Woodcraft Rangers Names Jocelyn Yow Executive Director as Organization Expands into the Inland Empire

Longtime Eastvale Mayor and civic education advocate to lead Woodcraft Rangers’ growth into the Inland Empire

RIVERSIDE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Woodcraft Rangers, a Los Angeles-based youth development nonprofit serving Southern California for over a century, today announced that Jocelyn Yow has joined the organization as Executive Director of its newly established Inland Empire office. The appointment marks Woodcraft Rangers’ expansion into the Inland Empire, extending its youth development model, which spans STEM, arts, physical wellness, literacy support, and social-emotional learning, to communities across the region.

Yow brings both deep regional roots and more than a decade of experience in civic leadership, youth advocacy, and public service to the role. She moved to the Inland Empire in 2011 and was elected to the Eastvale City Council in 2018, where she currently serves as Mayor. She also serves on the boards of the Riverside Transit Agency and the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority.

A graduate of Norco College, one of three colleges in the Riverside Community College District, Yow currently serves as adjunct faculty there. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree from Harvard Extension School.

In 2025, Yow founded Civic Rising, an organization dedicated to ensuring students across the Inland Empire have access to civics education — work that reflects her long-standing commitment to young people and civic participation. She most recently spent seven years (2019–2026) with IGNITE, where she oversaw the organization’s legislative priorities and programming for young women in middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities. Earlier in her career, she served on the staff of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in the U.S. House of Representatives (2014–2015, 2016–2018), Congressman Gil Cisneros (2019), and the California State Senate (2016).

“Bringing our model to a new region takes a leader who already understands and is trusted in that community,” said Julee Brooks, CEO of Woodcraft Rangers. “Jocelyn has spent her career serving the Inland Empire, and we couldn’t ask for a better person to guide this expansion.”

The Inland Empire is my home, and I’ve spent my career fighting for young people here to have the opportunities they deserve,” said Jocelyn Yow, Executive Director of Woodcraft Rangers’ Inland Empire office. “I’m honored to bring that same commitment to Woodcraft Rangers as we build something lasting for kids and families in this region.”

Woodcraft Rangers’ Inland Empire office follows the organization’s existing satellite office in West Covina, reflecting its continued commitment to expanding access to quality youth programming across Southern California.

About Woodcraft Rangers

Founded in 1922, Woodcraft Rangers is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit serving more than 30,000 young people annually through before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs in partnership with more than 150 schools across Southern California.

Laura O’Sullivan
Woodcraft Rangers
+1 213-754-5655
losullivan@woodcraftrangers.org
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

Media gallery