Youth Board

Our Mission Statement

The Corona-Norco United Way Youth Board is a group of young, diverse students who foster personal discovery & development, while providing light to our community.

Who We Are

The Corona-Norco United Way Youth Board is a community of young leaders brought together not by popularity, grades, or schools, but by curiosity, compassion, and a desire to grow.

Our members come from different backgrounds, upbringings, schools, cultures, personalities, and ways of thinking. Many of us would never have crossed paths otherwise. That’s part of what makes this space so powerful. We celebrate our differences and intentionally create an environment where everyone belongs, where students feel safe to show up as they are, try new things, make mistakes, and grow together without judgment.

At first, it can feel a little awkward (okay, sometimes very awkward). But that quickly turns into connection. Over time, Youth Board becomes a place of trust, laughter, honesty, and lifelong friendships, many of which continue well beyond high school and into college and adulthood.

Why We Do What We Do

We believe leadership is not about being perfect, it’s about learning, practicing, and becoming.

Youth Board exists to help students build real-life skills, confidence, and self-awareness in a supportive space outside of school. This is a place where growth happens naturally: through conversation, experience, reflection, and service. We believe young people thrive when they are challenged and cared for, held accountable and encouraged, supported and trusted.

While community service is an important part of what we do, one of the most meaningful communities we build is within ourselves and with each other. 

How We Do It

Youth Board Members meet monthly and spend the year learning “real-world” skills that matter—both now and in the future. One month we might focus on managing our reputation, understanding consequences, and making thoughtful decisions. Another month we might be learning practical life skills, like how to change a tire or navigate adulthood with confidence.

We grow through:

• Monthly leadership and life-skills meetings

• Hands-on community service and volunteer events

• A Youth-led Community Impact Project that allows us to identify needs, plan solutions, and take action together

• Mentorship from caring, experienced, and highly engaged staff

• A strong partnership with families, who are kept informed and supported throughout the year

Over the course of 10 months together, something special happens. We eat together. We laugh together. We cry together. We fail together. We build together. And we succeed together.

Everything In Between

Youth Board is intentionally designed outside of the school setting, which allows students to show up differently, more authentically, more bravely, and more fully. It’s a space where leadership is nurtured in a loving, real, and human way.

Whether there are 20 students or many more, each cohort becomes a small community that grows, stretches, and supports one another. Many alumni remain deeply connected long after graduation, some even becoming college roommates or lifelong friends.

Above all, Youth Board is a place where young people are seen, heard, challenged, and believed in. And that makes all the difference.