Recognized as part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
Not every opportunity begins with access. Sometimes it begins with a vision, a recognition that something meaningful exists just out of reach for too many people. And in that space between potential and possibility, someone decides to build what does not yet exist.
San Diego, Calif. — For LaTonya Harris Croom, that moment was not abstract or distant. It was deeply personal, rooted in faith, and carried a level of clarity that could not be ignored.
“EYT didn’t start as an idea,” she shares. “It started as a vision God placed in my heart.”
What she saw was not just a general challenge. It was something specific and recurring. Young people filled with potential, yet lacking access to the tools and opportunities needed to move forward. Families searching for guidance, resources, and direction, but without a clear pathway to follow. Communities full of talent and resilience, yet missing the structure to turn possibility into progress.
And in that moment, something shifted.
“It was made clear that I wasn’t just called to see the problem,” she says. “I was called to build a solution.”
As a woman of faith, a wife, and a mother, she made a decision that would define everything that followed. She chose obedience over fear, trusting that what she was being called to build would grow beyond what she could initially see.
What emerged from that decision is now known as Empowering Youth Together. But for LaTonya, it represents something far deeper than an organization or initiative.
“This is not just a nonprofit,” she explains. “It’s a calling. It’s my yes to God.”
From Vision to Action: Bridging the Gap Between Potential and Opportunity
At its core, Empowering Youth Together was created to address a gap that continues to affect many young people. Not a lack of ambition or ability, but a lack of access to the systems and support needed to develop that potential.
Across communities, youth are often encouraged to dream bigger and aim higher. Yet without structure, mentorship, and real-world exposure, those dreams can feel distant or unclear. Inspiration without direction can leave young people unsure of how to take the next step.
LaTonya recognized early on that encouragement alone would not be enough.
Through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and community-based programming, Empowering Youth Together focuses on equipping young people with practical, real-world skills they can apply immediately.
From entrepreneurship and business development to financial literacy, leadership training, confidence-building, and identity development, the work is intentionally designed to move beyond inspiration.
It is about preparation.
It is about giving young people something real to build from, so that their potential does not remain untapped, but becomes activated.
Building More Than Programs. Creating an Ecosystem
What distinguishes Empowering Youth Together is not only the services it provides, but the way those services are structured and experienced over time.
LaTonya observed that many traditional approaches relied heavily on one-time workshops or disconnected programs. While those efforts could inspire in the moment, they often lacked the continuity and depth needed to create lasting impact.
“They didn’t work,” she explains. “They lacked continuity and deep family involvement.”
That insight became foundational in how Empowering Youth Together was built.
Rather than focusing on isolated events, the organization operates as an ecosystem. One that intentionally blends family, community, purpose, and entrepreneurship into a connected experience where growth is supported over time.
Within this environment, participants are not simply receiving information. They are actively developing identity, building confidence, and stepping into roles as creators, leaders, and contributors to their communities.
And that shift is significant.
Because when young people begin to see themselves differently, their actions, decisions, and expectations for their future begin to change as well.
Serving Youth, Families, and the Community Together
Empowering Youth Together was never designed to focus on youth alone. Its impact is intentionally extended to include the broader environment that shapes a young person’s development.
The organization serves youth between the ages of 9 and 19, while also supporting parents and guardians who are seeking structured, purpose-driven programs that can guide their families. It creates space for young entrepreneurs who are ready to launch or grow small businesses, and it partners with schools and community organizations looking to provide meaningful enrichment opportunities.
At the same time, it invites community leaders and local businesses to actively invest in the next generation.
This multi-layered approach reflects a core belief.
Transformation does not happen in isolation.
It happens when youth, families, and communities are aligned, connected, and supported together. It happens when there is continuity between what is taught, what is practiced, and what is reinforced at home and in the community.
Addressing the Real Challenges Youth Face
The need for this work is both visible and urgent.
Many youth today are navigating environments where access to opportunities is limited by resources, exposure, leadership development, and the presence of supportive systems. Even those with strong potential can struggle to find direction when those elements are missing.
Empowering Youth Together directly responds to these challenges by creating pathways that did not previously exist.
Pathways where youth are exposed to new possibilities.
Where they are encouraged to build confidence through action.
Where they gain access to opportunities that expand their understanding of what is achievable.
Through this process, something begins to shift internally.
Young people start to see themselves not as limited by circumstance, but as individuals with purpose, capability, and direction.
The Values That Guide the Work
At the foundation of Empowering Youth Together is a set of values that guide every aspect of its work. These values are not simply statements, but principles that are consistently practiced and reinforced.
Empowerment focuses on equipping youth with the confidence, skills, and opportunities needed to believe in themselves and take ownership of their future.
Purpose emphasizes that every young person has unique gifts and potential, and that discovering those gifts is essential to pursuing meaningful and fulfilling goals.
Family and community highlight the importance of connection, recognizing that transformation is strongest when youth and families are supported together.
Leadership development encourages responsibility, creativity, and a commitment to service, helping to shape the next generation of leaders.
Opportunity and access remain central, ensuring that doors are opened through mentorship, resources, and real-world experiences that make success attainable.
Together, these values create a framework that supports both individual growth and collective impact.
Turning Potential Into Power
The mission of Empowering Youth Together is clearly defined: Empowering Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s Success by Turning Potential into Power.
Behind this mission is a deeper commitment to ensuring that young people are not only inspired, but fully equipped with the tools and support they need to succeed.
This work is reflected in the outcomes being created every day.
Young people who begin to speak with greater confidence and clarity. Families who feel more connected, informed, and supported. Communities that benefit from individuals stepping into leadership roles with purpose and direction.
Because when access is provided and support is consistent, the impact extends beyond the individual.
It becomes collective.
Why Her Story Matters Now
At a time when many conversations focus on identifying problems, what stands out most are those who are willing to build solutions.
LaTonya Harris Croom represents that difference.
She did not wait for access to be created. She stepped forward and created it. She did not accept the gap between potential and opportunity as permanent. She chose to build a pathway through it.
And in doing so, she is helping to shape a future where more young people, families, and communities are equipped to thrive.
Because sometimes, the most powerful decision a person can make is to say yes to what they are called to do.
And then continue building, so that others have the opportunity to rise alongside them.
About Empowering Youth Together
Empowering Youth Together is a community-based youth development organization dedicated to equipping young people and their families with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive. Through programs, training, and community initiatives, the organization creates pathways for youth to discover their purpose and build meaningful futures.
Website: www.empoweringyouthtogether.org
Contact: support@empoweringyouthtogether.org
This recognition is part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
About the San Diego Standouts Series
The San Diego Standouts Series from San Diego Weekly highlights individuals whose leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and service are helping shape the future of San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
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Profiles featured in the San Diego Standouts Series are selected by the San Diego Weekly editorial team to highlight individuals whose leadership and service are helping shape San Diego and the Cali-Baja region. The Editor’s Choice is for individuals whose impact on San Diego and the broader region is undeniable: the founders redefining industries, the advocates transforming communities, and the visionaries building what comes next. Past and current considerations include civic leaders, nonprofit founders, tech entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and cultural icons across the San Diego and Cali-Baja region. These editorial recognitions are independent features and honors, there is no fee required to be selected.
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1 Comment
AWESOME WORK It’s wonderful to see this woman recognized and honored for the hard work, dedication and love for our youth and community. Often this work is down with her own money and little help. I encourage everyone who reads about Empoweringyouthtogether.org open their wallets, resources and time to help LaTonya Harris Croom and Empoweringyouthtogether.org.
Let’s make a difference in our young people and help them reach their full potential 🙏🏾