Riverside, CA – On February 10, the Southern California Youth Futures Summit brought together young leaders, thought leaders, and local representatives to address the biggest challenges facing Southern California and the world. The summit, hosted by California 100 and the Center for Social Innovation at University of California Riverside showcased keynote speeches from Congressman Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Assemblymembers Corey Jackson (D-Perris) and Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), among regional and statewide organizational youth leaders. This Summit kicks off the road to the Youth Futures Summit taking place in Sacramento on March 12.
“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and it’s crucial that we give them the tools and resources they need to succeed and lead,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of California 100. “The Southern California Youth Futures Summit provided a platform for young people to connect, collaborate, and make a positive impact on their communities and the world.”
“Our democracy does not run on auto-pilot – and the next generation must be engaged in the fight to preserve it,” said Congressman Takano in his keynote address. “I’m re-energized by the young leaders I met at the Southern California Youth Futures Summit. Their energy, passion, and innovative ideas will defend and revitalize our democracy for generations to come.”
Workshops and discussions covered a wide range of topics, including technology, education, the environment, social justice, entrepreneurship, and more. The goal of the summit was to engage young people in discussions about the future and empower them to take action to shape it.
Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes provided inspiration to the youth audience with her powerful keynote address, where she shared her personal story, saying, “I am the daughter of farmer workers, I am the daughter of immigrants…it is because of their struggles and our ancestors’ struggles, that have paved the way for voices like ours at every level of government. I share that with you because our stories matter and I encourage you to lean into yours because you are here today for a reason.”
Assemblymember Corey Jackson emphasized the importance of the summit, saying, “The SoCal Youth Futures Summit is an incredible opportunity for the youth of the Inland Empire to come together and use their voices to create real, lasting change in their communities. We must continue to invest in initiatives like this one, and empower our young leaders to be the driving force behind a brighter and more equitable future.”
Attendees had the chance to attend workshops and interactive sessions to develop their leadership skills and create visions and solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges. They also had the opportunity to network with like-minded peers and connect with youth leaders in the region.
The Southern California Youth Futures Summit was made possible through the support of community organizations, businesses, government entities, and individuals, all committed to empowering the next generation of leaders.
This regional summit is part of California 100’s work across the state, bringing together student leaders, campus activists, and youth community partners to workshop youth vision manifestos for the future, develop calls to action, and co-design a celebratory Youth Futures Summit planned for March 2023 in Sacramento.
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About California 100
California 100 is a transformative statewide initiative focused on inspiring a vision and strategy for California’s next century that is innovative, sustainable, and equitable. The initiative is incubated at the University of California and Stanford, and is guided by an expert and intergenerational Commission. The mission of California 100 is to strengthen California’s ability to collectively solve problems and shape our long-term future—through research, policy innovation, advanced technology, and engagement—by identifying, mobilizing, and supporting champions for innovative and equitable solutions.