BHC Statewide Steering Committee members Yahaira Medrano (East Salinas/Alisal), Luis Melchor (Boyle Heights), and Marylou Chavez (South Kern) made time for fun during the recent convening in Merced. Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Guajardo, California Center for Civic Participation
JOHNNY FLORES JR/Coachella Uninc
MERCED, Calif. – The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Statewide Steering Committee on Youth Leadership convened for three days in October to discuss how they can collaborate and learn from each other for the betterment of youth across the state and in their own communities.
“I am hopeful that the voice of the steering committee will cause people within The California Endowment and at each site to reconsider the power, competence and wisdom of youth and that, as a result, youth have more opportunities to take leadership at all levels within the TCE and BHC work,” said Melissa Guajardo, coordinator of the committee and program director at the California Center for Civic Participation.
The purpose of the committee – made up of youth from all 14 BHC communities – is to coordinate and support statewide youth structure development, create opportunities for cross site youth engagement learning, support cross site communication regarding youth leadership, and guide statewide youth policy advocacy efforts.
Over the next two years, the committee plans to meet in different BHC hubs so that members can see the work that is being done across the state.
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