Youth Leadership Institute Programs

Youth Leadership Institute Programs include activities in leadership, research, storytelling, and campaigns. The programs also offer workshops on practicing anti-racist leadership and trainings on many other social justice topics for youth and adults across the nation.

Youth Leadership Institute’s mission statement is that it builds communities where young people and their adult allies come together to create positive community change that promotes social justice and racial equity. The programs use a youth development model that includes leadership, research, storytelling, and campaigns, and a youth development strategy that encourages youth to identify and implement their own solutions to community issues. The organization focuses on institutionalizing youth voice in decision-making processes and has a history of young people securing over 130 policy wins across the state.

Youth Leadership Institute partnered with Hayward youth commissioners to offer a workshop on practicing anti-racist leadership at the first annual Hayward Youth Conference, which had funding from the City of Hayward and additional support from the Hayward Unified School District, the Hayward Public Library, and Hayward Area and Recreation District. Youth Leadership Institute’s Training and Consulting Services provides workshops to youth and adults across the nation and works with organizations such as the Siskiyou Substance Abuse Coalition, CA.

Testimonials about Youth Leadership Institute include alumni and former staff describing their experiences with leadership, advocacy, and policy work, as well as a coalition partner describing how Youth Leadership Institute tailored trainings to the coalition’s structure and adapted trainings as needs arose.

Last updated July 22, 2026.