By Harold Dichoso and Joshua Mendoza
California’s next generation of leaders gathered in Sacramento for two days of collaboration, innovation, and strategic thinking at the UC Student & Policy Center in Sacramento for the Young Leaders Program (YLP) retreat. The event brought together emerging leaders from the newest cohort alongside seasoned program veterans, sparking conversations on creating a more prosperous California through shared learning, cross-sector collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
This retreat served as the culmination of Phase 1 of the program, where members across cohorts engaged in policy research, project management, and event planning to bring their collective vision to life. Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD, kicked off the retreat with an opening keynote that set the tone for the weekend’s exploration of policy trade-offs and strategic decision making.
On Day 1 of the retreat, YLP leaders addressed one of California’s top priorities: creating an equitable clean energy transition. The Policy Exploration Committee showcased their research skills by analyzing clean energy policies and regional examples with forward-thinking analysis. The committee presented its findings to their peers and top executive leaders and analysts, including Kate Gordon; Orville Thomas, CEO of California EPIC (Cal Epic); and Anamika Singh, Energy Planning Analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The leaders were deeply engaged and offered valuable insight on the research project, which identified key challenges of regional variation and limited community engagement, inspiring conversations about implementation and the path forward.
Building on the momentum, YLP members joined Orville Thomas and Anamika Singh for a panel discussion on infrastructure policy. Speakers emphasized the importance of community engagement and workforce development while diving deep into the complexities of achieving an equitable clean energy transition. The conversation explored critical barriers preventing disadvantaged communities from influencing energy and mobility decisions, shared examples of projects delivering tangible community benefits, and addressed workforce transition in fossil fuel-dependent regions like Kern County. The conversations uncovered the trade-offs that occur in the policy landscape and the power of collaboration to propel California forward.
Beyond the rigorous work, the YLP retreat allowed the emerging leaders to think creatively about the future. In collaboration with the Institute for the Future (IFTF) and facilitated by research manager Nathalie Lopez, members engaged in immersive scenarios around climate adaptation and global migration. The scenarios provided an opportunity for aspiring leaders to take a glimpse into the future and think beyond traditional methods. The dynamic experience was transformative, helping everyone engage in systems thinking and prepare innovative solutions in an ever-changing world.
Throughout the event, the retreat created spaces to strengthen the bond between peers and continue to grow their networks. A variety of community building activities allowed members to discover connections across the regions they represent and share lived experiences that empower them as leaders.
Day 2 shifted focus toward the future, as YLP members collaborated to design Phase 2 of the program and prepare launch recruitment for Cohort 6. With applications now live, the goal is to cast an even wider net across all of California’s regions, incorporating diverse perspectives and backgrounds that reflect the state’s rich complexity. Members dove into strategic planning with Nuin-Tara Key, CA FWD’s Executive Director of Programs, for the upcoming California Economic Summit, where YLP will host a dedicated plenary on youth voice in California’s future.
From start to finish, the retreat showcased how young leaders are collaborating to address California’s future and demonstrated the power of building a statewide network of youth in tackling the state’s biggest challenges.
Learn more about YLP here. Interested in joining the program? Applications for Cohort VI are now open—apply here!
