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Youth receive first-hand experience working in an office setting and often work on youth-driven advocacy campaigns, such as the Disability History Week Campaign and Taking Action for Accommodations. The YO! Volunteer Corps create connections for youth with adults with disabilities, as well as other youth volunteers. YO! Volunteer Corps members earn a stipend every month.

Meet a YO! Volunteer…

My name is Priscilla, I'm 26 years old, and I have a physical disability called Nemaline Myopathy. I live in Sacramento and graduated in 2012 from UC Davis with a BA in Women and Gender Studies and two minors in Religious Studies and Middle East/South Asia Studies. I am currently working on a few prerequisites before pursuing a Masters in Social Work. I'm passionate about advocating for the rights and freedoms of marginalized communities throughout the world and domestically, particularly the disability and LGBTQ communities. When I have spare time, I enjoy computer gaming, reading, blogging, watching movies and TV series, digital painting, eating, traveling to Disneyland when possible, and generally spending as much time as I can with my best friend, my adorable dog, Babee. Through the YAC, I hope to influence new programs and issues related to folks with disabilities. I particularly would like to focus on creating more social programs to facilitate camaraderie between young people with disabilities, as well as further the dialogue about how disability and sexuality intersect.

Youth Advisory Council (YO! YAC) Priscilla California Foundation for Independent Living Centers – Sacramento, CA

Youth Advisory Council

The YO! YAC is made up of 7 - 9 youth with disabilities across the state ranging in age from 16 - 28 that are familiar with the YO! program and want to use their leadership skills to make it even better. The YO! YAC provides valuable input on policy issues, community organizing campaigns and program priorities. They met at least once a quarter by phone or webinar and occasionally in-person. Youth are are interested are encouraged to apply.

Armand

Alise

Priscilla

Tiffany

Ian

Sara

Alexa

Youth Volunteer Corps

The YO! Volunteer Corps consist of 9 youth volunteers who work in local independent living centers in their community. YO! Volunteer Corps commit to at least 16 hours of work a month and receive a $100 stipend each month. Volunteer Corps members work for a minimum of 6-12 months at their placement site. Volunteer Corps members work on a variety of tasks, including YO! Organizing campaigns, in their local communities.

Youth can apply at any time to be a YO! Volunteer Corps member. However, placements are limited to funding and site availability.

Jose

Emily

Jacquelyn

Jon

Katherine

Youth Action Team

Youth are encouraged to volunteer for a YO! organizing campaign, working in their local communities. There is no time commitment and the amount of time spent on campaigns varies for each organizer. Campaign organizers do not receive a stipend. Meetings for each campaign are held by teleconference in afternoons or on weekends. These provide a chance to connect with youth from around the state! Each participant can do as little or as much as they want to support a YO! campaign, but everyone is involved in advancing the campaign in some way.

Currently, we have nearly 30 organizers working on the Taking Action for Accommodations campaign and 25 working on the Disability History Week campaign.

If you are interested in working on a campaign, please contact a youth advocate.