A Conversation With Donté Clark

At the recent #Fight4All Convening in Fresno, CA, keynote speakers and activists addressed community and national issues. At the convention, Zyanna Maynard sat down with Donté Clark, a spoken word artist and community activist, to discuss his inspirations, advice for youth, and hopes for the future. “Everything that you think, everything that you speak and […]

In Greenfield, Advocating for a Small Piece of Sidewalk Makes a Big Difference

When Bakersfield’s Barbara Perez noticed an issue with a local stretch of sidewalk, she didn’t just sit by. Perez worked with local community organizations and politicians to find a solution to the problem, which showed her the power of young people’s voices. “Getting this sidewalk finished taught me that youth involvement can make a difference.” […]

Disadvantaged Long Beach Residents At Forefront Of First-Ever ‘People’s Budget Proposal’

Long Beach community members, activists, and youth are part of the movement pushing for a “People’s Budget Proposal.” They are advocating that the budget protect immigrant rights, language accessibility, youth programs, and safe housing. “It’s about time that the mayor and the city council actually address the budget with community-focused solutions.” Read more at VoiceWaves.

Annual Activist Gathering Comes at Critical Moment for Long Beach Renters & Immigrants

As Long Beach gears up for its largest annual gathering of activists, VoiceWaves snagged an interview with one of the event’s organizers to hear more about the upcoming People’s State of the City 2018. “I want people to think about the real issues and conditions that they are facing right now.” Read more at VoiceWaves.

Youth gather at UC Davis To ‘Free Their Dreams’

The power of youth who use their voice to advocate on their own behalf has been growing stronger in California in the past few years. The Free Our Dream Conference, held at UC Davis, sought to empower young people from all across the state to make changes in their communities. “I will treat people with […]

Sacramento Youth Alliance working to shape youth programs

A youth-led group is advocating for a better future for Sacramento’s young people. They’re challenging city leaders to create more opportunities. “It hurts when you know you can’t become a mechanic or a doctor.” Watch the video at AccessLocal.

Why community change starts with us

Bakersfield university student Diana Cisneros had a revelation. At recent event in Modesto, she heard about all the work activists from around the world – from Texas to Uganda – are doing to fight for human rights and it caused her to question what she’s doing to fight for the wellbeing and rights of people […]

Fresno ‘bands’ together to stand against hate

Fresno’s art and music scene is digging into politics. A collection of counter-culture, punk activists held a event with music, poetry and crafts to raise money for the city’s Islamic Cultural Center. “We wanted to show the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno that they were loved.” Read more at The kNOw.

Youth learn how to make changes in Sacramento

Sacramento high schooler Isabelle Yang got involved in community activism because she wants young people to push for change. She was among other teens and young adults who gathered recently in the city to learn about community organizing and activism opportunities. “I wanted to get involved: how do we empower our youth?” Watch the video […]

Sacramento community gathers food for those who need it

Sacramentans collected 42,000 pounds of food for the Sacramento Food Bank during a special three-month food drive. Organizers raised awareness about food insecurity by starting a competition among about 250 local apartment complex managers. “There are 244,000 food insecure people in Sacramento County, and they are trying to make a dent in that.” Watch the […]