History of Youth Forward

Youth Forward was established in 2017 as a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California.

We were formed by a group of social change agents and community organizers to address the threats posed to children and young people by the legalization of marijuana after the passage of Proposition 64. We wanted to ensure that the state of California would invest the millions of new revenues from marijuana taxes in youth prevention in communities of color most impacted by the War on Drugs. As an organization grounded in public health, we are a leader in efforts to regulate the cannabis industry and to address concerns such as youth-targeted advertising. 

​Since its inception, Youth Forward has expanded its work to include advocacy in support of youth mental health in the Sacramento region and to co-lead the city's largest grassroots coalition, Sac Kids First.