OUR VALUES

YO! California strives to practice and uphold the following core values:

Deep Inclusion––Especially of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, systems-impacted youth, and youth outside of the state’s urban cores.

Margins to Center––Centering on marginalized youth and keeping them at the forefront of leadership and decision-making.
Intersectionality and Interdependence––Recognizing that our lives, issues, and oppressions are interconnected and our collective and individual liberation are tied to one another.

Equity––Addressing the needs of those most impacted by making investments and redistributing resources to advance justice.

Youth Power and Voice––Trusting in the power and leadership of young people, providing support and education for young people to be successful in advancing the movement, and making intentional space for young people to exercise their leadership in Network spaces.

Transformational Organizing driven by radical love, healing, community building, and compassion.

Love and Rage––Holding love for our people at the center while tapping into justifiable rage with inequity and injustice to fuel bold transformation.

Well-Planned Strategy and Accountability grounded in honesty, integrity, and flexibility.