kate@calyouthconn.org
As the Lead Community Advocacy Coordinator, Kate works with the CYC Chapters in LA County providing technical assistance to support CYC Members in developing their leadership and putting their campaigns for change into action both locally and regionally. She has been with CYC since 2006, first as the Bay Area/Central Valley Outreach Coordinator, then the Bay Area Regional Coordinator, and now the Lead Community Advocacy Coordinator. Kate first became involved with CYC as an Americorp intern at the Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara County when her then supervisor, Deryk Clark (a former CYC board member), told her that part of her job would be to attend CYC meetings. After several years of volunteering as a Supporter with the Santa Clara and Alameda Chapters, she joined the CYC staff.
Kate enjoys working at a place where “youth led” and “youth driven” are concepts that are assumed and it is a given that youth have the knowledge and experience to make powerful contributions to systems change. CYC is also a place where she can find other people as passionate about policy work being led by people directly impacted by those policies.
Throughout the year, Kate enjoys time off for road trips and other adventures, especially international adventures with the Foster Youth Cultural Exchange.