YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER

YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER (YWFC) ADVANCED ITS CORE MISSION WORKING WITH YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN FIVE COUNTIES PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING TO OVER 3,500 YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, POWER BUILDING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. YWFC OFFERED ITS CORE PROGRAMS TO YOUNG PEOPLE SURVIVING POVERTY, LIVING AND WORKING ON THE STREETS, HOMELESS YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE ENTANGLED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND FOSTER CARE, AND YOUNG PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH.ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY YWFC INCLUDE BELOVED VILLAGE, A PILOT PROGRAM PROVIDING DEEP INVESTMENT AND INTENSIVE WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO THE YOUNG PERSON AND THAT YOUNG PERSON'S FAMILY TO ADDRESS STRUCTURAL DRIVERS OF YOUTH INCARCERATION INCLUDING POVERTY, HOUSING, AND SERVICES TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM NEEDS. THIS PROGRAM SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 100 + YOUTH ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND AN ADDITIONAL 72 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, INVESTING SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES INTO THE YOUNG PERSON AND FAMILY AND CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND CONGREGATE CARE IN LOS ANGELES AND THE BAY AREA.THROUGH THE SISTER WARRIORS FREEDOM COALITION, YWFC'S BASE BUILDING AND HEALING COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH AND ADULT WOMEN THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED POVERTY, VIOLENCE, EXPLOITATION AND INCARCERATION, WE SERVED OVER 1,000 PEOPLE AND CONTINUED TO BUILD A BASE OF OVER 10,000 MEMBERS. THIS WORK SPANNED GEOGRAPHICALLY ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN LOS ANGELES, THE CENTRAL VALLEY, THE BAY AREA, AND HAD ACTIVE PROGRAMMING INSIDE ALL OF CALIFORNIA'S WOMEN'S PRISONS. SISTER WARRIORS PROVIDED INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO A COHORT OF 20 WOMEN, INVESTING OVER 80 HOURS INTO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDED OVER 600 HOURS OF REENTRY SUPPORT, AND PROVIDED IN DEPTH PROGRAMMING TO INCARCERATED WOMEN.THIS YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BUILDING ECONOMIC POWER, LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS AND HEALING SPACES FOR SYSTEMS IMPACTED WOMEN, GIRLS, AND GENDER EXPANSIVE PEOPLE. OUR WORK REMAINS GROUNDED IN LIVED EXPERIENCE AND DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY CYCLES OF POVERTY, VIOLENCE, AND INCARCERATION.