YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE FRONT

A research and policy lab based in Los Angeles that specializes in youth homelessness

We are passionate advocates for

  • Youth driven solutions

  • Community Partnership

  • Grassroots organizing

Young People to the Front envisions being a community collaborative that amplifies the voices of Los Angeles to activate radical change. We use research as a tool for storytelling and change, combined with strategic communication to drive action.  Previously known as Lens Co, our mission is to create structural change through innovative solutions informed by those with lived experience, driven by data, and rooted in strong community collaboration.

View fullsize 🚨PSA: We're still not over last week's 🔥🔥🔥 episode of the YP2F podcast! 🎧 Tonny's convo with the amazing founder of @jennisflowerorg 🌻, an org doing incredible work to uplift folks in the foster care system. If you missed it, run - don't walk
View fullsize Guess who's joined the advocacy train? 🚂 None other than the queen, the icon, the legend, Mother herself- Dolly Parton! (AI Version of her)🎤👑 She's breaking down what Direct Cash Transfers (DCT's) are all about. At YP2F we're trying to make DCT's
View fullsize In this week's episode, Tonny sits down with Cheyenne, the executive director of Jenni's Flowers. They discuss a variety of topics, including the foster care system, healthy coping mechanisms, attending university in California, and how healing from
View fullsize Taking the Pacific Northwest by storm! 🌲 Our recent trip to Oregon was all about research and evaluations on the Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) program. We’ve been awestruck by the incredible work organizations like JBarJ, NAYA, and Antfarm are do
View fullsize Happy Monday Friends! 🎧 Have you caught our latest episode with the amazing Nathaniel? If not, what are you waiting for?! 🚀 Head over to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you vibe with your podcast. Trust us, you don't want to miss this one or a
View fullsize We finally phoned a friend on the podcast! Yes that's right we finally got the multi-talented Nathaniel Patterson on the podcast. Fatine and Tonny sat down with him to discuss various topics. These included his self-taught tech skills, his entry into
View fullsize Every day is Earth Day 🌱 🌍, but today we highlight the need to advocate for better environmental and climate justice. There is no Planet B , so we must protect the only home we have. . . . . #earth #earthday #earthday2024 #climate #climatechange #
View fullsize Last week, our team attended the 41st annual Upton Sinclair celebration. It was a night dedicated to celebrating the #roadtochange , highlighting the many devoted individuals powering progress in L.A - from organizers to community leaders to donor ac
View fullsize We asked Ru to explain the ongoing Supreme Court case, City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson. The case revolves around the question of whether it's right to criminalize homelessness. . . . . PSA: Ru's summary is AI generated and not from Ru h
View fullsize On this week episode Tonny and Robin sat down with Shayla Myers, a senior attorney at the Unhoused People's Justice Project at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA). They cover a range of topics including the operation of legal clinics, the
View fullsize TGIF. We're starting a mini-series called "YP2F After Dark: Slightly Unhinged." We'll discuss all things pop culture and whatever else is happening in the universe. Naturally, we'll continue to produce engaging episodes about our primary mi

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