Young People to the Front

Latest Episodes:

The Power of Lived Experience: Sage Johnson's Impact on Youth Homelessness Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Learn about the impact of Sage's advocacy work on a local, national, and statewide level in the fight against youth homelessness and how Sage is using their expertise to shape policies and initiatives aimed at addressing youth homelessness in California.

In this episode of YP2F, hosts Tonny, Robin and Fatine are joined by guest Sage Johnson. They discuss Sage's personal journey of experiencing homelessness as a young person and their transition into advocacy work.

Here are the main topics discussed:

- Sage's entry into the youth homeless system and their experience of couch surfing and housing instability.

- The importance of advocacy and the need for young people with lived experience to be involved in shaping policies and programs.

- Sage's involvement in various advocacy organizations and their work on a national level, including their role in the California statewide study of people experiencing homelessness.

- The challenges and progress in creating opportunities for young people with lived experience to work within the system and provide support to their peers.

- Sage's reflections on the impact of their advocacy work and the importance of creating opportunities for a better future.

Connect with Sage:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagejohnsonspeaks/

https://www.instagram.com/whatitdosagie/

Know Your Rights: The Role of Legal Observers with Di Barbadillo Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Discover the power of knowing your rights and staying safe at protests with Di Barbadillo from the National Lawyers Guild. Learn about the challenges faced by legal observers and gain valuable insights into protecting yourself and others during demonstrations.

In this episode of YP2F, hosts Tonny, Robin and Fatine are joined by guest Di Barbadillo. They discuss a variety of topics related to activism, protests, and knowing your rights.

Here are a few key points covered in the episode:

- Di's background and how she got involved in community organizing and activism.

- The role of legal observers in protests and their responsibility to document any violations of First Amendment rights by law enforcement.

- The importance of knowing your rights and how to assert them when interacting with the police.

- Challenges faced by legal observers, including the need for more volunteers and the potential conflicts of interest for those working in certain professions.

- The work of the National Lawyers Guild in providing Know Your Rights trainings and supporting advocacy groups in legal matters.

Connect with Di:

https://linktr.ee/dibarbadillo

https://instagram.com/deeeeezzyyy

https://x.com/deeeezyy

https://www.instagram.com/filledmarket/

https://www.instagram.com/usapanorg/

https://www.instagram.com/nlg.la/

Transforming Lives: Elvira Laguna's Mission to Support Former Foster Youth Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

YP2F hosts, Tonny and Robin are joined this week by special guest Elvira Laguna. Elvira shares her experience as a former foster youth and discusses her work at A Sense of Home, a nonprofit organization that provides fully furnished apartments for former foster youth.

In this episode:

- Elvira shares her challenging experience in the foster care system, including multiple placements and the impact of trauma.

- She emphasizes the importance of community support during her time in care and highlights the positive impact of a supportive group home.

- Elvira discusses her involvement with A Sense of Home and how she initially benefited from their services as a former foster youth.

- She talks about her role as a community resource navigator at A Sense of Home, connecting recipients with resources and coordinating special events for the Pay It Forward Alumni (PIFA) program.

- Elvira also talks about her involvement on the boards of Heritage Group Homes and Remarkably Us, both focused on supporting foster youth and Latinas in the foster care system.

Elvira's story highlights the importance of community and support for foster youth, and she offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating the foster care system.

Connect with Elvira on Instagram

Rebrand Alert: We’ve Always Been Young People to the Front Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Tonny, Fatine and Robin delve into the rebranding of their organization, Lens Co, to Young People to the Front Incorporated. They explain that the change was necessary to streamline their mission and vision, as Lens Co no longer accurately represented their work in the youth homelessness policy space. They discuss the evolution of their organization over the past five years and the need to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Tonny, Fatine and Robin also touch on the significance of their new logo, which incorporates an amplifier symbol to represent their role in listening and amplifying the work of others. Overall, the rebranding reflects their commitment to creating structural change through innovative solutions and community collaboration.

Have You Heard About North Hollywood? May 22, 2024

Show notes

Tonny sits down with Gayle, Sandy, and Grant for a discussion about their work at The Village Family Services in North Hollywood. Tonny and Gayle also recall their time in HYFLA. They talk about how not all youth are aware of service providers outside Hollywood and delve into The Village Family Services' and the work and services they offer to youth. Tune in for laughter, nostalgia, and a look into the heart of the community in north Hollywood.

Jenni's Flower Ft. Cheyenne May 08, 2024

Show notes

In this week's episode, Tonny sits down with Cheyenne, the executive director of Jenni's Flowers. They discuss a variety of topics, including the foster care system, healthy coping mechanisms, attending university in California, and how healing from trauma can lead to the creation of beautiful things.

Cheyenne is a creative leader and multimedia artist, with talents ranging from filmmaking, producing, directing, editing, fashion, painting and design. As a transitional youth impacted by the foster care system, she is passionate about empowering other young adults with lived experience. Cheyenne is the Founder and Executive Director of Jenni's Flower, a non-profit organization that empowers transition-age foster youth to bloom their flowers by supporting them through their personal and professional development. Through Jenni's Flower, Cheyenne has created and maintained successful programs in 2023 such as the Foster Youth Flea Market, reaching over 50+ transition-age youth in just one year of operation. Cheyenne hopes to continue to fulfill her purpose of empowering others to heal and become self-sufficient through all avenues of her work and art.

We can end youth homelessness

Every year, one in ten young people between the ages of 18-25 experience homelessness in the United States. In order to end the experience of homelessness, our society need to embark on drastic change by prioritizing young voices and building systems that support the needs of young people. With every purchase, a shirt will be donated to a young advocate with lived experience of homelessness. #YoungPeopleToTheFront