City's inaugural State of the Youth address highlights housing, mental health and jobs; council proclaims JC Johnson Becker Day

Council received a staff report on the inaugural State of the Youth address delivered by youth participants and organized by council member Kim and the RightTrack program. JC Johnson Becker presented highlights, and youth speakers urged increased internships, Housing First approaches, continued funding for the CARES unit and improvements to safe transportation and sustainability programs.

The report included poetry and first-person testimony from students about the impact of housing instability, school disruption and mental-health strain. One participant in the recorded presentation said, "Kids shouldn't have to protest," summarizing a theme that youth should be able to focus on school and normal childhood experiences rather than organizing to survive.

Following the report, the council adopted a proclamation naming Sept. 2, 2026, as JC Johnson Becker Day in recognition of JC's leadership organizing the event. Vice President Yang and other members thanked the youth and RightTrack staff for the inaugural event and expressed support for expanding the program next year.