The Youth Awards Celebrate Youth Activists Who Inspire Their Peers and Communities
NOMINATE A YOUTH LEADER
Youth Awards 
The California Endowment Youth Awards were created to celebrate the long-standing efforts and achievements of youth leaders and youth-allied non-profit organizations advancing health and racial equity. These California youth inspire their peers and communities while embodying the values of The California Endowment.
The awards are given in recognition of young leaders whose actions impact public policies, create innovative models of service, strengthen local institutions, and cultivate youth power.
Across the state, young people are leading from the frontlines, taking action, and advancing conversations to create lasting change that will lead to a more equitable and healthy future. The Youth Awards, created in 2018, recognize and celebrate the young changemakers and youth-allied organizations that have made a tremendous impact on improving the health of their communities and across California.
The Youth Awards honor youth who…
- Engage civically, volunteer locally, advocate for important causes, or encourage engagement among their peers.
- Take brave action when faced with deep-rooted systemic barriers and injustice.
- Have shown up in their community as agents of change.
- Will continue to evolve as leaders in the years ahead.
- Have made a positive impact on their community at large.
The Categories for the 2024 Youth Awards
Voices For Change Award
The Voices for Change Award celebrates the transformative leadership of youth who are achieving racial and health equity through people power. Four youth, one per region, who have done exceptional work in the area of health, justice reform, schools, and inclusive community development will be selected as a recipient.
Four award recipients will receive $3,000 each.
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Youth Power Partner Awards
The Youth Power Partner Award celebrates non-profit organizations who are cultivating pathways for youth power. The organization selected can be a youth-led advocacy organization or an adult ally-led organization supporting youth voice and power.
Four non-profit organizations will each receive $10,000.
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Brandon Harrison Youth Visionary Award
The Brandon Harrison Youth Visionary Award recognizes an exceptional young person who has overcome challenges and obstacles to battle back from trauma and place themselves and their community on a path toward success. Brandon Harrison was a youth activist from Stockton, California who was a member of TCE’s President’s Youth Council. In his memory and legacy, this award celebrates young activists who are carrying on the fight for health and racial justice.
One award recipient will receive $10,000.
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Regions
North
Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Sacramento, Shasta, Trinity
Central
Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
South
Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego
Window to nominate
October 25, 2023 —
December 22, 2023 (11:59pm PST)
To ensure your nominee is considered for the Youth Awards, your entry form must be complete in every section and adhere to the rules listed.
Reviewing each nomination is a Selection Committee comprised of California youth leaders participating in a social change philanthropy initiative. The Selection Committee will follow a standardized judging process. In early June 2024, we’ll be announcing the winners. Applying for the Youth Awards will require a commitment from the nominator to follow nomination instructions and complete each section of the entry form. Multiple nominations will not be accepted, so we encourage nominators to align and collaborate on submitting one nomination.
IMPORTANT DATES
December 22, 2023
Final day to submit a nomination is December 22, 2023 (11:59pm PST). No late submissions will be accepted.
February - May 2024
Selection Committee to review all nominations.
June 2024
Winners announced.
July 27, 2024
Great News! The 2024 TCE Youth Awards is scheduled to take place in-person in Los Angeles, CA. We will celebrate the leadership of youth from throughout California who are advancing health and racial equity in their communities.
2022 Youth Award Winners
Youth Power Partners
67 Sueños
Latinos Unidos Por Educación (LUPE)
ProjectQ
Youth Will
Voices for Change Awards
Ishaan Brar
Sofia Ongele
Dipti Venkatesh
Allison Vo
Brandon Harrison Youth Visionary Award
Kamarie Brown
2020 Youth Award Winners
VOICES FOR CHANGE AWARDS
-
Mya Edwards Peña
Los Angeles, CA -
Peter Elias
Stockton, CA -
Kimberly Amaya
Long Beach, CA -
Jennifer Lico
Los Angeles, CA -
Chiqui Diaz
San Rafael, CA -
Bernadette Lim
San Francisco, CA
YOUTH POWER PARTNER AWARD
-
California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance
Adult Ally-Led -
Somos Familia Valle
Adult Ally-Led
Brandon Harrison Visionary Award
-
Daniel Mendoza
Oakland, CA
2018 Youth Award Winners
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARD
-
Gabriella Claro
Boyle Heights -
David Celedon
Central Santa Ana -
Danyeal Escobar
Fresno -
Paw Wah
City Heights -
Avi Critz
Del Norte -
Xochtil Larios
East Oakland -
Xitlaali Castellanos
East Salinas -
Simon Moore
Coachella Valley -
Spencer Lara
Long Beach -
Jacqueline Martinez
At-large (unafilliated) -
Tahara Reynolds
At-large (unafilliated) -
Jahiem Jones
Richmond -
Yeshahyah Yisrael
Sacramento -
Chyna Patz
South Kern -
Nalleli Cobo
South LA -
Guadalupe Reyes Calderon
Richmond
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AWARD
-
Comite Civico Del Valle Inc
-
Students Deserve
BRANDON HARRISON VISIONARY AWARD
-
Tisha Ortiz
Explore Programs & Events at TCE
Programming designed to convene, build solidarity and create a connective tool to uplift voices in community for social change.
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Learn About Our Grantmaking
The California Endowment's grant making is guided by our three bold ideas: People Power, Reimaging Institutions and a 21st Century Health System for All.
Learn More