Our Programs
Youth Building Our Power (Youth BOP)
Our school year program engage South Bay high school youth across Santa Clara County to understand the key issues they face and the solutions they want to see. Our youth participatory action research (YPAR) project is a way to reclaim our experience and wisdom, and to push for the changes that young people need.
Meetings are held on Wednesdays 5:30PM -7:00PM.
Civic Engagement
We engage Asian American voters in Santa Clara County to increase civic participation in elections. Through phone banking, we educate Asian American voters on key issues and learn about our communities’ concerns and priorities.
Currently, we are not running any civic engagement programs. Stay tuned for updates for the 2024 elections.
Critical Connections Summer
Critical Connections Summer (CCS) is a six week leadership development program focused on developing youth to be social justice leaders in their community. Participants will embark on a leadership development program to learn about social justice issues, build organizing skills, visit community organizations and sites across the South Bay, and build community.
Applications are now closed. Please check back in Spring 2024.
Testimonials from Youth Members
“To me, SBYC is like an extended family of people that I can trust and are there for me when I need them. Being a changemaekr is a mix of being empowered and having access to tools that enable me to make a positive impact in my community and beyond”
— Veda, Evergreen Valley High School
“The most meaningful thing I learned this summer was to practice softness in outreach and in organizing spaces. Rather than adhering to the capitalist agenda of working as much as I possibly could, I learned to ground myself and others and make sure people were comfortable, which is so important.”
— Anonymous, Adrian Wilcox High School
“In learning about the South Bay’s history, I began to understand how integral the immigrant community is, despite how they are often exploited and made to believe they don’t belong. This is very important to me, coming from an immigrant family and seeing how my family has been mistreated”
— Koa, Andrew P. Hill High School
“Thank you so much for the amazing program, it was the most transformative experience I have ever had. I gained so much perspective, introspect, and confidence. I am finally able to accept all parts of my identity like my race and sexuality as a part of who I am.”
— Anonymous, Los Altos High School
“SBYC has shown me how impactful it is to come into spaces with an open heart. I've realized how transformative and necessary it is to really hear people, and make them feel that their voice is valuable too. It's given me confidence and resilience knowing that there are others who would do that for me, and I know now I need to give that to other people as well.”
— Carolyn, Saint Francis High School
“The summer program has given me the opportunity to look at everything around me with a critical eye, and to constantly ask myself the question, ‘How could we make this better?’”
— Amara, Archbishop Mitty High School