LOS ANGELES, CA — This Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) will host its annual Child Watch event at The Honeypot in Downtown Los Angeles, bringing together a coalition of young people, policymakers, and community leaders. The prominent gathering is designed to explore bold, actionable solutions to the most pressing challenges facing children, youth, and families across Southern California, with a sharp focus on educational equity and the systemic needs of young people impacted by the juvenile justice system.
The landmark event, scheduled to run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 212 W. 12th Street, is heavily anchored by the one-year anniversary of a critical report released by the Education Justice Coalition LA. Titled Who Has the Power? Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth, the report laid bare numerous institutional shortcomings within the county’s educational framework for confined minors. Attendees at Child Watch 2026 will spend a significant portion of the day discussing the findings and policy recommendations outlined in that document, while rigorously reflecting on the progress—or lack thereof—made over the past year toward better supporting incarcerated youth throughout the region.
Organizers emphasize that the day will not merely be an exercise in policy review, but a platform centered heavily on the lived experiences of youth who have navigated these complex systems firsthand. Participants will have the opportunity to hear directly from young leaders, examine newly released research and community reports from CDF-CA and its organizational partners—including a notable recent report focusing on Long Beach—and build coalitions with advocates from across Los Angeles County who are dedicated to advancing systemic reform and educational equity.
Jaren Sorkow, Director of Children’s Defense Fund-California, underscored the broader vision and collaborative spirit driving this year’s conference. “We hope Child Watch 2026 will show how working together across organizations, institutions, and communities can drive lasting change for children and youth throughout Southern California,” Sorkow said. “By combining youth storytelling, community dialogue, and policy conversations, we are proud to center young voices as we work toward a future where all children in our state can thrive.”
The agenda features an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers, legal experts, and community advocates. Arnold Chandler, president and co-founder of Forward Change, is slated to deliver the keynote address, bringing his extensive expertise in addressing systemic inequities and promoting policy solutions that foster positive social change.
Following the keynote, a series of panel discussions will dive deeper into the legal, educational, and institutional hurdles facing vulnerable youth. Panelists will include Kelsey White, a staff attorney at Public Counsel; Vivian T. Wong, director of the Youth Justice Education Clinic at Loyola Law School; and Megan Stanton-Trehan, senior attorney of the Youth Practice Group at Disability Rights California. These experts, alongside community leaders and youth advocates, will explore practical pathways for holding local institutions accountable and reforming the overlapping educational and legal systems that impact marginalized youth in Los Angeles County.
As Child Watch 2026 gets underway this week, organizers hope the convergence of grassroots advocacy, rigorous research, and high-level policy discussions will galvanize a renewed commitment among stakeholders to dismantle historical barriers and secure a more equitable educational future for every child in Southern California.
