Youth Empowerment Summit 2026

The Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) is an annual convening, produced by the California Coalition for Youth (CalYouth) and held in Sacramento. YES brings together young people, community leaders, and youth service providers from around California to explore, learn, share ideas, advocate, and work collectively to prevent, intervene, and end youth homelessness. The summit provides a platform for passionate and inspiring young people, leaders, and community members to connect and collaborate on solutions to accelerate strategies, programs, and approaches that reflect what youth want and need.

YES attendees can attend workshops, interact with speakers and panelists, hear from elected officials, learn about government youth-focused initiatives, ask questions, and participate in networking opportunities. At the conclusion of YES, young people and community members will have built a solid peer network and be equipped with knowledge, skills, and abilities to strengthen and resource their communities and youth programs.

Links to hotel registration and award nominations to come soon.

Workshop Proposal form

Youth Scholarship Application

Volunteer Sign-up

Email [email protected] if you have any questions!

We will be using Whova as our event app! Look out for an email from Whova a month before the event so you can see the workshops, speakers, sponsors, and more!

Info: Register at the registration table by the main lobby and receive your nametag and any materials needed for the event.

Info: Join us for our opening ceremony for YES 2026 for icebreakers and introductions on how we will spend three day together.

Info: After the welcoming ceremony to receive full training and information on advocacy and advocacy visits that you will have the opportunity to participate in

Info: This is a time for you to take for yourself or to introduce yourself to someone you may not know. We will have more icebreakers and games for the room.

Info: Join us for dinner

Info: Join us for our keynote speaker!

Info: Workshops are currently TBD. A list will be sent out to all registered attendees a month before the event.

Info: Join us for lunch

Info: This is a time to recognize our award recipients for the work that they do with and for youth in CA.

Info: Please gather in the lobby to prepare to walk over to the capitol together for our rally. If you are someone that wants to speak at the rally be prepared to do so.

Info: This is a time and space for anyone that is comfortable doing so, to speak before we enter the capitol to advocate. This is the last time all attendees will be together as a group. A group photo will be taken during this time!

Info: You will receive information before and during the Summit on what visits you are doing and the group you would be working with during that time.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher California Coalition for Youth