Clarissa, 22 years old, CA | 7 DAYS WAITING

Wish submitted by:

California Youth Connection

Clarissa grew up navigating the instability of foster care from age nine and juvenile justice involvement starting at thirteen, experiences that shaped her resilience but left gaps in stability and self-sufficiency. Now a full-time undergraduate student at California State University, Long Beach, majoring in sociology and psychology, she balances rigorous coursework with demanding roles as Co-Chair in youth advocacy, a community organizer, and facilitator for statewide leadership trainings and events. These commitments, alongside multiple internships, mean long days of public transit commutes, virtual meetings, policy development sessions, and community outreach.

Clarissa really needs a portable solar-powered power station. With her busy schedule filled with internships, long commutes, virtual meetings, and community outreach, she often finds herself in places where the power isn’t reliable or there are no outlets at all. Financial and housing struggles from her past still weigh on her, making it tough to buy the tools she needs just to get by, especially since she supports herself without any safety net. Having a portable power station would make a huge difference. It would keep her laptop charged during her commutes, power her hotspot for calls in areas that lack services, and provide backup during outages or events. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s crucial for her to stay connected, productive, and safe while she advocates for youth in foster care and juvenile justice reform. A portable power station would give her the reliability she needs, allowing her to focus on helping her community instead of worrying about finding power sources. Supporting this wish would help Clarissa further her education and leadership in creating meaningful changes for youth like her.