Franco Vega

Franco Vega is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering system-impacted youth in Los Angeles County. As an orphan and former probation youth, Franco uses his experiences to drive positive change for foster youth. After a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and neglect, Franco was orphaned at the age of 15, bounced in and out of juvenile hall, and attended ten different schools before enlisting in the U.S. Army. The barriers he faced and overcame as a young adult inspired him to create The RightWay Foundation with a mission to ensure every foster youth has the resources and community they need to build a prosperous future. 

The RightWay Foundation combines healing-centered, trauma-informed mental health services, comprehensive job readiness training, and supportive housing for transition-age foster youth (TAY) in Los Angeles County. Through innovative programs like Operation Emancipation and Operation Second Chance, Franco is dedicated to reducing homelessness and ending the pipeline from foster care to prison and poverty.

He builds partnerships across LA County to transform supportive services for foster youth leaving the system. In 2016, he, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles' Dept. of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor's office, launched the Creative Career Pathway Program (CCPP) for placing emancipated foster youth in paid internships at significant cultural and creative institutions, allowing youth to explore the art world and launch their careers in the arts. 

He began his career teaching Rights of Passage to foster youth with the Department of Children and Family Services. Before founding The RightWay Foundation, he created an employment center on Skid Row at the Midnight Mission, working with recovering addicts and the homeless population—many of whom had come through the foster care system.

He attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, where in 2023 he delivered the commencement address. He currently serves as a Commissioner & Co-Chair for the Los Angeles County Commission for Children & Families, appointed by 2nd District Board Supervisor Holly Mitchell. His dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed. He has been featured in NBC Nightly News, LA Times, and Youth Today for his work with foster youth. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama in 2016, and the Angels In Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.