About

Ricardo Ortega: Leading with Purpose

Ricardo Ortega is the Statewide Policy and Legislative Manager at California Youth Connection (CYC), where he advances policies centered on the voices and leadership of current and former system-impacted youth. He is currently the inaugural Los Angeles County Youth Commissioner, representing over 2.2 million young people, and a former board member of CYC.

Ricardo has also served as a member of the Mental Health Board for Transitional Age Youth in the State of California. He holds the distinction of being the youngest commissioner to serve on both the Civil Service Commission in the City of Huntington Park and the Immigration Commission under Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson in California’s 65th Assembly District.

On December 2nd, 2017, he was recognized as a Young Senator by State Senator Ricardo Lara for completing the 33rd Senate District Young Senators Program.

As a former foster youth, Ricardo worked on AB 2247 — A Place to Call Home — at the age of 17, helping to create stability in foster youth placements statewide. At 20, he contributed to the passage of AB 46 — the California Youth Empowerment Commission — to promote youth civic engagement.

Ricardo served as President of the Los Angeles chapter of California Youth Connection, joined their Legislative and Policy Committee, and gained experience working with the Chambers of Commerce in Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, and Lynwood.