California Youth Connection Celebrates 30 Years of Success at 2018 Day at the Capitol

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Feb. 5, 2018 - PRLog -- Entering its 30th year of youth-led advocacy, California Youth Connection (CYC), a statewide organization founded and led by current and former foster youth, will hold its annual Day at the Capitol event on Monday, February 12, 2018, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Youth-led since its inception, CYC empowers foster youth ages 14–24 to build leadership skills and forge supportive relationships while advocating for child welfare reforms that directly impact both their own experience and the lives of all 60,000 children and youth in California's foster care system.

A hallmark event of the organization, CYC's annual Day at the Capitol conference has resulted in the eventual passage of dozens of new laws and policies that have profoundly improved the lives of children and youth in foster care.

Over 100 current and former foster youth from around the state will meet with lawmakers throughout the morning of February 12th to present their ideas for reform. A rally will follow at 12:00pm on the west steps of the Capitol building. Local and statewide media organizations are encouraged to attend.

Youth will be available for interviews before and after the rally as well as during the preceding weekend when they will be in Sacramento for their conference.

Describing the effect of CYC's legislative advocacy work on young people, Patterson Emesibe, a former CYC Member, now a volunteer mentor, said, "For 30 years, CYC has allowed young people to be part of a story of hope. Our participation in CYC gives us the hope we didn't have growing up. It's hope for yourself and hope for the next generation. CYC allows young people to be immortal. We get to see that immortal stamp: I did that. We always know we've made that change in the world."

CYC's statewide conferences, including the annual Day at the Capitol, have become national models of youth-led policy advocacy.

About CYC

The mission of California Youth Connection (CYC), a youth-led organization, is to develop leaders who empower each other and their communities to transform the foster care system through legislative, policy, and practice change. CYC's vision is that all foster youth will be equal partners in contributing to all policies and decisions made in their lives. All youth in foster care will have their needs met and the support to grow into healthy and vibrant adults.

For more information about CYC, visit http://www.calyouthconn.org.