Riverside County Youth Commission

Empowering the Next Generation 💐👠💪🏼
YAC students attended “A Day in Her Shoes” on March 6, 2026, gaining inspiration from powerful speakers, mentorship, networking, and interactive career exhibits, all highlighting limitless possibilities.

Here are a few quotes from those who attended:

“I’m truly honored that the Riverside County Youth Commission has had the opportunity to participate in the A Day in Her Shoes event over the past few years. It’s incredibly inspiring to see women of all ages and backgrounds come together to support, uplift, and empower one another.
A heartfelt thank you to the organizers for creating such a meaningful experience and for making it possible for our young women to attend, connect, and be part of such an impactful day.” - Joe Mathews, Youth Commission Program Coordinator

“A day in her shoes was an inspiring and empowering event for young girls. Our young female YAC students heard inspiring stories of women in male-dominated fields. Their stories and experiences encouraged and taught our students to not be afraid to be women in male-dominated fields and be leaders. This event creates long-lasting memories and impact within our students, making them come every year to hear more motivating stories.” -Nazareth Vera, District 2 YAC coordinator

“Going to “A Day In Her Shoes” event was really inspiring. I met women working in male-dominated fields who showed me that those paths are possible. Hearing their experiences motivated me to keep pushing towards my goals and reminded me that we are just as capable.” -Sharon Garcia Osorno, District 5 YAC student

“Day in Her Shoes is always a unique experience because the speakers change each time, while still having familiar faces that make it feel welcoming. The food exhibitors are always so kind, and the goody bags are a thoughtful touch.

The mayor is incredibly kind and communicative—we had the chance to meet her, and it’s clear she truly supports the community. We can’t wait to join again next year!” -Angie Salinas, District 1 YAC coordinator

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The 27th Annual Riverside County Youth in Government Day made a powerful impact in Riverside and the Fourth District, bringing together outstanding high school students from across Riverside County for a day of leadership, learning, and civic engagement.
Students stepped into the world of public service through hands-on job shadowing, department tours, and meaningful conversations with County professionals, exploring career pathways in public safety, health, administration, community services, and more. They didn’t just learn about local government, they experienced it firsthand!
This annual event continues to strengthen and inspire the next generation of leaders.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Riverside County Department of Workforce & Housing Solutions for your continued investment in our youth and future workforce.
We are also grateful for the inspiring words shared by Karen Spiegel, Yxstian Gutierrez, Emilio Ramirez (Chief of Staff for First District Supervisor Jose Medina), V. Manuel Perez, and Veronica Sandoval, M.Ed.
Special appreciation to the Riverside County Youth Commission and all participating County departments whose mentorship and dedication made this event possible.
Learn more at rivcoyac.org.

Happy Holidays! Let’s take a look at what the Riverside County Youth Advisory Council has been up to. We can’t wait to see all that these exceptional students will continue to achieve in the new year🎊

Youth Voices for Change: A Powerful Forum 🌟
Last month, we had the privilege of attending the inaugural Youth Empowerment Commission Forum at the stunning Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. The event brought together young leaders from across the Inland Empire to share their voices, ignite passion, and drive meaningful change.
🎤 What our attendees had to say:
Andrea Davila, YC Vice Chair, District 5 Comissioner:
“Although I didn’t know what to expect, I really enjoyed the event. It advocated for youth voices and highlighted passions that will be used to address youth issues. It was a great opportunity to connect with other young leaders, collaborate on new ideas, and problem-solve together. The breathtaking venue and delicious food were the cherry on top!”
Alex Garza, D1 Co-Commissioner:
“I truly enjoyed the event and feel honored to have experienced it firsthand. Everyone was welcoming and passionate about making a positive impact on the future. We had inspiring speakers and meaningful conversations about driving change in our communities. This event showed how many like-minded individuals are working toward the same goals!”
We’re excited to see how these voices will continue to shape the future of our communities.
Thank you to everyone who joined, and special thanks to the incredible organizations that made this event possible!

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🌟 Youth Voices for Change: A Powerful Forum 🌟
Last month, we had the privilege of attending the inaugural Youth Empowerment Commission Forum at the stunning Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. The event brought together young leaders from across the Inland Empire to share their voices, ignite passion, and drive meaningful change.
🎤 What our attendees had to say:
Andrea Davila, YC Chair, District 5:
“Although I didn’t know what to expect, I really enjoyed the event. It advocated for youth voices and highlighted passions that will be used to address youth issues. It was a great opportunity to connect with other young leaders, collaborate on new ideas, and problem-solve together. The breathtaking venue and delicious food were the cherry on top!”
Alex Garza, D1 Commissioner:
“I truly enjoyed the event and feel honored to have experienced it firsthand. Everyone was welcoming and passionate about making a positive impact on the future. We had inspiring speakers and meaningful conversations about driving change in our communities. This event showed how many like-minded individuals are working toward the same goals!”
We’re excited to see how these voices will continue to shape the future of our communities.
Thank you to everyone who joined, and special thanks to the incredible organizations that made this event possible!

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Exciting News from the Riverside County Youth Advisory Councils (YAC) and Youth Commission!

On September 18, 2025, we kicked off our first Youth Commission meeting of the year and elected our new 2025–2026 officers! 🎉

👏 Congratulations to our new leaders:
• Hannah Gbonde (2nd District) – Chair
• Andrea Davila (5th District) – Vice Chair
• Karla Mendoza (4th District) – Secretary
• Sasha Nadimi (3rd District) & Dharini Bheemarasetti (1st District) – Board Members

With the new school year underway, YACs are setting goals, forming committees, and continuing partnerships with RUHS (SOAR Program) and Chase Bank to bring financial literacy training to students. 💡💼

We’re looking forward to an impactful year ahead as youth leaders work together to elevate youth voices across Riverside County! 💬💙

YAC students take on the ABC Hopes Wellness and Resource Fair from August 9th! 🙌🏼

Youth Retreat was a huge success , thank you to everyone who made it possible! 🏜️Big shoutout to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Housing & Workforce Solutions for their incredible support. 🌵So proud of our motivated and energized students!

A full day of team-building, relay races, committe workshops, inspiring speakers, YAC 101, learning about the Brown Act, lunch, and lots of fun! 🎉 The perfect way to kick off the year, can’t wait to see what this cohort accomplishes! 📝

📣 High school students in Riverside County, this is your chance to lead

Want service hours, leadership experience, and real impact in your community? Join the Riverside County Youth Commission (YAC) and represent one of the five districts. We host monthly district meetings, bi-monthly countywide meetings, and youth-led projects and events.

✨ Build your resume
✨ Attend retreats, summits, and Youth in Government Day
✨ Take on leadership roles like Chair, Co-Chair, or Secretary
✨ Make lifelong connections

Youth-led. Youth-voiced. Youth-powered.

📲 Fill out the interest form in our bio to get started

🎓 Let’s Celebrate Our Graduated YAC Members from District 4! 🎉

A huge congratulations to these amazing leaders who have officially graduated! Your dedication, passion, and impact on YAC and your communities have been truly inspiring. 💫

👏 Join us in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them the best on their next journey!

📍 District 4 – We’re proud of you!

📣 Thank You, YAC Members!

Thank you to all the YAC members who have registered for our Annual Youth Retreat for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year! 📚✏️

Just a quick reminder:
This event is only for registered YAC members who have:
✅ Filled out the interest form (see Slide 2)
✅ Submitted their applications
✅ Completed their interviews with their District

🤠 Theme Alert: Cowboy Style!
Don’t forget to bring your hats, boots, and best Western spirit — we’re going full-on rodeo for this retreat! 🐎🌵

We can’t wait to see y’all there! 💥