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  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Team
      • Board
      • Staff
      • Youth Organizing Fellows
    • Careers
  • What We Do
    • Investing in Young People
    • Advocacy & Organizing
    • Freedom Research Institute
  • Freedom 2030
  • Locations
    • Los Angeles
    • Oakland
    • San Francisco
    • Santa Clara County
  • Media
    • Young AF
    • Blog
    • YWFC Resources
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • Video Gallery
  • Contact
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Team
      • Board
      • Staff
      • Youth Organizing Fellows
    • Careers
  • What We Do
    • Investing in Young People
    • Advocacy & Organizing
    • Freedom Research Institute
  • Freedom 2030
  • Locations
    • Los Angeles
    • Oakland
    • San Francisco
    • Santa Clara County
  • Media
    • Young AF
    • Blog
    • YWFC Resources
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • Video Gallery
  • Contact
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What We Do

Freedom Research Institute

We provide opportunities and training for system-impacted youth to lead research and become experts in the field of justice reform.

Participatory & Community-driven Research

YWFC’s Freedom Research Institute formalized our historic work collecting and analyzing our own data on our own experience so that we can tell our own stories and identify and promote our own solutions. The Freedom Research Institute uses participatory, community-driven research as a tool for social and political transformation. It is committed to decolonizing traditional academic methods by centering the voices of those most impacted by systemic violence. The Institute practices a collaborative, ethical model of research that can be replicated to drive local, state, and national policy.

We provide opportunities and training for system-impacted youth to lead research and become experts in the field of justice reform. Our work investigates how marginalized communities navigate ecosystems of criminalization such as juvenile and adult justice, housing, foster care, and education to create opportunities for the most impacted to achieve self-determined futures.

What are Our Research Goals?

Produce knowledge by those most impacted

Use findings to support organizing and advocacy work of community-based organizations

Shift the narrative on who can be considered an expert

Bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds to work together in collaborative teams

Work with system stakeholders to directly influence policy and practice

Address traditional power dynamics by questioning knowledge production and the purpose of research

Report Archive
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YWFC Housing Paper: Reflecting on our COVID Emergency Housing Program

YWFC’s COVID-19 Emergency Housing Program was one such leap of faith and is a testament to the fact that such bold efforts are often required to produce our movement’s greatest successes. This report is a small window into our experience providing safe and supportive emergency housing differently with our communities during uncertain times.

Download the Full Report ⟶
Download the Summary ⟶
(click image to view full post)

Through Their Eyes

We know that as a community we can do better for young people. Young people deserve better from us as a society. All young people deserve to be nourished and loved and should be able to grow up free of systems that criminalize them and demean their humanity. With this report, we honor the brilliance and power of young people impacted by mass incarceration and racist systems of oppression. We see you. We stand by you. We fight alongside you for a free and joyous future.

Download the Full Report ⟶
Download the Summary ⟶
(click image to view full post)

A Radical Model for Decriminalization

Research Model & Initial Findings: A research report that explores and understands how system-involved people navigate multiple governmental systems: housing, healthcare, judicial, and…

Download the Full Report ⟶
Download the Summary ⟶

You can help by Donating today.

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Narrative

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#FREEDOM2030
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General Info

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Locations
San Francisco

Headquarters
832 Folsom Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94107
sfreferrals [at] youngwomenfree.org
(415) 703-8800

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Los Angeles

lareferrals [at] youngwomenfree.org
(415) 703-8800 ext 215

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Oakland

oakreferrals [at] youngwomenfree.org
(510) 350-7411

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Santa Clara County

sccreferrals [at] youngwomenfree.org
(415) 703-8800 ext 216

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YWFC in the News

Why the California Legislature Just Failed to Vote Against A Remnant of Slavery

July 21, 2022

For Young Offenders, Restitutions Debts Can Present Crippling Obstacles

July 19, 2022

Trailblazer: Amika Mota

July 18, 2022

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