25 Years - Standing Up With Students

Celebrating 25 Years of Advocacy, Impact, and Student Success!

For 25 years, the Youth Advocacy Foundation has stood alongside Massachusetts students, ensuring they have the support, stability, and educational opportunities they deserve. This milestone anniversary is more than a celebration — it is a testament to the lives transformed, the barriers dismantled, and the futures made possible through the tireless work of YAF and the EdLaw Project.

Our 25th Anniversary Spring Celebration honors the young people who inspire our work, the families and educators who partner with us, and the advocates who fight every day to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline™ for at-risk youth across Massachusetts. Together, we will reflect on 25 years of zealous advocacy, celebrate the progress we've made, and raise critical funds to ensure every student can learn, thrive, and succeed for the next 25 years and beyond.

Join us on May 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM for an unforgettable evening featuring:

🎤 Inspiring stories from young people who have overcome barriers through the support of YAF
🎥 Special video messages from past clients sharing where they are today and how far they've come
✍️ An original poetry performance of a specially commissioned 25th Anniversary poem written exclusively for this event by 2020–2022 Boston Youth Poet Laureate, Alondra Bobadilla
🎵 Live music from talented Boston youth musicians
🎙️ A return appearance by our amazing Emcee — Broadway star and Berklee professor, De'Lon Grant
🌍 A Dream Vacation Raffle — one lucky winner will choose their own adventure from three incredible destination packages!
🎉 Silent auction with incredible items and experiences up for bid
🧠 Special trivia questions woven throughout the evening for a night full of fun and friendly competition!
🍽️ Heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks
🍦 Dessert featuring cupcakes and an ice cream sundae bar plus coffee