California Youth Leadership Corps 

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 Participant Application

The California Youth Leadership Corps (CYLC) is a transformative program designed to empower individuals from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds to create social change and make a positive impact on their communities. Our program spans three academic quarters, from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026, offering participants the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Leadership and Social Change from De Anza College.

Must be 18 years or older.

Class schedule below:

Fall Quarter: September 22rd - December 12th, 2025cylcflyer23

  • Leadership and Power (ICS27/POLY17)
  • Instructor: Cynthia Kaufman
  • Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm (via Zoom)

Winter Quarter: January 5th - March 27th, 2026

  • Critical Consciousness and Social Change (ICS 17)
  • Instructor: Cynthia Kaufman
  • Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm (via Zoom)

Spring Quarter: April 6th - June 26th, 2026

  • Making a Difference: Transforming Relations of Nature, Community, and Power (ICS 19)
  • Instructor: Staff (TBA)
  • Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 pm to 7:45 pm (via Zoom)

In addition to the core classes mentioned above, participants will engage in a 2-unit asynchronous fellowship class during each quarter. Students will be placed with partner organizations that do various social justice-centered work in our communities, allowing them to gain hands-on experience. The expectation is a 10 hour commitment per week for the community fellowship throughout the entire duration of the program.

Each fellow is eligible to receive up to $10,000 in support over the 10-month period. Fellows will engage in immersive, field-based learning experiences for approximately 10 hours a week (or 40 hours a month) at their designated placement site. Fellows will be awarded three $1,670 educational scholarships. Fellows are expected to use these funds to cover any school fees that FAFSA or CADAA does not fully cover.

To apply please visit: CYLC Application Form

Deadline: June 18, 2025

Community Partners:

If you are a community organization and would like to supervise a CYLC Fellow at your site, please fill out the following intake form: CBO Intake Form

CYLC is able to offer an $8,000 stipend  per school year for each student you host. Up to $32,000 annually.

For more information Click here to Download a one-page summary of the program 

Further questions? Please contact Brenda Carrillo, Program Coordinator, romerocarrillobrenda@fhda.edu  or Cynthia Kaufman, VIDA director, kaufmancynthia@deanza.edu

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