Elevate Youth California

Elevate Youth California is a statewide program addressing substance use disorder by investing in the youth leadership and civic engagement for youth of color and 2S/LGBTQ+ youth ages 12 to 26 living in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. **We …** **Youth Empowerment** Our funded programs foster a power-sharing environment between youth and their adult allies, where young people’s skills and ideas are valued. **Our youth are talented, capable, and ready to lead.** **Cultural Empathy** Our partners are working on **healing and changing the environment for communities impacted by the War on Drugs**. Funded programs are designed with trauma-informed strategies and cultural humility, while centering young people’s experiences and expertise. **Systemic Change** Adult allies guiding Elevate Youth California-funded programs recognize that the War on Drugs is a direct result of systemic racism, which has led to inequity in health systems and criminalization of youth in low-income communities and communities of color. **The focus is to build a new foundation by shifting the way problems are solved.**