ACT CA

Last week, youth and promotoras from La Clinica De La Raza (Havenscourt) showed up at Oakland City Hall and made their voices heard. 🏛️

As part of our All Children Thrive program, community members from La Clínica de la Raza spoke during public comment at the May 19 Oakland City Council meeting, raising the alarm about lead exposure and environmental health in their neighborhoods.

Shoutout to everyone who showed up and spoke up:
✨ Jackeline Guillen
✨ Daniella Lopez
✨ Azucena Serrano Hernandez
✨ Alicia Pablo
✨ Jason Chales
✨ Bryanna Ramirez
✨ Silvia Guzman

Lead exposure is a public health crisis that has gone unaddressed for too long in communities like Havenscourt. These young people and promotoras are advocating to change that—one public comment, one council meeting, one raised voice at a time.

This is what community power looks like. We are so proud of you all. 💛

*ACT dollars were not used for lobbying activities

South Stockton has faced years of disinvestment in its neighborhood parks, leading to unsafe conditions, deteriorating facilities, and limited access for young people and families. Through the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, community members and youth leaders are working together to reclaim these spaces and advocate for meaningful improvements.

With the relaunch of the Youth Advisory Council, young people are stepping into leadership roles to advocate for safer, more accessible, and better-equipped parks across South Stockton. Community members are also showing what is possible when investment meets community voice. From restoring handball courts to improving lighting, walkability, and accessibility, these efforts are helping transform parks into spaces for connection, pride, and belonging.

Together, these efforts are helping shift long-standing disinvestment into community-led solutions that center youth voice and strengthen neighborhood well-being.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/y6bzctw8

To Learn more about ACT’s initiatives at www.act-ca.org

Lead exposure is a public health issue that continues to impact families and neighborhoods across Oakland, especially in older homes. But community voices matter in shaping safer, healthier futures.

Join for this virtual community meeting to learn:
• How lead exposure affects children, families, and communities
• What’s currently being done in Oakland to reduce lead risks
• How residents can stay informed, involved, and advocate for stronger protections and healthier homes

📅 Wednesday, May 27, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Your voice, experiences, and participation can help push for meaningful change across our city.

Scan the QR code to register and join the conversation.

“Those closest to the issues are best equipped to build the solutions.”

For our All Children Thrive (ACT) Coach and Program Manager, Crystal Harding, it’s not just a principle. It’s the reason she shows up.

Before joining ACT, Crystal worked downstream, supporting people already in crisis. She wanted to get ahead of the harm, not just respond to it. ACT’s grassroots, youth-led model gave her a place to do that.

Over four years, she has worked alongside communities across California, building relationships and strengthening their capacity to advocate for themselves. What she has witnessed is that when communities are trusted to lead, people find their voices. Local wins turn into statewide momentum.

That’s the ACT model. Not just amplifying voices but trusting communities to lead.

Visit the link here to learn more about Crystal's work: https://tinyurl.com/3wmju6su

"Young people throughout Sacramento have demanded that we prioritize them." — Councilmember Mai Vang

Sacramento youth and advocates helped turn that demand into action. This , we're honoring the work of Youth Forward, an All Children Thrive California partner, and the Sac Kids First coalition, who organized 35 youth-serving organizations and over 2,000 people to pass Measure L and create a Children's Fund dedicated to Sacramento's young people.

Sacramento Voters approved Measure L, dedicating $10M annually from cannabis tax revenue to youth services. The city also broadened its definition of public safety to include promoting healthy youth development. Through Measure L’s 10M annual investment in youth services, Sacramento is expanding mental health support, after-school access, and programs for youth aging out of foster care. The coalition is still meeting monthly to hold the city accountable. The work doesn't stop at the win.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/56pukncv. To learn more about ACT's initiatives visit us here at www.act-ca.org.

Dignity is not something that should be earned, it must be recognized.

For Monica Acevedo Guerrero, this belief shapes how she shows up in community and in policy spaces. Inspired by her mother’s words, “Yo no estoy bien hasta que todos lo estén,” Monica’s work is rooted in the understanding that individual well-being is inseparable from collective well-being. She has devoted her career to uplifting community and youth voices, so their sense of agency is nourished desde la raíz, from the roots.

Monica is a Program Manager, ACT Coach & Policy and Sustainability leader. Through her work with ACT, Monica has seen what happens when communities recognize their own power: parents advocating for their children despite barriers, neighbors holding institutions accountable, and communities reclaiming narratives that were never meant to include them. These moments are not just outcomes; they are transformations in dignity.

Monica reminds us that meaningful change requires systems that reflect the lived experiences of the communities they serve. Systems built with community, grounded in equity, and sustained through collective voice.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/R9jW50YS4yp

“Young people shouldn’t let someone who isn’t living in their communities make decisions for them,” Peter Elias shared.

Peter is a Youth Project Coordinator with Reinvent South Stockton Coalition and a Stockton native who has spent years connected to local parks through community events and youth engagement.

South Stockton’s parks have experienced long-standing challenges, including poor maintenance, unsafe conditions, and limited investment. Without safe and well-maintained spaces, young people have fewer opportunities to gather, build community, and express themselves in positive ways.

Through the Youth Advisory Council, Peter and fellow youth leaders are advocating for safer, more accessible parks. Their work includes restoring community spaces, improving lighting and walkability, and creating environments where young people feel supported and connected.

By investing in youth leadership and community spaces, South Stockton is building a stronger, healthier future for its residents.

Read Peter’s full story by visiting the link here: https://tinyurl.com/2vmzth6d

Learn more about ACT’s youth-led work at http://www.act-ca.org/

“Young people know what’s best for them. Transformative policies that improve child well-being must be created, advanced, and sustained by youth.”

ACT Coaches, Team Members, and TA Spotlight: Manuel Serrato, Youth Development Program Manager.

Manuel works to bring joy, safety, and a sense of agency to the lives of California’s youth. With a background as a high school teacher and youth program leader, he brings experience in youth services, advocacy, and education.

Through his work with All Children Thrive, Manuel has worked alongside young people as they develop into leaders and advocates. Through youth trainings and the development of a statewide Youth Action Committee, young leaders are building the skills to organize, engage with decision-makers, and advocate for change in their communities.

“Youth that I have worked with throughout my career have been the most creative and fearless people I have ever met,” Manuel shared. “They inspire me to do this work.”

Manuel’s work with ACT continues to center youth voice as a critical part of shaping stronger, more responsive communities.

Learn more about what inspires Manuel to support young people as they step into leadership and advocacy by clicking here https://tinyurl.com/4bsxv5vc

To learn more about ACT’s work visit the link at www.act-ca.org

On March 19, the All Children Thrive (ACT) team and members of the Equity Advisory Group came together to align on priorities and build a path forward for ACT’s work.

The meeting focused on demonstrating ACT’s impact, strengthening storytelling, advancing policy outcomes, and planning for sustainability and next steps.

Thank you to all EAG members who joined us. Your feedback and participation are invaluable to ACT’s ongoing work to reduce adverse childhood experiences in California.

Swipe right to see more photos from the event.

The ACT team came together on Friday, March 6, for a Sustainability and Strategy Reset training with Dr. Flo Cofer. At a time when the policy environment and funding landscape are shifting, this session created space to reflect, realign, and plan for the next phase of ACT’s work. We are strengthening our approach and building a clear path forward to support communities across California.