Receiving the James Irvine Leadership Award in 2019 was personally and professionally significant for Yammilette Rodriguez of the Youth Leadership Institute. “It was really meaningful because 2019 was the last year I was able to spend with my dad, who passed in 2020,” she reflects. “So him being able to go to the event was very special.”
Beyond the personal meaning, the timing aligned with a pivotal expansion for YLI. “The Award was given at such a perfect time,” Rodriguez says. “It was an important point in our work because we had just launched additional offices statewide — Merced, Madera, Long Beach, and Coachella — so it was vital to have that platform and be seen as more than Northern California.”
“The Award was given at such a perfect time,” Rodriguez says. “It was an important point in our work because we had just launched additional offices statewide — Merced, Madera, Long Beach, and Coachella — so it was vital to have that platform and be seen as more than Northern California.”
Defining Youth Voice
The Award became more than a moment of recognition; it became a tool for transformation. Rodriguez and her team used an Award video produced about the organization with decision-makers, to be intentional about centering young people’s perspectives.
“We moved conversations from being about youth commissions to more real, intentional listening,” Rodriguez explains. “That’s our north star: Young people as not just recipients of knowledge but as resources for works.”
Rodriguez saw the Award’s Sacramento reception as an opportunity to embody this value and strategy: “It was so important to receive on behalf of youth. I felt like I was able to make an impact with youth at the center — and acknowledge them at the event where I received the Award.”
The Award also elevated the organization in their ongoing efforts, like addressing the oversaturation of liquor stores in Fresno. “The Award elevated the youth work on that — after seven years of it — and allowed us to push it further and pass the law in 2020.”
The Award also elevated the organization in their ongoing efforts, like addressing the oversaturation of liquor stores in Fresno. “The Award elevated the youth work on that — after seven years of it — and allowed us to push it further and pass the law in 2020.”
Statewide Impact and Personal Growth
Since 2019, YLI’s scope has expanded dramatically. “Now we’re having more statewide impact,” Rodriguez says. “Before, a lot of our offices focused on local, community change. We’re now focused on change at the state level.”
Offices across northern, southern, and Central Valley regions are collaborating on mental health legislation, and YLI will host its first advocacy day alongside partners across California. The organization has also launched advocacy work around social media with young people through the HOPE program, creating platforms that are youth friendly.
Rodriguez’s own role has evolved significantly. “This past summer I became YLI’s Chief Government Relations Officer, looking at all our offices and what our statewide work can be,” she explains. The work includes strengthening relationships with elected officials through briefings, events, and having a presence at candidate forums. “We always did government relations, but now it’s much more defined for us.”
She notes that the award played a role in this trajectory: “We’re even more prepared for that leap now, and the Award helped us by elevating the work and giving us more of a presence.” The recognition’s influence extended into other opportunities as well. “Another thing that occurred after the Award, I was appointed by the governor to the CSU Board of Trustees.”
“We’re even more prepared for that leap now, and the Award helped us by elevating the work and giving us more of a presence.”
Lessons in Leadership
In reflecting on the Award, Rodriguez also shares views on leadership at large. “I came from higher education and realized you have to remix how you traditionally have viewed things with new people at the table. Previously, young people had been students and kids to me, but now they are partners in this work and deserve respect.”
The shift requires openness to change. “Just because you’ve done things a certain way doesn’t mean you can’t adapt. Young people shouldn’t just have a seat at the table; they need a menu and should be active participants.”
“I came from higher education and realized you have to remix how you traditionally have viewed things with new people at the table. Previously, young people had been students and kids to me, but now they are partners in this work and deserve respect.”
In navigating recent years of difficulty for California nonprofit leaders, Rodriguez emphasizes, “We still have to advocate. We have to give voice to what is happening to and within our education and social systems.” The work has become more challenging but remains essential. “I have gone to legislators in all times, and it is more difficult now, but we have to share what
is detrimental beyond individuals — the impact on economies. It’s easy to advocate to like-minded people. It’s hard to when others hold very different views.”
Looking Forward
Today, Rodriguez is energized by strong policy platforms YLI has developed across the state on health, environmental, and economic justice — issues young people themselves have identified as priorities. In Coachella, youth are addressing environmental justice concerns through a robust journalistic program to get the word out via media. Across regions, YLI has done work related to immigrants knowing their rights, with young people serving as information-givers and translators for their families.
In Fresno, YLI is working on policy change to impact immigrant families. They collaborated with school leaders on addressing how family members don’t understand what happens at graduation when everything is in English. “To see our idea come to fruition is incredible,” Rodriguez says. “Last year 7,000 families attended a Spanish-language celebration, with decision-makers who are supporting us.”
Because of the makeup of their regions, YLI continues developing new work that centers youth voice, power, and leadership — carrying forward the vision that earned recognition in 2019 and honoring the legacy of that meaningful moment when her father was there to witness it.
YLI continues developing new work that centers youth voice, power, and leadership — carrying forward the vision that earned recognition in 2019 and honoring the legacy of that meaningful moment when her father was there to witness it.