Youth Advocate Program Overview

Now in its 11th year, the Youth Advocate Program brings high school students to Washington, D.C. to advocate for YMCA priorities alongside their local Y leaders during National Advocacy Days. This four-month advocacy training program gives students the opportunity to elevate their voice on issues important to the Y and provides students with practical, real-world experience advocating with Members of Congress and their offices in Washington, D.C. 

During the Youth Advocate Program, students will: 

• Learn about the Y’s federal policy priorities and their importance to your community 
• Connect with peers from across the country interested in making positive change 
• Collaborate with local Ys and state alliances to craft an advocacy plan 
• Learn how to effectively tell your YMCA story to policymakers 
• Meet with Congressional offices in Washington, D.C. to advance YMCA priorities 
• Learn strategies to continue advocating for positive change in your community and state

Youth Advocate Application Process

Applications for the Youth Advocate Program open at the start of each school year. Approximately 50 high school students (up to 2 students per state) will be selected to serve as 2025 Youth Advocates. Past Youth Advocate participants are NOT eligible to apply.

Youth Advocate Program Application is now closed.

Interested students must review the following criteria before applying:

• Must be available to join in-person meetings from March 2-5
• Must be available to join virtual webinars on Sundays from 4:00-5:00pm ET on 11/17, 12/15, 1/26, and 2/23. 
• Must be a current YMCA member or program participant
• Must be mature, motivated, and comfortable sharing their Y stories
• Must be interested in serving as advocates and leaders in their community
• Must be passionate about representing the Y on a national level
• Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be given preference.
• Y-USA is looking for student representation that reflects all dimensions of diversity.

Want to learn more? Review our FAQ for students and parents!

Program Fees & Transportation

YMCA of the USA has received philanthropic support for this program to cover:

• Registration for National Advocacy Days
• Meals (except while traveling to/from DC)
• Hotel accommodations (3 hotel nights)
• Travel to/from Washington, DC

Youth Advocates will receive instructions for making their travel arrangements once registration opens for National Advocacy Days. Hotel reservations for all Youth Advocates and staff chaperones will be made by Y-USA.

Trainings & Assignments

To ensure that all Youth Advocates are as prepared as possible for their role at National Advocacy Days, all participants are required to attend four virtual training sessions, all of which take place on Sundays from 4:00-5:00pm ET (recordings will be emailed to Youth Advocates after each session is complete). Trainings will cover topics related to the YMCA’s mission and history, state & federal advocacy efforts, Y-USA Legislative Priorities, and logistics for National Advocacy Days.

As part of their training, Youth Advocates also complete a series of assignments.

1. Community Profile
Designed to help Youth Advocates learn as much as possible about their local community and YMCA, including a visit (virtual or in-person) and interview with the branch executive or program director. A PDF of the assignment is below. Please click here to submit your assignment.

2. Peer Interview
Youth Advocates will be paired to interview each other about their Community Profiles, helping them understand the breadth and depth of YMCA programs and services nationally, and how Ys in other states may differ or be similar. Note: Both partners will need to have submitted their Community Profiles before they complete their interview.

3. Advocacy Plan
Completed in collaboration with their State YMCA Alliances, this plan brings together everything Youth Advocates will need to be successful during their Hill Meetings at Advocacy Days, including their Y story, their selected legislative priority, list and schedule of requested/confirmed meetings, and a meeting outline/agenda.

Program Chaperones

Youth Advocate Program Chaperone Application is now closed.

Y-USA invites full-time YMCA staff, specifically youth development professionals, to apply to serve as a staff chaperone for the 2025 Youth Advocate Program at National Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C.

Serving as a staff chaperone is a full-time commitment, from the moment of arrival until departure. Staff chaperones will have access to all National Advocacy Days content, materials and sessions, and will participate in all Youth Advocate Programming.

Y-USA will cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for all chaperones.

Please review the chaperone requirements below before applying:

• Chaperones must be full-time YMCA staff
• Chaperones must make the safety and well-being of the Youth Advocates in our care the top priority. Chaperones will be required to sign YMCA of the USA’s Child Abuse Prevention Policies and Code of Conduct, and complete two free online Praesidium trainings on child abuse prevention and mandatory reporting. Y-USA will also verify that chaperones have had a Y-USA approved background check conducted within the past two years.
• Chaperones must have YMCA experience working with high school students.
• Chaperones must be committed to youth as changemakers and creating opportunities for young people to elevate their voices. Chaperones must be able to create an environment that enables youth to lead and empower their peers to engage.
• Chaperones must be familiar with advocacy and the role it plays in strengthening community.
• Chaperones must maintain the Y’s position as a non-partisan organization while facilitating Youth Advocate programming.
• Chaperone must arrive on Sunday, March 2 by 1pm ET and depart on Wednesday, March 5 no earlier than 5pm ET. Accommodations can be made if traveling from the West Coast to DC.