“Remember to imagine and craft the worlds you cannot live without, just as you dismantle the ones you cannot live within.” — Ruha Benjamin
It’s a new year, and young people and their allies continue to organize, resist, and work toward the world we can’t live without, shaping and demanding the policies and systems our communities deserve. At the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy (TYP Collab), we know that the chaos and crises we face demand both courage and clarity. We’re inspired every day by the young leaders who refuse to back down.
Two members of our team were recognized for their exceptional contributions to youth justice and equity. These awards reflect not just their individual achievements; they also represent the power of collective, youth-centered work that challenges systems of harm and builds toward liberation.
Luis Hernandez Named to Forbes 30 Under 30
TYP Collab power-building strategist Luis Hernandez has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026 in the social justice category. This recognition for Luis’s work — at our organization, for his community in Atlanta, Georgia, and beyond — affirms what we already know: Young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead, they’re transforming the world right now.
From the editor: “Hernandez has also led some of the largest gun violence prevention marches in recent history, mobilizing 100,000+ people over the Brooklyn Bridge in 2018 and in 2022.”
Ashley Monterrosa Receives Youth Leadership Award
TYP Collab power-building strategist Ashley Monterrosa was honored with the Youth Leadership Award from the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, with coverage featured on Univision. Ashley's commitment to police-free schools and community-led safety alternatives has helped reshape how we think about youth mobile response and what true safety means for young people in crisis. Her leadership reminds us that the most powerful solutions come from those closest to the challenges.
Ruha Benjamin by Ashley Lukashevsky via Interrupting Criminalization
As we confront another year of attacks on youth well-being, education, labor, bodily autonomy, and more, we’re more committed than ever to amplifying youth voices and resourcing youth-led solutions at scale.
Donate Today to Support Youth-Powered Policy
Join us in shaping the policies and systems we deserve! 100% of your donation will support youth-driven change, helping to fund youth leadership and advocacy efforts with fair compensation, provide emergency assistance with the launch of our collective care fund, and center joy and community through celebrations and incentives.
