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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…

Alise Smith was born with a rare birth defect called Distal Arthrogryposis which restricts movement in her joints. She was raised in Hayward, California where she sought to go far and beyond her abilities by exceeding in education, volunteer work, and the Arts. With a strong support system, Alise was able to graduate Magna Cum Laude from California State University, East Bay in psychology, receive awards for her dedication in serving her community, and raise money for different causes by selling her artwork at local fairs. Today she is working on applying for graduate school, and volunteers as a crisis counselor/ mentor for local youth. Alise's personal experience with receiving accommodations as an undergrad inspired her to devote her life in assisting students with various disabilities at a local community college, and to one day serve on the Youth Action Council (YAC) to inspire others to reach their goals in higher education. Alise is excited to be given the opportunity for the next two years to serve on the YAC, and hopes to be an informative resource for youth and a reliable aide to her council members. Last but not least, Alise enjoys the leisure of creating artwork, dancing at local churches, volunteering in her community, listening to old school music, traveling around the world to visit family and friends, and watching movies from the 90s.

Youth Advisory Council (YO! YAC) Alise 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.

Alise

Armand

Priscilla

Alexa

Sara

Ian

Tiffany

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.

Zofia

Cami

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.