South Bay Youth Changemakers provides an opportunity for high school-age youth to connect with others who want to make positive change in their communities. SBYC is hosting a free 7 week program from June 23rd to August 7th. Scholarships will be available based on financial need. In light of COVID-19, the program will be run virtually as needed.
Started by two Stanford alum, SBYC is a program run by a team of three South Bay youth. We started this project in hopes to provide a space for like-minded South Bay youth to connect and build a strong culture of youth empowerment, civic engagement, and community organizing. Staff bios are located at the end.
What are the program details?
SBYC will run for 7 weeks from June 23rd to August 7th. The program will be 4 days a week (Tuesdays - Fridays) and ~3 hours of programming per day (time TBA, mornings and afternoons). The program consists of educational workshops, skill building, and exchanges with community partners and organizations.
Educational workshops: Workshops will provide a foundational understanding of social and political issues affecting communities within and beyond the South Bay. Topics include and are not limited to: racial and economic justice, climate and environmental justice, housing and community development, and mental health.
Skill building: Fellows will learn about and practice critical leadership skills such as communication, strategic and systemic analysis, navigating difficult conversations, and community engagement approaches like phone banking and canvassing. Fellows will plan and execute a culminating event/action and apply some of these skills.
Community exchanges: Fellows will connect with community organizations, advocacy groups, and elected officials in the Bay Area to gain a better understanding of organizing and changemaking in practice.
How do I apply?
You can apply here: bit.ly/sbycapply
You can preview the short / long response questions here: bit.ly/sbycapplication
We recommend drafting the responses in a word document before filling out the application.
Applications are due May 8th 11:59pm.
If you have any questions, please email john.zhao[at]youthchangemakers[dot]org.
Staff bios
John Zhao (pronouns: he/they) is the program co-lead. John grew up in Cupertino, attending Eaton, Lawson, and Cupertino High (‘14). He attended Stanford University, graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering with Distinction (‘18). From 2017 – 2019, John served on the City of Cupertino’s Housing Commission. He is currently attending University of British Columbia’s Master of Community and Regional Planning program. John wants to contribute to grassroots, community-based change to advance a vision of a more equitable and sustainable South Bay. He co-founded this program because he is committed to empowering South Bay youth to realize their potential and make positive change in our communities.
Katie Lan (pronouns: she/her) is the program co-lead. Katie was born and raised in the Bay Area and attended Mountain View High School (‘16). She is graduating with her Bachelor’s of Arts in Urban Studies with a concentration in Urban Society and Social Change and minor in Earth Systems from Stanford University this spring. She is passionate about urbanism, climate justice, and Asian American activism. After graduation, Katie plans on working in the Bay Area to help envision a more environmentally sound and socially just future for the Bay. She co-founded this program because she wants to provide political education for the community that she comes from while inspiring youth to call for positive change in our communities.
Maya Tate (pronouns: she/her) is an Organizing Fellow. She has lived in Cupertino for the majority of her life. She is currently a senior at M***a Vista High School. She has been deeply involved with politics since day one, thanks to her parents. As an Organizing Fellow, she supports the planning and coordination of South Bay Youth Changemakers. As a youth activist, she has been involved in many different political movements and hopes to share her passion with her peers. She hopes to see positive change in her community and to bring a broader understanding of equity and social justice to fellow youth of the Bay Area.
