Re-examining education and peace through youth leadership
On Sunday, March 29, Community Youth Center took part in the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Conference in San Francisco, joining practitioners and researchers from around the world in conversation around this year’s theme: Re-Examining Education and Peace in a Divided World.
As part of this gathering, CYC Senior Program Director Daphne Wong-Ha contributed to a panel discussion in partnership with the International Youth Foundation through the Burberry Inspire Program. The session brought together leaders from community-based organizations across different regions, including Akii from Haja Center, Loren from HOLA, Linda Fogarty, Director of Research and Evaluation, and Daphne, to reflect on how youth development programs can foster connection, leadership, and civic engagement in complex social environments.
Leadership rooted in community practice
Daphne Wong-Ha, a former CYC youth, now serves as Senior Program Director at CYC. She leads youth leadership and workforce development efforts across multiple programs. Her work focuses on creating environments where young people can build skills, develop confidence, and take on meaningful roles within their communities.
At CYC, leadership development is not treated as a separate track. It is embedded in daily program design through relationships, accountability, and opportunities for young people to apply what they learn in real settings.
As outlined in our Youth Leadership framework, this work follows a clear progression: building trust, developing skills, and creating opportunities for youth to lead and reflect.
A shared framework for youth leadership
The Burberry Inspire Program aligns closely with this approach. Both emphasize that leadership develops over time, through practice and participation rather than instruction alone.
At CYC, this takes shape through a structured model that includes:
- Building strong relationships as the foundation for learning
- Developing communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills
- Creating systems that support accountability and shared responsibility
- Supporting youth-led projects that address real community needs
These elements reflect a broader understanding that connection and trust must come before content, and that young people learn best when they are given responsibility and space to reflect on their experiences.
“I have come to realize that building solidarity means creating environments where individuals feel safe to express themselves authentically and joyfully. By fostering spaces that prioritize both mutual support and personal safety, I believe we lay the groundwork for a more peaceful community.” Stelle Xie
From skill-building to civic participation
As young people move through CYC programs, leadership becomes more visible through action. Youth facilitate workshops, lead group discussions, and design projects that respond to issues they identify in their communities.
Recent outcomes reflect this progression. Hundreds of youth leaders have facilitated workshops and engaged thousands of community members through youth-led programming. Alongside these activities, participants report increased confidence, stronger connections to peers, and a growing sense of belonging.
At its core, this work focuses on helping young people see themselves as participants in civic life—not only as students or program participants, but also as contributors who can shape their surroundings.
“Our role is simple: provide the space, the tools, and the trust, and watch our young people change the world.” Daphne Wong-Ha, CYC Senior Program Director
Connecting local work to a global conversation
The CIES panel offered an opportunity to connect this local work to a broader international dialogue. While the contexts differ, the questions remain similar: how can education systems and community programs create conditions where young people feel connected, capable, and engaged?
Through this panel, CYC and its partners shared approaches that center youth voice, emphasize relationship-building, and support leadership development as a pathway toward stronger communities.
Looking ahead
Participation in the CIES conference reflects our ongoing commitment to learning and collaboration. Youth development is not static, and the challenges facing young people continue to evolve. Engaging in spaces like CIES allows CYC to both share its approach and learn from others working toward similar goals.
At the same time, the core of the work remains local—rooted in San Francisco neighborhoods, shaped by relationships, and carried forward by young people who continue to lead in their own ways.
To learn more about CYC’s youth leadership and workforce development programs, visit our program pages.