Youth Will

Fighting for a future where every young person with everything they need to be happy, healthy, and prepared to reach their potential.

The San Diego Youth Development Office (YDO) is working with targeted communities to identify what is needed for youth to thrive. They are accomplishing this through:

• Collaboration with targeted communities to identify priorities and needs;
• Promotion of the alignment of services with community-identified needs;
• Coordination of systems to improve youth-focused policy and practice;
• Convenin

g stakeholders to ensure service accountability and data-driven solutions that address community identified needs; and
• Capacity Building of community based organizations in order to increase/leverage their resources to provide sustained services in the community. The YDO believes that this approach will lead to greater efficiencies and reduce redundancies in services and public resources. Most importantly, it will ensure that youth and communities receive the support they need to guarantee a thriving future for San Diego.

04/20/2026

Today, we hosted a press conference alongside our partners to demand our city INVEST IN YOUTH 🗣️ has proposed eliminating The Office of Child & Youth Success. Cutting an already underfunded and understaffed office sends a clear message: youth are not a priority. OCYS is actively supporting vital programs like the Municipal Child Care benefit, civic engagement opportunities, and youth workforce development. Eliminating this office would put this progress at risk and be detrimental to the success and wellbeing of young people across the city.

We will be fighting ALL budget season long to make sure this office is restored.

04/19/2026

🚨 1 WEEK LEFT TO APPLY FOR OUR LEAD FELLOWSHIP!!!

We hope words from past fellows Clemente & Mekayla motivate young leaders to apply by April 26th! 📣

04/18/2026

ACTION ALERT 🔔 send an E-Comment to Save OCYS (send before Monday)

You can go to: bit.ly/OCYScomment for easier access & instructions to the comment page

Remember:
1. Select Meeting Date as Monday April 20th
2. Select Oppose
3. Agenda Item # 200

04/16/2026

📊 The Mayor’s proposed budget has been released, here’s an overview of the Budget Timeline & Advocacy Opportunities 📣

Take action and prep for public comment opportunities soon 🗓️🎙️ Save these key dates in your calendar!

04/14/2026

📣 JOIN US IN TELLING THE CITY: “NO SWIPING OCYS FUNDING!” 🔥

Come make signs 🪧 & other art to support the Office of Child & Youth Success this budget season!!!

RSVP at bit.ly/ART4YOUTH 🎨🖌️

04/13/2026

Diana with a few words on her experience from the 2025 LEAD Fellowship! ☺️✨

04/11/2026

The City of San Diego is facing a structural budget deficit, and severe cuts are anticipated to be announced in Mayor Gloria’s proposed budget next week. These cuts include the Office of Child & Youth Success, an office that we’ve fought too hard for to lose so we’re not going down without a fight 👊

The Office of Child & Youth Success is dedicated to prioritizing San Diego’s youngest residents by providing access to resources, services, and high quality programs to improve social, health, and educational outcomes for all children and youth. What will happen to youth prioritization at the City if this office disappears?

We are asking the City to maintain OCYS funding and staff, reestablish its executive level leadership, and attend an OCYS even to see the real impact first hand.

YOU can take action now by signing onto the letter in our bio and getting involved 🌟

04/09/2026

Ryan, a 2025 LEAD Fellow shares his experience being in the fellowship! He’s learned how to take action & support in his community! 😎

04/06/2026

Youth Will Interns Somaya, Carmen & CJ talk about their experience being a LEAD Fellow last year!

Apply at bit.ly/YWLEAD26 📝 Applications open until April 1st-26th 🗓️

04/04/2026

A few words from our past LEAD fellow, Angelica! ☕️

LEAD Fellowship 2026 applications are open until April 26th! Apply at bit.ly/YWLEAD26 📝 More information at youthwill.org/lead-fellowship ☺️

04/03/2026

We’ve got a few things lined up this spring season 😮‍💨 See you at some of our events? 🤔

04/01/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 🌷 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥’𝐬 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔! ⭐️

This paid summer fellowship is about challenging outdated ideas of success and creating new paths where youth can pursue careers rooted in joy, mental health, and sustainability - not debt and pressure.

From June 13th to July 25th, fellows will learn about social justice and avenues for advocacy, while building research and advocacy skills.

➜ Applicants must be 18-25 years old at the time of the fellowship.
➜ All fellows will receive a $1500 stipend for their participation!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲? You can apply at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/YWLEAD26

💬 For more information, please go to our website youthwill.org/ lead-fellowship!

Stay tuned on our socials to know how last cohort’s experiences were! 🤩

Address

San Diego, CA

Telephone

+16195690610

Website

http://www.youthwill.org/, https://linktr.ee/youthwill

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