A message from our 2024 YI West Youth Advisory Board

Young Californians are navigating significant structural barriers as they transition into adulthood. Despite California’s position as an economic powerhouse, young adults face persistent challenges in accessing affordable healthcare, mental health services, higher education, and equitable career opportunities. Through listening sessions with young people across the state, we uncovered vital issues rooted in the gaps within these essential systems. These barriers not only hinder individual growth but also perpetuate broader inequalities, particularly for marginalized and lower-income communities. The issues facing young adults today— complex healthcare access, the diminishing value of higher education, barriers to career advancement, and mental health struggles— mirror the mission of Young Invincibles, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people in areas critical to their future.

By centering young adult voices, our agenda reflects the values of equity, empowerment, and collaboration at the intersection of healthcare, education, and career development.

At YI, we place a strong emphasis on prioritizing policies that address the root causes of our focus issues at a systemic scale. As we move into a new administration, amidst uncertainty for the future, we remain committed to fighting for all of California’s young adults. We will continue to support our partners in the Health4All coalition to provide equitable and affordable access to health care for Californians. We will advocate for young adults’ access to mental health care.

In higher education, we will continue to be a strong advocate for expanding protections for students against the harmful impact of institutional debt, work toward increasing funding for Cal Grant, and continue the fight on mitigating the student housing crisis. In workforce and finance, we will continue to fight for increased access to CalFresh, expand outreach for apprenticeship programs, and advocate for more comprehensive data to better understand workforce outcomes for young Californians.

Although the moment we are moving into is uncertain, one thing remains clear: YI West is here to uplift the voices of young adults and will be a resource for young people to tap into our collective power to ensure our voices are heard and our rights are protected.

In community,

YI West Youth Advisory Board