Our Mission

Youth Community for United Action is a grassroots community organization created, led, and run by young people of color, majority from low-income communities. We provide a safe space for young people to empower ourselves and work on environmental and social justice issues to create positive systemic change through local community organizing.

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Our History

Founded in 1994 by young people of color determined to create lasting change, YUCA has spent more than three decades building youth power in East Palo Alto and beyond.

Over the years, YUCA has continually evolved to meet the needs of its community. From launching the FIRE Fellowship to connect youth of color with financially supportive community leadership opportunities, to creating Higher Learning as a space for students to build critical consciousness and organize around local issues, every chapter has strengthened our commitment to youth leadership. As our movement grew, so did our focus on grassroots organizing, coalition building, and developing the next generation of community leaders organizing for environmental and social justice. Today, YUCA remains rooted in the same belief that inspired its founding: when young people have the tools, resources, and power to lead, they can transform their communities and shape a more just future.

Our Approach

  • This is how young people lead at every level at YUCA:

    • Youth shape YUCA’s organizational decisions

    • We offer paid leadership opportunities

    • We encourage leadership development through community organizing

    • We provide opportunities for youth to lead advocacy campaigns

    • We build lifelong civic leaders

  • We believe in building collective power for lasting change through:

    • Grassroots organizing

    • Coalition building

    • Community education

    • Resident engagement

    • Local policy advocacy

  • We turn real community priorities into real policy change through:

    • Public campaigns

    • Rallies & demonstrations

    • Civic engagement

    • Policy advocacy

    • Community events