The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) was a school year long leadership program for young women from the San Francisco Unified School District. We recognized the many strengths and assets of young women and provided members of the YSC with education, tools and experience to develop as effective leaders among their peers, within their schools, and throughout their community.
Our program was designed to be a safe place where young women can come together to share their thoughts and ideas, develop self-confidence, and build leadership skills. Throughout the year, the YSC explored various health and leadership topics including self-esteem, reproductive health, stress management and skill building for youth leaders.
The young women got the opportunity to learn about their health and life options from women leaders and guest speakers; received mentoring and career guidance; and worked as a team to develop the Young Women’s Health & Leadership Summit.
The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) usually consisted of a group of 13-20 diverse young women from various San Francisco high schools, who worked together to create a one-day health & leadership event for over 250 girls within the San Francisco Unified School District. Their job included conducting a community assessment; creating conference goals & a theme; researching and selecting speakers, workshop leaders and recommend today’s top health issues for young women to be addressed at the summit. The YSC members were paid for their work.
Founded in 2000 by former state senator and current Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Dr. Nancy Milliken, Director of the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, the Youth Steering Committee & annual Young Women’s Health & Leadership summit was supported by grants and private donations.