who face barriers to education and employment due to poverty/lack of opportunity, immigration status/DACA, and other issues. DACA recipients are eligible to participate.

Interested in enrolling in a CYLC program? Click on the landing page below for a program near you and submit an interest form. For questions, please contact CYLC Executive Director Rosa M. García at rosa@communitylearningpartnership.org.

CYLC Programs

CYLC programs are transforming the lives of historically marginalized youth and young adults. We are increasing our presence, reach, and impact across California:

CYLC Career Pathways in Immigration

Preparing historically marginalized students to provide critical services to underserved immigrant communities.

CYLC is working with its nonprofit partners to create two new community change career pathways in the area of immigration: one in community-based immigration legal services and another in language justice. These career pathways will expand the number of well-trained paralegals, legal assistants, language interpreters, and nonprofit leaders in historically marginalized immigrant communities.

California Youth Leadership Corps Benefits

The CYLC model offers historically marginalized students unique educational and work-based learning opportunities that allow them to enter communities, change careers and thrive.

CYLC community change learn-and-earn career pathway programs are preparing youth with low incomes – including youth of color, opportunity youth, and immigrant youth – for community change careers. CYLC participants benefit from:

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The CYLC model offers historically marginalized students unique educational and work-based learning opportunities that allow them to enter communities, change careers and thrive.

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Gaining experience in a fellowship where they can be awarded up to $10,000 doing work that benefits their communities at nonprofit and social justice organizations who organize in communities with low incomes, communities of color, and provide critical services to immigrant communities.
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Engaging in leadership development and mentoring activities
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Learning community organizing skills
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Receiving critical supports, including academic, social- emotional, and career advising supports to succeed

CYLC News and Resources

Hear about the impact CYLC has had on our students

  • "Our partnership with CYLC came mid-pandemic and benefited our work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, immensely. Through the dedication of Aya, we were better equipped to engage with hard to reach communities. Aya brought a passion for change and was well-prepared for the projects that she contributed to. The support that CYLC provided Aya was integral to her success and that of our partnership."

    Gerardo Loera, Indian Health Center

  • "I can say firsthand, from now having the opportunity to have different cohorts of our De-Bug community participate in CYLC, has been remarkable in how it has transformed individual life trajectories and our community as a whole. I have never seen an educational program that has captivated our community leaders and equipped them to advance their change-making in such a fluid, immediate, and long-term way."

    Raj Jayadev, Silicon Valley De-bug

  • "This program has opened my eyes to the world in a way that I hadn’t before.It's one thing to read about theory, to be inspired by the works of our ancestors and the folks who came before us and their struggle for liberation. It's another to look at this vast system and world before us and think “Now what can I do with this?” This program gave me the confidence to reach out to various organizations and overcome my imposter syndrome. Now I am supporting the Los Angeles Community Land Trust Coalition which is leading a renewed movement for community ownership and self-determination."

    Matthew Vu, Trust South LA, CYLC - LATTC - CD Tech Center

  • "With the information and knowledge I have gathered, I plan to do more. I have always doubted whether I am qualified to help anyone. Now, however, I will take initiative."

    Leilani Gonzalez, CYLC - De Anza College

Learn more about CYLC

Interested in learning more? Feel free to reach out and connect!

Rosa M. García, Ed.D.
(She/Her/Ella)
Executive Director, Community Learning Partnership (CLP) and
California Youth Leadership Corps (CYLC)
Rosa@communitylearningpartnership.org
(m) 510-375-6340

CYLC Interest Form

For more information and to connect or partner with us reach out!

CLP Interest Form

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Special Thanks to Our CYLC Funding Partners

We are proud to partner and collaborate with these partners to make CYLC possible

The Broad Foundation
The California Department of Social Services
The California Endowment
The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
The California Workforce Development Board
The Conrad Hilton Foundation
The Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund
The Grove Foundation
The Tides Foundations