California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC)

The California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC) is a pioneering organization dedicated to uniting youth commissions across California to share best practices, collaborate on initiatives, and enhance the well-being of young people in their communities. While youth commissions exist nationwide and some states have state-level commissions, CAYC is unique in its approach to connecting local commissions within a state. The organization leverages the deep, grassroots insights of local commissions to inform and drive policy recommendations.

Mission and Goals

Empower Youth, Shape the Future:

CAYC seeks to be a powerful collective voice influencing legislation to benefit youth. By forming a state-level association, local youth commissions can share resources, best practices, and support one another in their efforts to empower young people.

Advocacy and Support:

A key goal is to understand and address disparities among youth commissions. Despite the clear benefits—such as providing a voice for young people in local government and fostering civic engagement—many towns in California lack youth commissions due to limited funding, higher poverty rates, and reduced access to educational and recreational programs. By identifying these barriers, CAYC aims to develop strategies to encourage the formation and sustainability of youth commissions across all communities.

Upcoming Events

CAYC Virtual Spring Conference 2026!

• Date: Saturday, March 21, 9:00 am - 12 pm

• Location: Zoom

• Registration: Free

• Agenda:

The CAYC Spring Conference brings together youth commissioners from across California to share best practices

for creating and maintaining youth commissions and exchange ideas for impactful local initiatives.

Participants will hear from policymakers and experts on AI and teen mental health, e-bike safety, alcohol use, and vocational training,

and take part in student-led workshops focused on youth-driven policy solutions that can be addressed collectively at the state level.