In 2022, then Sacramento, CA, City Council Member Jay Schenirer championed a campaign called “Yes on Measure L,” which created a voter-approved children’s fund to support essential programs for kids in the city. The fund will generate about $10 million annually for comprehensive services for children and youth, including mental health services; homelessness prevention; youth transition out of foster care; substance abuse prevention and intervention programs; youth job training; early childhood care and education; and programs to prevent crime, drug, and gang violence.

We spoke with Mr. Schenirer and his colleague Claudia Jasin, who served as his youth policy specialist for nine years, about their efforts to help Sacramento become a more youth friendly city.