California Coalition for Youth
PO Box 161448
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 514-4464
(916) 514-4499 fax
Join us in Sacramento for our annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES)
April 19–21, 2026 • Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown
About this Event
The Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) is an annual convening, produced by the California Coalition for Youth (CalYouth) and held in Sacramento. YES brings together young people, community leaders, and youth service providers from around California to explore, learn, share ideas, advocate, and work collectively to prevent, intervene, and end youth homelessness. The summit provides a platform for passionate and inspiring young people, leaders, and community members to connect and collaborate on solutions to accelerate strategies, programs, and approaches that reflect what youth want and need.
YES attendees can attend workshops, interact with speakers and panelists, hear from elected officials, learn about government youth-focused initiatives, ask questions, and participate in networking opportunities. At the conclusion of YES, young people and community members will have built a solid peer network and be equipped with knowledge, skills, and abilities to strengthen and resource their communities and youth programs.
Schedule
April 19
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Registration
Register at the registration table by the main lobby and receive your nametag and any materials needed for the event.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Welcome Ceremony
Join us for our opening ceremony for YES 2026 for icebreakers and introductions on how we will spend three days together.
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Advocacy 101 and Mock Advocacy Visits
After the welcoming ceremony to receive full training and information on advocacy and advocacy visits that you will have the opportunity to participate in.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Networking and Connection
This is a time for you to take for yourself or to introduce yourself to someone you may not know. We will have more icebreakers and games for the room.
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Dinner
April 20
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speaker
Join us for our keynote speaker!
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Workshop Round 1
Workshops are currently TBD. A list will be sent out to all registered attendees a month before the event.
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Award Luncheon
This is a time to recognize our award recipients for the work that they do with and for youth in CA.
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Workshop Round 2
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Listening Session
5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Dinner and Networking
April 21
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Rally Walk Gathering
Please gather in the lobby to prepare to walk over to the capitol together for our rally. If you are someone that wants to speak at the rally be prepared to do so.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Rally Walk to Capitol
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Rally
This is a time and space for anyone that is comfortable doing so, to speak before we enter the capitol to advocate. This is the last time all attendees will be together as a group. A group photo will be taken during this time!
11:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Advocacy Visits
You will receive information before and during the Summit on what visits you are doing and the group you would be working with during that time.
We will be using Whova as our event app! Look out for an email from Whova a month before the event so you can see the workshops, speakers, sponsors, and more!
Links to hotel registration and award nominations to come soon.
Location
Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena by IHG
300 J Street, Sacramento, CA
Important Links
⚠️ Hotel registration closes March 20th — reserve your rooms ASAP!
We will be using Whova as our event app! Look out for an email from Whova a month before the event so you can see the workshops, speakers, sponsors, and more!
Register for YES 2026
Questions? Email jade@calyouth.org