(Sept. 22, 2026) – Child Watch 2026 will bring together youth leaders and policy experts to explore bold solutions for children in Los Angeles County, addressing educational equity and the needs of youth impacted by the justice system.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
LOS ANGELES, CA—This Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund–California will host Child Watch 2026 at The Honeypot in Downtown Los Angeles. This annual event explores bold solutions to the issues facing children in Southern California.
CDF-CA will bring together young people, policymakers, and community leaders committed to improving outcomes for children and families. It is anchored by the first anniversary of the Education Justice Coalition’s report, Who Has the Power? Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth. Participants will discuss the report’s findings and recommendations and reflect on progress made over the past year toward supporting incarcerated youth in Southern California.
Attendees will also hear directly from young people with lived experience, learn about new research and community reports from CDF-CA and its partners, such as the Long Beach report, and connect with leaders from across Los Angeles County working to advance educational equity.
What: Child Watch 2026
When: Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: The Honeypot | 212 W. 12th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Who: Children’s Defense Fund-California
Arnold Chandler, the president and co-founder of the organization, Forward Change, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Panelists will also include Public Counsel Staff Attorney Kelsey White, 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.
“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,” Children’s Defense Fund-California Director Jaren 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.”