California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC)

The California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC) is a pioneering organization dedicated to uniting youth commissions across California to share best practices, collaborate on initiatives, and enhance the well-being of young people in their communities. While youth commissions exist nationwide and some states have state-level commissions, CAYC is unique in its approach to connecting local commissions within a state. The organization leverages the deep, grassroots insights of local commissions to inform and drive policy recommendations.

Mission and Goals

Empower Youth, Shape the Future:

CAYC seeks to be a powerful collective voice influencing legislation to benefit youth. By forming a state-level association, local youth commissions can share resources, best practices, and support one another in their efforts to empower young people.

Advocacy and Support:

A key goal is to understand and address disparities among youth commissions. Despite the clear benefits—such as providing a voice for young people in local government and fostering civic engagement—many towns in California lack youth commissions due to limited funding, higher poverty rates, and reduced access to educational and recreational programs. By identifying these barriers, CAYC aims to develop strategies to encourage the formation and sustainability of youth commissions across all communities.

CAYC Upcoming Events!

• “Speaking up for Change,” 3rd Annual Virtual Fall Youth Summit, Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9:00 am - 11:30 am

• 3rd Annual Spring In-person Conference, Saturday, March 20, 2027, Burlingame Community Center

Confirmed Speakers and Workshops!

Guest Speakers

• Michael Brownrigg, Burlingame Mayor

• Jim Irizarry, Youth Vote Advisory Coalition

• Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney

• Julie Lythcott-Haims, Palo Alto City Councilmember and Author

• Janet Lindlow, Rural Behavioral Institute CEO

• Ray Mueller, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Vice-President

• Leslie Ragsdale, Hillsborough Vice-Mayor

• Andrea Wong, GenUP

• Futures Commission

• Oakland Youth Vote Coalition

Youth-led Workshops

• AI and Youth Daily Life

• Civic engagement

• Youth-state Level Legislative Lobbying

• Triple-C: Compromise and Compassion in Communication

  And don’t forget to submit your slide for the Youth Commission Idea Exchange!

Summer 2026 Highlight!