Join Us at the 2nd Annual Children’s Champion Award Celebration
Youth Forward is hosting the 2nd annual Children’s Champions Award Celebration this year at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria from 6 PM – 8 PM on October 8th, 2026!
We would love to have you join us to share dinner, enjoy youth performances, enter a raffle for a chance to win 4 lower-level tickets to a Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat game, and celebrate our local youth champions here in Sacramento! For any inquiries or information about sponsoring, please reach out to: info@youth-forward.org.
This year, we will be honoring the amazing team at the Sac Fire Department who have been leading Sac EMS Corps. Sac EMS Corps is a job training program that prepares young adults to become emergency medical technicians, firefighters and health workers. The program is specifically designed to support young people impacted by foster care, homelessness and/or the criminal justice system. We currently partner with Sac Fire in the ongoing development of this program and lead efforts to recruit students. We are extremely proud of our firefighters and their dedication to building a bright future for young people.
In addition to honoring Sac Fire, we will recognize Lozen Miranda Brightman, an outstanding youth leader from our local Native community. Over the last few years, with support from Native Youth Forward, she has led efforts to develop an indigenous garden in North Sacramento. She also led the recent campaign to remove harmful, stereotypical Native imagery from Hiram Johnson High School.
Lastly, we plan to honor our former Executive Director and Founder of Youth Forward, Jim Keddy for all the advocacy he has done throughout his career for Youth Forward, youth community, and youth funding here in Saramento and throughout the state of California. He plans to retire at the beginning of August, and we look forward to celebrating him as he starts his next journey.
To attend, please purchase tickets at the following link:
We hope to see you at this year’s Children’s Champion Celebration!
Youth Initiatives
Youth Leadership
Youth Forward provides training and support to young people in leadership and organizing.
Youth Justice
Youth Forward is working to provide positive opportunities to youth impacted by foster care and the criminal justice system.
Cannabis Policy
Youth Forward works to reduce cannabis marketing to children and youth and to develop prevention programs funded by state cannabis tax revenues.
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