© Copyright OYC 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Campaign launched by the OYC in 2015
Convened by the Alliance for Children’s Rights
The Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC) Young Leaders Program is a paid one-year training program in leadership development, public speaking, advocacy, and much more. Through regular meetings, activities, trainings, and active participation in various OYC efforts, Young Leaders will feel empowered to use their collective experience to champion the needs of young people who have been disconnected from school and work and/or impacted by systems, such as child welfare, juvenile justice and homeless. Young Leaders will have the opportunity to advocate and become impactful change agents in the Los Angeles County community!
“As the backbone for the LAOYC, the Alliance for Children’s Rights has had the privilege of witnessing the growth trajectory of the
OYC Young Leaders. Their fierce dedication and impact as advocates—speaking from their own lived experience—demonstrates the importance of using our platform to amplify the voices and vision of the young people in our communities.”— Jennifer L. Braun, President & CEO
Alliance for Children’s Right
The DCFS Director’s Advisory Council brings together Young Leaders and DCFS staff to work as a team. It’s a space where young people with foster care experience can share their ideas and stories to help make DCFS policies and programs better for everyone.
The YMN Visionaries Board leads the charge in building an LA county-wide network of supporting programs that serve system-impacted youth that seeks to center advocacy and cooperation amongst young people and various community partners.
The Horizons 32k Youth Advisory Council will provide vision and guidance to reach the goals of the Horizons 32K Strategic Plan, focusing on creative and realistic solutions to reconnect young people to workforce and educational opportunities with holistic supports.
Holistic Stability means young people have consistent, reliable support across all areas of life necessary to thrive. Including safe housing, financial well-being, education, health and wellness, and supportive relationships. Stability is not just about surviving, it’s about building a foundation for belonging, growth, and long-term success.
Young adults with lived experience should be at the table from the start. The LA OYC’s youth leadership approach is grounded in the intergenerational partnership model. This model emphasizes shared power, mutual learning, and the belief that systems change happens when lived expertise and the experience of long-time system leaders come together to co-create solutions.
Jasmin Ambrosio
Kahlen Barnes
Daniel Bisuano
Sherrie Bradford
Iziko Calderon
Nyla Davis
Cristopher Espino
Roberta Frame
Taneil Franklin
Jasper Garcia
Christopher Hendrix
Kamaurah Hogan
Mercedes Jackson
Ya’Jan Johnson
Peyton Kivett
Ka-Leah Mucthison
Tahir Nance
Alexis Obinna
Marlene Ochoa
Maya Ochoa
Nancy Olivares
Jacqueline Robles
Giulyana Rodriguez
Sarai Rojas
Abigail Rubtsova
Alaska Romero-Crosby
Adriana Segura
Micheal Strickland
Joel Swazo
Jennifer Vega
Lania Whiteside
Ashanti Wince
Campaign launched by the OYC in 2015
Convened by the Alliance for Children’s Rights
The OYC Young Leaders Program is a one-year leadership program for young adults in leadership development, public speaking, advocacy, and more. We believe young adults should join us as equal decision makers to co-create and implement the services and programs that serve them.
Mission: The OYC Young Leaders are young adults with lived experience of the Los Angeles child welfare system dedicated to raising awareness and engaging employers, educators, policy makers, youth, and others to increase stability leading to employment, wellness, and higher education opportunities for foster youth.
Vision: Building a world where all young adults with lived experience of the Los Angeles child welfare system have the means to actively and meaningfully contribute to improving their communities.
“As the backbone for the LAOYC, the Alliance for Children’s Rights has had the privilege of witnessing the growth trajectory of the OYC Young Leaders. Their fierce dedication and impact as advocates—speaking from their own lived experience—demonstrates the importance of using our platform to amplify the voices and vision of the young people in our communities.”
— Jennifer L. Braun, President & CEO
Alliance for Children’s Rights
Through testimony at Board of Supervisors meetings, the OYC Young Leaders advocated for $32.4M in funding for housing and employment in 2020.
© Copyright OYC 2025. All Rights Reserved.