- Felicia Matlosz
- 559-304-9286
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) today announced that he has named the Youth Leadership Institute as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year for the 31st Assembly District.
Assemblymember Arambula said that the Youth Leadership Institute, also known as yli, has been instrumental in encouraging young people, especially youth from underserved and marginalized communities, to recognize the power they can have as bold advocates to initiate change. Since 1991, the young people in this statewide nonprofit organization, which includes an office in Fresno, has successfully championed programs and legislation. At the same time, yli nurtures young people’s skills and confidence to be leaders.
Today, yli will be recognized with other California nonprofits at the annual luncheon held at the State Capitol in Sacramento on California Nonprofits Day 2026. The event is sponsored by the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) in partnership with the state Assembly and Senate Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector.
Officially launched in 1991 in Marin County, the Youth Leadership Institute operates offices in communities throughout the state. The Fresno office was established in 2003, yli’s first outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. Since that time, the Fresno office has supported thousands of young people to build social justice campaigns that address issues in urban and rural communities.
For example, yli youth pushed for the Responsible Neighborhood Market Act – passed by the Fresno City Council in 2020 – to place restrictions on how many new establishments can seek alcohol licenses within a certain distance of schools, public parks, and alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers. The concern among yli youth stemmed from what they saw as the high density of such sales near these places as well as in neighborhoods in southwest and West Fresno.
The nonprofit also helped establish the one-time Fresno Youth Commission in 2015, funded in 2016 by the Fresno City Council, as a key platform to provide comments and recommendations to the council and the mayor about matters affecting youth. (The commission ended in 2021.)
Since his election in 2016, Assemblymember Arambula has regularly met with young people involved in the Youth Leadership Institute. He’s sought their perspective on a range of issues, including education, health, mental health, climate, public safety, and economic opportunity. When it comes to examples of legislation, yli youth were vocal proponents for Assemblymember Arambula’s AB 559 in 2021, which was signed into law and expanded the San Joaquin River Conservancy Board to make it more diverse and that one seat be designated for a youth member.
Assemblymember Arambula said: “One of the most important things I’ve learned in public service is that young people often are closest to the challenges that we are trying to address. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to listen to them and greatly appreciate their insight in helping to develop ideas and shape legislation. I cannot say enough about the tremendous work of yli to raise the voices of young people and involve them in the issues that impact all our lives and, more urgently, their futures.”
Patty Barahona, Chief Executive Officer for the Youth Leadership Institute, said: “We are grateful to Assemblymember Arambula for this great award! yli empowered over 2,800 young people last year to make change in their communities, and it is our honor to work alongside Assemblymember Arambula and any other civil leader who believes that youth voice is a critical part of making safe and healthy communities for us all.”
Sanjna Hegde, a student at the University of California, Davis, said: “yli gave me a sense of community where I could talk about my issues and also advocate for change. I’m really grateful to my adult allies and the youth in the room.”
The annual California Nonprofit of the Year event gives elected officials the opportunity to focus a spotlight on the significant and extensive work that nonprofit organizations are doing in their districts. The occasion also gives them the opportunity to express appreciation for the collective impact of nonprofits throughout the state.
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