Building leadership through voice and practice
Leadership begins with space
Youth leadership develops through practice, reflection, and trust. At CYC, this approach shapes how programs are designed and how young people engage with one another.
Young Asian Women Against Violence (YAWAV) reflects this model in practice. The program creates space for AAPI young women in San Francisco to engage with topics such as consent, relationships, and personal boundaries, subjects that are often difficult to address openly.
Senior Program Coordinator Connie Liu noted that many participants enter the program without having had opportunities to speak about these issues in safe and structured settings. “There’s often a culture of not speaking up,” she said. “YAWAV gives young women a space where they can share, reflect, and start to own their voice.”
Creating that space is the first step. From there, leadership develops over time.
Developing skills through shared learning
As participants build trust, the program shifts toward skill development. Youth engage in discussions, practice active listening, and learn how to facilitate conversations with their peers.
“Young people understand these topics in a real way because they’re living it,” Connie said. “They know what their peers need to hear.”
For Stephanie, who joined YAWAV after hearing about it from a friend, the experience was both immediate and evolving. “It connected to who I am and what I care about,” she said. Through the program, she began to understand relationships and boundaries with greater nuance. “I used to think things were more black and white,” she shared. “Now I understand how complex relationships can be and how important it is to respect both your own boundaries and other people’s.”
These shifts reflect how leadership develops—not through instruction alone, but through reflection and conversation.
Practicing leadership through action
As the program progresses, participants take on leadership roles. Youth develop curriculum, plan projects, and facilitate workshops for other students across San Francisco.
This transition, from learning to leading, is central to the YAWAV model. Participants are not only engaging with content; they are responsible for shaping how it is shared with others.
Laura described how this experience changed her understanding of the issues. “It made me realize how normalized certain things are,” she said. “Not just here, but all around the world.” Through leading workshops, she also built confidence in speaking about these topics. “You start to see how important it is to talk about these things openly,” she said.
Now serving as peer leaders, both Stephanie and Laura help guide discussions and support younger participants. For Stephanie, that role is grounded in access to information. “If I wasn’t part of this program, I wouldn’t have known a lot of this,” she said. “I want to be there for others and help them understand.”
Laura emphasized the importance of taking action. “Don’t be scared to call things out,” she said. “That’s how change starts.”
Sustaining leadership over time
Programs like YAWAV reflect a broader youth leadership framework at CYC: building trust, developing skills, and creating opportunities for young people to lead and reflect. Leadership is not treated as a single moment, but as a process that continues through repeated practice and experience.
“Ending violence is everyone’s responsibility, and it starts with being able to talk about it,” Connie said.
Looking ahead
Sustaining this work requires continued investment in programs that center youth voice and leadership. YAWAV provides a model for how young people can engage with complex issues, support one another, and contribute to their communities over time.
Learn more about YAWAV and how to support youth leadership programs at CYC.