SOY empowers its youth to be leaders in their community and their schools. Through the SOY Youth Council, students from four high schools—Estancia, Costa Mesa, Early College and Newport Harbor—come together to lead other students at SOY in community outreach projects, SOY activities and dances, and they become ambassadors for SOY at their own school.
The Youth Council meets biweekly and receives leadership training from Manuel Chavez, SOY Outreach and Program Manager and Costa Mesa City Council Member. He provides lessons each meeting that helps empower them on how to lead themselves. The youth council run the rest of the meeting as they plan projects and activities to empower others. They have met with city leaders, school board members and members of the assembly.
