C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California
C5LA, 3100 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031
About
C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California offers a multi-year youth development and college access program that includes hiking, canoeing, zip lining, and other outdoor activities, as well as a 7–10 day backcountry trek in partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the Rocky Mountains, Adirondack Mountains, or Pacific Northwest. As they move through the program’s defined yearly themes, participants may traverse 30 miles at 12,000 feet of elevation, live in dorms, eat in dining halls, tour a range of 2-year and 4-year colleges (including public, private, and community colleges), work on college applications, and design and develop a senior capstone project. Throughout the year, they also attend workshops and presentations on academic and financial literacy, social emotional health and wellness, campus and dorm life, and career development, and take part in activities such as budgeting, planning and cooking their meals, mentoring underclassmen, and encouraging participation in extracurricular activities and student life.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: Leaders participate in a 7–10 day backcountry trek in the Rocky Mountains, Adirondack Mountains or Pacific Northwest.
C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California states that its mission is to change the odds for high-potential teens from under-resourced communities by inspiring them to pursue personal success, while preparing them for leadership roles in school, college, work and their communities. The program is structured as a year-round youth leadership and college/career access and success program with yearly themes: Year 1 Camp (Learning to lead myself and others), Year 2 Bridges (Expanding my horizons), Year 3 Road To College (Exploring my future), Year 4 ACT Now (Engaging my community), Year 5 College Bootcamp (Realizing my vision), and And Beyond (Achieving my goals). It includes high school Crews where senior ambassadors mentor underclassmen, College Crews facilitated by upperclassmen alum ambassadors, and Career Crews that partner mentors with alumni for professional development, personal support, and career exposure, along with Pathways that keep Leaders involved through year-round events focused on college, careers, and other resources for personal development. The Executive Leadership Lunch pairs youth and professionals for a 60-minute exchange of information, and the program also pairs youth and professionals for similar 60-minute exchanges where C5 Leaders and business leaders learn from each other. C5LA reports that 100% of C5 Leaders graduate high school and receive tools and skills necessary to pursue successful college and professional careers, that thousands of first generation, under resourced Leaders have benefited from the programs, and that annually 72 middle school Leaders join the multi-year youth development and college access program.
C5LA was founded in 1999. The organization initiated a partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to recruit students who would benefit from a leadership development program, collaborates closely with families, and partners mentors with alumni to provide professional development, personal support, and career exposure.
Last updated June 8, 2026.
• Ages: 13–18 years old
• Schedule: Leaders participate in a 7–10 day backcountry trek in the Rocky Mountains, Adirondack Mountains or Pacific Northwest.
C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California states that its mission is to change the odds for high-potential teens from under-resourced communities by inspiring them to pursue personal success, while preparing them for leadership roles in school, college, work and their communities. The program is structured as a year-round youth leadership and college/career access and success program with yearly themes: Year 1 Camp (Learning to lead myself and others), Year 2 Bridges (Expanding my horizons), Year 3 Road To College (Exploring my future), Year 4 ACT Now (Engaging my community), Year 5 College Bootcamp (Realizing my vision), and And Beyond (Achieving my goals). It includes high school Crews where senior ambassadors mentor underclassmen, College Crews facilitated by upperclassmen alum ambassadors, and Career Crews that partner mentors with alumni for professional development, personal support, and career exposure, along with Pathways that keep Leaders involved through year-round events focused on college, careers, and other resources for personal development. The Executive Leadership Lunch pairs youth and professionals for a 60-minute exchange of information, and the program also pairs youth and professionals for similar 60-minute exchanges where C5 Leaders and business leaders learn from each other. C5LA reports that 100% of C5 Leaders graduate high school and receive tools and skills necessary to pursue successful college and professional careers, that thousands of first generation, under resourced Leaders have benefited from the programs, and that annually 72 middle school Leaders join the multi-year youth development and college access program.
C5LA was founded in 1999. The organization initiated a partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to recruit students who would benefit from a leadership development program, collaborates closely with families, and partners mentors with alumni to provide professional development, personal support, and career exposure.
Last updated June 8, 2026.
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