Conferences
Our two interlinked annual conferences, the Summer Leadership and Policy Conference and the Day at the Capitol Conference, provide dynamic forums for putting into action our dual goals of empowering youth and improving foster care. At summer conference, members explore solutions to issues identified by the chapters and selected by the CYC Youth Board, and propose a set of policy recommendations. About six months later, CYC members travel to Sacramento for Day at the Capitol, when they meet with legislators, urging them to support our sponsored bills.
Pivotal to the fulfillment of our mission, CYC’s Day at the Capitol conference has resulted in the eventual passage of dozens of new laws and policies that have profoundly improved the lives of children and youth who experience foster care.
SUMMER LEADERSHIP AND POLICY CONFERENCE
Our VIRTUAL Summer Leadership and Policy Conference, “Building the Capacity of Young Leaders Through a Racial Equity Lens” is July 23–26, 2021! Over the course of a 3-day span, we will learn about statewide advocacy, build leadership and communication skills, connect with other youth-based organizations, and discuss foster care issues that need to be addressed through a racial equity lens.
Every aspect of this summer conference was planned, supported, and facilitated by CYC Members! Through a series of Zoom webinars, current and former foster youth and CYC volunteer supporters will share their perspectives and expertise and participate in interactive breakout sessions based on the event or workshop topic. Perhaps the most important part of SLPC is the opportunity to build and reconnect with our community in person and virtually during these times.
RECENT PAST SLPC CONFERENCE THEMES
DAY AT THE CAPITOL
CYC’s three-day Day at the Capitol (DAC) advocacy and leadership conference is held annually, and was hosted virtually for the first time in 2021 via Zoom. Conference attendees attended workshops on CYC’s Past Advocacy, Strategic Sharing, and CYC’s Current Legislative Issue: CA Youth Empowerment Act. On Monday, February 22, 2021, all DAC attendees met with California legislators to advocate for youth voices impacted by child welfare. Although we could not gather for this year’s conference in-person, this fight is a collective fight against the injustice that exists from the systems that impact the youth: Nobody Struggles Alone!
RECENT PAST DAC THEMES
