Be an advocate and activist: for yourself, your community, and the planet
Personal Growth, Creativity, and Community Activism
Youth Justice Coalition
The Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) is working to build a youth, family, and formerly and currently incarcerated people’s movement to challenge America’s addiction to incarceration and race, gender and class discrimination in Los Angeles County’s, California’s and the nation’s juvenile and criminal injustice systems.
Get involved!
FB: https://www.facebook.com/YouthJusticeLA/
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Immigrant Youth Coalition
The Immigrant Youth Coalition is an organization led by undocumented youth and immigrants and students to fight for immigrant rights, education and against criminalization.
We work in 6 regions in CA.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Immigrant.Youth.Coalition
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Immigrantpower
Youth Speak Collective
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.
http://www.youthspeakcollective.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/youthspeakcollective/
Twitter: @youthspeakup
Constitutional Rights Foundation- Expanding Horizons Internships
Since 1995, Expanding Horizons Internships (EHI) has provided first-generation, college-bound high school students in the Los Angeles area with an intensive experience of skill development and personal growth that prepares them for college, career, and civic life. The EHI program begins with interactive seminars in the spring and concludes with a paid summer internship at a prestigious law firm, corporation, government agency, or non-profit organization.
http://www.crf-usa.org/youth-internship-program/expanding-horizons-internships.html
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ConstitutionalRightsFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crfusa/
Twitter: @crfusa
Reach LA
REACH LA is a revolutionary and innovative organization that transforms the lives of transition-age urban youth by providing pathways to success, in an environment that ignites passion and creativity. REACH LA’s business is to make young people’s lives better by helping them to create meaning and purpose in their own lives, and by giving them the tools to share value and connect with others. REACH LA is building a community of urban youth, where color, race, gender, sexuality, and health status are no longer the determining factors of success, and where insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo are the drivers.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/theeREACHLA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reach_la/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reachla
Community Coalition
Community Coalition works to help transform the social and economic conditions in South LA that foster addiction, crime, violence and poverty by building a community institution that involves thousands in creating, influencing and changing public policy.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CoCoSouthLA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoCoSouthLA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocosouthla/
Food Not Bombs
We recover food that would have been discarded and share it as a way of protesting war and poverty. With fifty cents of every U.S. federal tax dollar going to the military and forty percent of our food being discarded while so many people were struggling to feed their families that we could inspire the public to press for military spending to be redirected to human needs. We also reduce food waste and meet the direct need of our community by collecting discarded food, preparing vegan meals that we share with the hungry while providing literature about the need to change our society. Food Not Bombs also provides food to protesters and striking workers and organizes food relief after natural and political crisis.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Los-Angeles-Food-Not-Bombs-166038953457132/
Legacy LA’s Youth Council
Youth between the ages of 14-18 meet weekly to participate in Social Justice and Political Education workshops to learn strategies and skills to organize their communities and to tackle pressing issues.
http://legacyla.org/dream-big-programs/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LegacyLA/
Time Banking
Timebanking is a time-based currency that helps to build circles and network of mutual support. With timebanking, you give one hour of service to another, and receive one time credit. An hour is always an hour — regardless of the service offered. You can use the credits in turn to receive services — or you can donate them to others.
https://timebanks.org/get-started/join/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ArroyoSecoNetworkOfTimeBanks/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Koreatown-Time-Bank-578323192185350/
Sierra Club ICO- Inspiring Connections Outdoors
The Los Angeles Inspiring Connections Outdoors (Angeles Chapter) serves as a bridge that enables underserved youth, disabled individuals, and others to visit and develop an appreciation for our natural environment. We work with schools, community groups, and other agencies to create safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences for persons who might not otherwise have them. ICO outings promote individual growth through group activities and environmental and outdoor skills education.
http://angelesico.org/info-for-schools-and-agencies
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sierralaico
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Environmental and Sustainability Opportunities
L.A. Bicycle Coalition
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) is a grassroots advocacy organization that encourages the use of the bicycle as a form of transportation and an enjoyable form of recreation.
http://www.la-bike.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountyBicycleCoalition/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lacbc?lang=en
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.
http://wwoof.net/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/WWOOF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwoof/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wwoof?lang=en
International Youth Climate Movement
The ever-growing movement of international youth who are building education, creating awareness, and taking action on climate change.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/youthclimate.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iycm?lang=en
Mission Statement: To provide meaningful nature-based education that promotes positive self-development, environmental responsibility, and outdoor career exposure for urban youth.
http://www.obainc.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Outward-Bound-Adventures-358279957164/
Youth for Environmental Justice/Youth Action
Communities for a Better Environment
The mission of CBE is to build people’s power in California’s communities of color and low income communities to achieve environmental health and justice by preventing and reducing pollution and building green, healthy and sustainable communities and environments.
http://www.cbecal.org/organizing/southern-california/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YouthForEJ/
CBE FB: https://www.facebook.com/CBECAL/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBECal
Community Gardens in Los Angeles
Our mission is to strengthen communities by building and supporting community gardens where every person in Los Angeles County can grow healthy food in their neighborhood.
http://lagardencouncil.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LACGC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lagardencouncil
North East Trees "YES" Program
Youth Environmental Stewardship – We educate and train at-risk youth and young adults in environmental disciplines. These programs are designed to build individual character and develop a community-based workforce to help steward environmental awareness in resource challenged communities.
http://www.northeasttrees.org/programs/youth-stewardship/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/North-East-Trees-200494189968438/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeasttrees90/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NorthEastTrees
Get your hands dirty addressing food justice and your community’s health.
The specifics might vary from one school to another, but as a service member, you’ll implement FoodCorps’ evidence-based strategies to help high-need schools become healthy schools.
https://foodcorps.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/foodcorps
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodcorps/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodcorps


Together our programs work to create a sustainable local food system where food is grown, distributed and bought within our own community, incorporating training and educational programs, the creation of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities and supported by partnerships with regional farmers.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSUINCLA