Critical Connections Summer

Issues like racism and mental health aren’t just ideas. They have real impacts on our personal lives. In CCS, you will have the opportunity to learn about social and political issues in the South Bay and explore how they affect you, your family, and your community.

Community organizing is the process of building power by bringing many people behind a united cause. It’s SBYC’s primary approach to making change.

You will practice storytelling, public speaking, facilitating group conversations, doing community outreach, and more!

You will play an important role in creating a community culture where people can be their real selves and grow in a judgment-free environment!

Each participant in our programs receives personalized, one-on-one support for their growth from our staff. We will support you in developing an awareness of your strengths and growth edges, setting specific goals for your leadership development, and finding opportunities to meet these goals.

We put our newly developed knowledge and skills to practice by working together to put on a powerful show of youth power!

SBYC believes that everyone has the potential to be a leader in transforming society. We value group-centered leaders who collaborate and invest in the growth of the whole group, not just a few charismatic leaders. At CCS, we will support you in finding your unique strengths and challenge you to transform into a powerful youth leader.
CCS is a special opportunity to connect with people from different schools and communities across the South Bay in an immersive, vulnerable, fun, and judgment-free environment. Many of our past participants have shared how radically different the environment feels compared to school and other spaces they are used to.

CCS is open to all current high school students in Santa Clara County. If you are a student currently in high school or entering 9th grade (or equivalent at a middle college / early college high school program), we encourage you to apply!

We definitely want you to apply! You don’t need prior experience with activism and social justice, and we know it can be intimidating to get involved. If you want to get involved but don’t know where to start, this is the right place for you!

CCS will occur entirely in person at our office in East San Jose. Support with transportation to and from the office is available.

SBYC recognizes that Asian is a very broad term that includes many different backgrounds and experiences. We welcome Asians of all ethnicities, Asians of different socioeconomic backgrounds, immigrants and refugees, adoptees, mixed race Asians, etc. We welcome you even if you don’t feel Asian, or if you don’t feel comfortable in Asian/Asian American spaces.

CCS is run by a team of young Asian American adults. Many of us grew up in the South Bay and are dedicated to transforming our home for the better! We are passionate about this program because we want to provide an experience that we wish we could have when we were in high school.

We will do our best to accommodate your access needs, whether it is technology, health, transportation, religious, or other needs.

SBYC offers stipends for people who would otherwise be unable to participate in the program because of financial barriers. (For example, if you have to work to support yourself / your family.) In the past, the stipend has ranged from $700 to $1400.

SBYC takes public health seriously. We will ask for proof of vaccination (including the booster shot). We will require rapid tests for in-person sessions and masking during sessions, and provide rapid tests and masks to you.

We would love to connect with you! We have programs year-round, and we’d love for you to get involved. Please fill out our interest form and we’ll get in touch with you!