About
Youth Speak Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Pacoima, California. Youth Speak’s mission is to empower low-income, at-risk youth and their families with the skills necessary to pursue higher education and create strong communities. The organization’s name stems from its commitment to providing youth with the opportunity to ‘speak’ – to be vocal and empowered, helping develop the very programs they participate in, programs that improve the health of their neighborhoods.
This youth empowerment approach ensures that Youth Speak programs are effective and meaningful. This sense of investment also instills in our young people leadership skills and a value for civic engagement.
The Northeast San Fernando Valley is home to some of the region’s most impoverished and neglected neighborhoods. Not surprisingly, many students in the area have felt disengaged from their community and schools, leading to an epidemic of high-school dropout rates and community-wide disempowerment.
Youth Speak was founded to address these conditions. Each program is designed to be fun, enriching and community-building. Through a menu of programs and initiatives, teens build their academic skills, computer literacy, teamwork, conflict resolution skills, creative expression, and personal development.
