THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION

CalCenter prepares young people to serve as catalysts for change in their communities and beyond. Across all of our programs, youth center lived experience and community voices to shape solutions, lead local action, and advocate for policy change with local and statewide decision-makers. We bring civic participation to life by connecting young people to real issues, real people, and the real spaces where decisions are madeclosing the gap between understanding systems and transforming them.Our work is grounded in a partnership-based model that rejects top-down approaches to youth engagement. Young people are collaborators and leaders, not participants, and their insights inform both our programs and our organizational direction.Young Climate Champions supports youth in building climate literacy and leadership, equipping them to connect environmental justice issues to their own communities and take action rooted in equity and care for future generations.Youth Lead the Charge creates paid leadership pathways for young people to build skills in collaboration, outreach, and advocacy while working side-by-side with CalCenter staff to design and lead community-based projects.Shake the Future Up mobilizes and organizes young people to shape the future of civic participationengaging their peers around voting, policy, and collective action through creative, youth-led approaches.In addition to these core programs, CalCenter hosts and co-creates community events that expand access to civic learning, strengthen youth leadership, and advance a more inclusive and representative democracy.