By: Sarah Worthen, Sanctuary Supportive Services Coordinator

Our Sanctuary and Youth Services invites you to join us in extending warm congratulations to TLC participant Daniella Valencia who was recently selected by California Coalition for Youth (CCY) as the recipient of its annual Youth Leadership Award! Daniella will be recognized for her ongoing commitment to leadership and community service later this month during CCY’s annual Taking Action Conference.

During the conference, Daniella will have the opportunity to attend advocacy workshops and learn about legislative issues affecting youth and young adults throughout the state. The conference will close with a march to the Capitol where Daniella will meet with legislators and recommend policy changes that affect transitional age youth in California. As someone who has already demonstrated a sincere desire to make a difference in her community, this experience will enable her to take her commitment to the next level.

“I can’t believe it! There are so many other youth out there doing their part too. Why did they choose me?” said Daniella after learning she was chosen to receive CCY’s Youth Leadership Award. To those who know Daniella, the answer is clear. A current student at CSUF, Daniella earned a 3.3 GPA during her first semester of college. She is a participant in the Renaissance Scholars Program as well as Project ASAP and has volunteered with the Chicano Youth Conference at CSUF, Tamejavi Multi-Cultural Awareness Festival, Tobacco Awareness Community Clean Up Event, and at our Youth Shelter’s ArtHop fundraiser. She is a graduate of the 21 st Century After-School Leadership Program and previously completed a summer internship as a soccer coach for low-income children through Fresno City Parks and Recreation. At the CSUF campus, Daniella has actively participated in student protests involving budget cuts and tuition increases and has also participated in a sit-in at the university’s library to get extended ‘student friendly’ library hours. Recently she devoted an entire semester to tutoring 5 th graders at Hamilton Elementary School.