Mayor Karen Bass led the LA Foster Youth Shadow Day program from Oct. 22-23, an opportunity that offered foster youth firsthand experience in civic leadership, policymaking and public service. She concluded the program with a closing luncheon at City Hall, recognizing the delegates’ accomplishments and reflections on their experience.
“Investing in our young people means investing in the future of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Shadow Day gives foster youth not just a seat at the table, but a voice in shaping solutions. By uplifting these young leaders, we are building the next generation of policymakers and advocates while ensuring that city decisions reflect the real needs of our communities.”
Supported by the National Foster Youth Institute, the two-day program brought together sixteen foster youth delegates. The activities at the program included attending a city council meeting, shadowing the offices of council members Eunisses Hernandez, Katy Yaroslavsky, Curren Price, Ysabel Jurado, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Bob Blumenfield and Tim McOsker, shadowing Mayor and LA County supervisors during the Metro Board meeting and participating in a roundtable discussion.
During the roundtable, delegates shared personal experiences, asked questions, presented policy recommendations and received real-time feedback. Building on their advocacy, the city will take several actions, including reserving an annual seat on the LA City Youth Council for a current or former foster youth.