Youth Awards

The Youth Awards Celebrate Youth Activists Who Inspire Their Peers and Communities

Learn More
YA

The 2024 Youth Awards Nominations are Closed

Thanks to each of you who took the time to nominate. We are now diligently working on selecting the winners from an incredible pool of nominees. Stay connected for the upcoming announcement.

YA

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.
YA YA

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. 

Learn More
YA

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More
YA

Regions

North

North

Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Sacramento, Shasta, Trinity

Central

Central

Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County

South

South

Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego

Window to nominate

October 25, 2023 —
January 12, 2024 (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

January 12, 2024

Final day to submit a nomination is January 12, 2024 (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.

Youth Power Partners
YA

67 Sueños

YA

Latinos Unidos Por Educación (LUPE)

YA

ProjectQ

YA

Youth Will

Voices for Change Awards
YA

Ishaan Brar

YA

Sofia Ongele

YA

Dipti Venkatesh

YA

Allison Vo

Brandon Harrison Youth Visionary Award
YA

Kamarie Brown

VOICES FOR CHANGE AWARDS
  • Mya Edwards Peña

    Mya Edwards Peña

    Los Angeles, CA
  • Peter Elias

    Peter Elias

    Stockton, CA
  • Kimberly Amaya

    Kimberly Amaya

    Long Beach, CA
  • Jennifer Lico

    Jennifer Lico

    Los Angeles, CA
  • Chiqui Diaz

    Chiqui Diaz

    San Rafael, CA
  • Bernadette Lim

    Bernadette Lim

    San Francisco, CA
YOUTH POWER PARTNER AWARD
  • California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance

    California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance

    Adult Ally-Led
  • Somos Familia Valle

    Somos Familia Valle

    Adult Ally-Led
Brandon Harrison Visionary Award
  • Daniel Mendoza

    Daniel Mendoza

    Oakland, CA
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARD
  • Gabriella Claro

    Gabriella Claro

    Boyle Heights
  • David Celedon

    David Celedon

    Central Santa Ana
  • Danyeal Escobar

    Danyeal Escobar

    Fresno
  • Paw Wah

    Paw Wah

    City Heights
  • Avi Critz

    Avi Critz

    Del Norte
  • Xochtil Larios

    Xochtil Larios

    East Oakland
  • Xitlaali Castellanos

    Xitlaali Castellanos

    East Salinas
  • Simon Moore

    Simon Moore

    Coachella Valley
  • Spencer Lara

    Spencer Lara

    Long Beach
  • Jacqueline Martinez

    Jacqueline Martinez

    At-large (unafilliated)
  • Tahara Reynolds

    Tahara Reynolds

    At-large (unafilliated)
  • Jahiem Jones

    Jahiem Jones

    Richmond
  • Yeshahyah Yisrael

    Yeshahyah Yisrael

    Sacramento
  • Chyna Patz

    Chyna Patz

    South Kern
  • Nalleli Cobo

    Nalleli Cobo

    South LA
  • Guadalupe Reyes Calderon

    Guadalupe Reyes Calderon

    Richmond
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AWARD
  • Comite Civico Del Valle Inc

    Comite Civico Del Valle Inc

  • Students Deserve

    Students Deserve

BRANDON HARRISON VISIONARY AWARD
  • Tisha Ortiz

    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.

Discover Programs & Events
YA
YA

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