Established in 2017, Youth Forward was created by Jim Keddy to address the threats posed to children and young people by the legalization of marijuana (Proposition 64) and to ensure that the state of California would invest the millions of new revenues from marijuana taxes in youth prevention in those communities most impacted by the War on Drugs. Since then, Youth Forward has expanded its work to include advocacy supporting youth mental health in the Sacramento region, advocacy and leadership development with native youth in North Sacramento, and co-leading the city's largest grassroots coalition, Sac Kids First (www.sackidsfirst.org).
Youth Forward's mission is to create smart solutions to improve the health, education, and well-being of our most vulnerable children and youth in the Sacramento region. We accomplish this through policy advocacy, research, education, and community action.
Our primary goals are to:
- Increase investments in children and youth and in prevention
- Promote youth voice and leadership in the policy-making process
- Reduce the criminalization and marginalization of youth
- Improve the school and community environments in which children and young people grow up, with a focus on public health and health equity
We are raising money for our high school mental health program called Motivate Youth and our youth-driven advocacy. In response to the COVID pandemic, Youth Forward launched a high school mental wellness program in 2021. Donations from the Big Day of Giving will help us reach more young people and to strengthen our efforts through which young people learn to advocate for change.
Youth Forward aims to improve the life trajectories of vulnerable children and youth and of youth of color through systems change. We are committed to maintaining a culture of diversity and equity in the workplace and within our community. Our strength is in our promise to be inclusive and center the voices and lived experiences of individuals from historically marginalized identities so that we may better advocate for policies and practices that disrupt injustices.
Organization name
Youth Forward
2017
Tax id (EIN)
81-5343876
Mission Category
Youth Development
Operating Budget
$500,001-$1 million
Organization Need
Funding: Program
Demographics Served
Youth & Children
BIPOC Leadership
Board Chair
Local Counties Served
Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
2411 15th Street Suite ASacramento, CA, US