Youth Action Summit of California (YASC)
The Youth Action Summit of California (YASC) is the most effective way to create a positive impact on the world. While many opportunities exist to learn how to do things right, YASC emphasizes learning how to do the right thing.
Students work with a diverse collection of passionate youth from around the globe through discussions, workshops, and experiential activities. These experiences will sharpen and hone your leadership skills and expand your worldview. Engaging and relevant speakers from various fields educate you about pressing social issues and, with support from all the other students, create implementable solutions.
Who can attend?
High Schoolers
Why this conference?
Location
Westin Hotel, 5400 West Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Starting At
710
Date & Time
Feb 15-16, 2025
Apply By
4 weeks before for the Early Bird Discount
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What is YASC?
The Youth Action Summit of California, YASC, is the most effective way to impact the world positively. There are many opportunities to learn how to do things right, but there aren’t many opportunities to learn how to do the right thing. At YASC, you get to experience both. You work with a diverse collection of passionate youth worldwide through discussions, workshops, and experiential activities that hone your skills and give you a more worldly perspective. Engaging and relevant speakers from various fields educate you about pressing social issues, and with support from all the other students, you create an implementable solution.
YASC delegates are among the best and brightest, so they also elect the next State President and Vice President to represent the 6.3 million students in California. Students have a voice at YASC to elect their peer leaders and to be champions for social justice. You will leave a legacy as a champion for social justice, and along the way, you’ll make lifelong friends develop skills, and have the most empowering weekend of your life.
YASC is your time to be immersed in different cultures and experience the world on its truly global level, but the best part is that your experience doesn’t end when YASC does. YASC is equipping you with lifelong skills, friends, connections, and seeds of inspiration that will never dissipate or fade. YASC is your opportunity to start changing the future.
Why YASC?
YASC gives students an opportunity to represent their school and community on an international level. This is their time to bolster and develop leadership skills, explore social issues and create solutions, partake in thought-provoking discussions, and leave legacies as champions for social justice. All delegates leave YASC with a comprehensive skill set and a detailed action plan to implement their project for their desired social change.
Who Can Attend YASC?
High School and Middle School Students: Wherever you’re from and whatever you are involved in, whether you’re involved in ASB, in sports, in clubs, or in anything else, you can certainly identify issues in your school, community, and society. Being a delegate at YASC is the perfect opportunity to learn how you have the power to make a difference and start a chain reaction of positivity.
What are the effects of YASC?
All delegates leave YASC with a comprehensive skill set and a detailed action plan to implement projects for their desired social change. In the past, these projects have resulted in the establishment of nonprofits, the creation of state laws, and recognition from the United Nations. This is their time to gain lifelong skills, be inspired, and ultimately, make their mark on the world.
Delegates have the opportunity to represent the 6.3 million public school students in California and the honor of being the voice of over 700 million students worldwide in electing the next State President and State Vice President of the California Association of Student Councils. YASC delegates are the exclusive voters in this election.
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YASC was a conference of many firsts for me. It was my first CASC conference, the first time I made so many new friends at once, and the first time I interacted with international students, an experience that made me look at the world in a whole new perspective. But most importantly, it was at YASC that I felt, for the first time, that I mattered, and that a high school student like me can actually make an impact on a global level. Bringing together people who cared about the same issues as I did, YASC empowered me to step out of my comfort zone and into making a positive difference in the future. YASC gave me the skills that helped me to not only improve myself, but also to benefit the community around me. Two years after this eye-opening conference, I still use these tools today to solve problems I face in my daily life.
Ellen Wang
Troy High School
“To me, CASC is more than an ordinary organization. CASC is my source of inspiration and motivation– this organization empowers me to strive towards becoming a better version of myself. CASC reminds me that we as students have the ability to make impactful change in the world around us.”
Deborah Lee
University of Southern California Class of 2020
All students should be able to participate, regardless of their financial situations. Schools are responsible for the registration costs, although some students do cover their own fees. We understand that time is limited, and we will work with you to ensure proper processing of payments.
Many community groups will also be interested in sponsoring your work at the state level. Please refer to this fundraising guide used by delegates to obtain funding or check out a draft sponsorship letter. Feel free to get in touch with kelly.wachowicz@casc.net if you would like help or guidance.
Funding and Sponsorships
For questions or more information, please contact the YASC Director, Daniel Chung-Lee, at Daniel.chung-lee@casc.net or our Executive Director Kelly Wachowicz at kelly.wachowicz@casc.net.
CASC Contact Information
CASC has scholarships for students. There are a limited number of scholarships available. Click here to access the Scholarship Application.
CASC Scholarship
For over 70 years, the California Association of Student Councils has been the state’s student-run organization focusing on youth leadership. CASC serves student councils and their advisors, as well as all other young leaders and students who want to make a difference in their community. Through peer-to-peer leadership training and conferences, CASC provides students and advisors the opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other students and advisors, and become empowered. CASC also lobbies for students and better schools at the state and local levels.
There are none! We are proud to have an extremely diverse group of students and advisors participate in our programs. Some come to our programs with years of leadership experience and extracurricular activities while others come to our programs with none. Everyone learns and grows from our programs in different ways. Anybody who wishes to develop their leadership skills is welcome to join our program.
You can get involved in a number of ways:
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Attend a statewide CASC program – summer camp, SABE, SABLE, or YASC
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Attend a region conference with your ASB or other student leaders
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Contact your local region president and get involved with your region
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Become a part of the governing body of CASC by applying for state council
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You can check out our programs directory by clicking on the "PROGRAMS" tab!
CASC is unique from other organizations in a variety of ways:
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Peer-to-Peer Training: Rather than adults teaching curriculum and teambuilding to students, at CASC events highly-trained students lead most of the activities.
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CASC conferences focus on teaching students HOW to do things rather than WHAT to do. We provide skills and knowledge that will go farther than a dance theme or fundraising idea. The skills and curriculum CASC encourages students to think critically and teaches students how to apply curriculum to any and every part of their lives.
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CASC recognizes and supports the power of youth: This is an organization run FOR students BY students to ensure that all the needs of students are heard and met. We have high school and college students voting and making decisions alongside adults on the Board of Directors.
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Check out our guide to attend a program for free! It should answer all of your questions as well as provide instructions on how to acquire scholarships from either CASC or local organizations! If you have further questions, contact the CASC Office or the State Development Director.
Whether you are a current student, alumni, parent, or any other stakeholder of the organization, you can help send students to CASC conferences to gain a life-changing experience. Any amount, small or big, will help students obtain a scholarship to attend programs. Donate today!
Regions are divided into twelve different areas of California, covering all 58 counties. It is based on your school location and you can find out your region by clicking on the 'Regions' tab.