The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls’ Youth Advisory Council gives voice to girls’ experiences and drive for change
by Dorothy Korber
Folk “wisdom” proclaims that girls are sugar, spice, and everything nice. Other stereotypes and outdated notions abound. But some girls aren’t buying those overplayed notions— rather, they are out to change the world.
Nicole Kim and Sriya Srinivasan, are two teen leaders serving one-year terms on the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. The Commission created the council in 2022 to give the state’s youth an opportunity to become involved in California’s public policy efforts.
“The council members are passionate,” says Nicole, who chairs the 17-person YAC. “It’s a safe space—open, with no judgement.”
Vice Chair Sriya says they appreciates the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations, “On the Youth Advisory Council, we do work that matters and has an impact.”
“What matters most isn’t perfection, but passion—the willingness to learn, speak up, and show up for others. The Youth Advisory Council gives you the mentorship, resources, and confidence to amplify your voice, and every single perspective is valuable. If you care about your community, you already belong here.”
Nicole Kim, Chair, Youth Advisory Council for the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Both teens arrived with résumés already bursting with accomplishments.
Nicole realized there was a major problem at her school—a lack of bathroom dispensers for menstrual products. Her advocacy for menstrual equity led her school district to install dispensers at all 28 campuses. Nicole then expanded her focus globally as an international youth advisor for The Pad Project, a global nonprofit that works to expand access to menstrual care products.
Sriya was the driving force behind the passage last year of Assembly Bill 2229, the “Know Your Period Act,” which required menstrual health to be included in California’s sex education curriculum. Among her other accomplishments, Sriya opened a reproductive health center on the Solano Community College campus with a grant from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research.
Executive Director of the Commission Darcy Totten says that Nicole and Sriya are examples of how young women can influence politics and culture shifts.
“The Youth Advisory Council helps give our youth the opportunity and voice to make a difference for California,” Totten says. “The Girls Agenda for the Commission will assist us in planning our legislative and policy efforts to make sure the world we are shaping includes the perspectives of those who will have to live in it.
In turn, Totten adds, the CCSWG benefits from its work with young folks.
“As we mentor these new leaders, we are also learning important lessons from them—what is affecting young women and girls and what do they need to help them make a difference,” she says. “Decisions are made by those willing to work for change, and our Youth Council members are accepting the challenge, rolling up their sleeves to get involved, and putting their stamp on our collective future.”
Such mentorship is treasured by the teens and is a core part of the program. Commissioners agree to mentor one or two youth council members each year.
“My mentor reminds me that my perspective has value, and she challenges me to think bigger about the impact I can make,” Nicole says. “That kind of mentorship is powerful because it gives me the confidence to bring my full voice into the room and the tools to channel that passion into real policy work.”
Nicole and Sriya applied online to be members of YAC and encourage others to do the same.
“I would tell them that you don’t need to come in with a long résumé to make a difference here,” Nicole says. “What matters most isn’t perfection, but passion—the willingness to learn, speak up, and show up for others. The Youth Advisory Council gives you the mentorship, resources, and confidence to amplify your voice, and every single perspective is valuable. If you care about your community, you already belong here.”
Sriya echoes the sentiment.
“Being a girl in 2025 is hard enough. We face adversity just for living our lives,” she says. “What matters most is that challenges to the status quo are shaped by the lived experiences of girls across the nation. That means people like you. You matter. Your opinions matter. Your voice matters.”
For more information on the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girl’s Youth Advisory Council, visit women.ca.gov/ccswg-youth-advisory-council
