POWER UP WITH YOUth
A nonpartisan Youth-Led initiative connecting young people with the knowledge, people, resources, and opportunities that help them understand their world, find their place in it, make a difference, shape their futures and grow!
IT’S YOUR WORLD TOO!
Learn about it!
Find your place in it!
Help shape what comes next!
FOUR WAYS WE CONNECT AND POWER UP TOGETHER
1. We Power Up People To Make Connections
Young people are at the center but everyone has a role.
Connect with youth, families, educators, mentors, schools, officials and community partners.
Share knowledge, ideas, experience, resources and opportunities.
We all have something to learn!
We all have something to offer!
We all shape our future together!
Meet Power Up
2. We Power Up Places to provide access
Discover how schools neighborhoods organizations and public institutions work, what they need, and where you can connect, learn, contribute, participate and help your communities thrive . See What We Do
3. We Power Up Purpose to give direction
Build the knowledge, skills and confidence to ask questions and consider different perspectives.
Turn knowledge into understanding and wisdom that helps you think things through.
Build the character that guides your choices and shapes your action, and own what happens next
.
What we each know and have matters.
What we do with it matters too.
See How We Power Up - Hands On and For Real
4. We Power Up Possibilities to open the door to a better future
Explore the real world. Find your place. Discover your leadership strengths, imagine what’s possible. Connect your learning to your passion and opportunities. Design and lead projects and celebrate accomplishments.
We help young people and the people who pour into them work together support intergenerational growth and development and a shared effort to shape a better future.
Find Your Spot Get in on the Action Support us
Transform the Trail
A Power Up
Real World
Program
THE TRAIL WE HOPED FOR
In 2003 the City of San Diego’s Parks Plan promised to turn Potter’s Tract Trail, the one-mile from 54th street running parallel to the Chollas Creek Watershed, into the Encanto Walking Trail - a 10 foot wide class A high quality open space for residents to walk, bike, play, use, and enjoy their community.
THE TRAIL WE FOUND
i In 2024, 23 years later, in 2024, the site contained the post office for zip Code 92114 named in honor of Judge Earl B. Gilliam, an Encanto Neighborhood hero and national treasure. Power Up youth visited the post office and discovered the trail.
What they found was not what they expected. The plan described a community asset. The students encountered a community liability.
The trail was neglected, overgrown, unsafe, dangerously uneven, unhealthy, trash filled, unmaintained and unsustainable.
Youth wanted to Learn and Understand What Happened?
What did their city promise??
Why hadn’t their City implemented the plan in over 23 years?
Had their community been silent without demanding action for 23 years?
The youth wanted more than restoration. They wanted transformation
Could they develop a plan and transform the trail
into a healthy beautiful space for residents and community, STEM students and visitors.
uP the Turnout 2024!
A Power Up “REAL WORLD “ Program
120 students added 1220 voters
In our first campaign, uP the Turnout 2024, we partnered with San Diego Unified School District E and the BAPACSD Foundation to educate youth about the power and process of voting and to boost voter turnout.
Then, we collaborated with youth, teachers, community leaders, elected officials and volunteers to hold an event for the community to celebrate the youth and their success.
Testimonials
As a young person, being able to lead in the uP the Turnout campaign made me realize that my voice truly matters. It gave me the confidence to advocate for issues that affect my community, and now I feel empowered to lead even more initiatives. We inspired over 1200 community members to take part in the democratic process. – Henry, Youth Lead Ambassador
“It was amazing to see the support we received and how our collective efforts made a real difference. I am stoked that I was part of a team of about 120 students that reached over 1,200 voters.” Alex, student
“Supporting the uP the Turnout community celebration was a powerful reminder of the strength of youth-led campaigns. Seeing so many young people passionate about making a change was truly inspiring, and I’m proud to have been part of it.”
– Clara Carter, Celebration Event Manager, Donor and Founder of MCCSN
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Get Involved
Power Up with Youth is more than just a campaign—it’s a movement. Whether you’re a student looking to get involved, a parent supporting our initiatives, or a community member eager to help, there’s a way for you to make a difference.
• Join Our Campaigns
• Become A Volunteer
• Donate
• Stay Connected Read Our Blog
Follow our journey and stay updated on programs, events, and opportunities for involvement. First Blog Post Title:
“The Encanto Trailblazers: Transforming Neglect Into Opportunity
Program Activities
- Educational Workshops and seminars to equip youth to lead with purpose
- Civic Engagement opportunities to lead campaigns
- Leadership Development training, and mentorship and hands-on learning experiences designed to build confidence, teach leadership skills, and foster a deep sense of civic responsibility.
- Community Collaboration partnerships and activities that enhance community bonds and promote positive change
- Advocacy Training to ensure their voices are at the table and heard in community decision making processes.
Campaign Mission: Empowering Young Voices
Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower young people to become active participants in their community’s democratic process helping their friends and family vote with understanding and intention.
Campaign Vision: Shaping The Future
We envision a world where youth leadership and active participation is central to shaping and developing healthy and vibrant communities.