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Youth Advocacy and Leadership

Action Without Borders/ Idealist Kids & Teens
www.idealist.org/kt

The goal of Idealist Kids and Teens, Actions Without Borders’ youth site, is to introduce young people to the nonprofit sector and provide them with the resources they need to start working on issues of importance to them.  Idealist Kids and Teens helps to encourage schools and their students to identify and address the issues that concern them and then provides outlets for action.

Active Element Foundation
www.activelement.org

The Active Element Foundation is a non-profit organization that builds relationships between grassroots youth organizers, donors, professionals and artists through grant making, technical assistance and youth culture.  It believes firmly that the active involvement of young people is critical to altering present power relationships, and exists to help build the infrastructure that will sustain such involvement.  AEF’s support builds the institutional capacity that will enhance the effectiveness of politically active young people.

Activism 2000 Project
www.youthactivism.com

Based in the Washington, DC metro area and reaching a national scope, The Activism 2000 Project contacts and responds to the news media to promote greater coverage of young activists.  It also emphasized the importance of traditional as well as unconventional publicity and media advocacy strategies in order to mobilize public support and gain the attention of politicians and other decision-makers.

Center for Youth as Resources
www.cyar.org

The Center for Youth as Resources (CYAR) is based in Washington, DC and has a training office in Indianapolis, IN.  It serves as an umbrella organization linking together the Youth As Resources Network.  CYAR’s Mission is to connect youth to their communities in positive ways and to improve community life nationally and internationally through youth-led initiates.

Do Something
www.dosomething.org

Do Something is a nationwide network of young people who know they can make a difference in their communities and take action to change the world around them.  As part of Do Something, young people are asked what they want to do to make things better in their communities and are then given the resources and support to bring their unique vision to life.

The Freechild Project
www.freechild.org

The Freechild Project offers several programs and projects that honor student’s voices, ideas and action and that support youth in activist work.  By empowering young people to lead projects devoted to significant social change, The Freechild Project serves as a catalyst for lifelong civic engagement, beginning when young people are developing their personal awareness of their broader community. 

Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing
www.fcyo.org

The Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing is a collective of national, regional and local foundations and youth organizing practitioners dedicated to advancing youth leadership in organizing as a strategy for promoting youth development and effective social change.

Global Action Project, Inc.
www.global-action.org

Global Action Project, Inc.  (G.A.P.) is a media arts organization that provides training in video production and new media technologies for youth both locally and internationally.  G.A.P. promotes the inclusion of diverse youth voices on critical issues through public forums in which young people use media as a springboard for dialogue and action.

The Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development
www.theinnovationcenter.org

The mission of the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development is to unleash the potential of individuals, organizations and communities and to engage them together in creating a just and equitable society.  The Innovation Center recognized that communities-and their young people-already have knowledge, skills, and practices that are effective and valuable.

International Youth Hall of Fame
www.youthhall.org

The International Youth Hall of Fame helps communities come together to recognize, celebrate, encourage, document and publicize the positive efforts of youth who are making a difference at home, in school, and in the community.

Leaders Today
www.leaderstoday.com

Leaders Today is dedicated to helping young people realize their fullest potential through leadership education and development using innovative, youth inspired curriculum.  Leaders Today was founded by two brothers and young activists who shared a common vision of empowering other youth to become socially involved in their communities and the world.

LISTEN, Inc.
www.lisn.org

The mission of LISTEN is to develop youth leadership and strengthen the social capital of urban youth ages 14-29 for civic engagement and community problem solving.  While many organizations that work with urban youth seek to simply serve young people, LISTEN instead works to organize and empower young people in pursuit of social change.

Mock Election.Com, Inc.
www.mockelection.com

Mock Election provides student and educators with opportunities and the technology to create actual online elections in which they can vote on issues, simulate political elections, develop school-wide elections and learn about polling, voting, democracy and the election process through personalized, interactive experiences.

4-H USA
www.4husa.org

Since its inception in the early 1900’s, the goal of 4-H has been to help youth develop as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens in their communities.  In 2001, over half a million 4’H youth were involved in Citizenship and Civic Education Programs.  May of 4-H’s citizenry programs have been recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as Programs of Excellence.

National Youth Leadership Council
www.nylc.org

The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has been a pioneer in youth leadership initiatives since it began in 1983.  NYLC was the first organization to champion a meaningful new vision of learning that addresses a dual purpose:  education America’s K-12 and young adult students through thoughtful and practical service, while at the same time benefiting the communities in which those young people live.

Peace Child International
www.peacechild.org

A UK-registered nonprofit established in April 1982, Peach Child International empowers youth to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment through education, leadership development and direct participation in the events that shape our world community.  It does thigh through producing publications, musicals, conferences and encouraging its affiliate youth groups throughout the world.

Recognizing Youth As Resources for the Twenty-First Century
www.ryar.org

The vision of Recognizing Youth As Resources for the Twenty-First Century is that every youth will receive opportunities to productively participate in community life.  Its mission is to provide a funding base across the nation to build positive bridges between youth and their environments.

Rock the Vote
www.rockthevote.org

Rock the Vote is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and empowering young people to change their world.  Rock the vote is the leading nonpartisan youth empowerment organization, providing access to the political process and inspiring young people to take action.  Voter registration, education on political and social issues and opportunities for effective and meaningful civic participation are the ways which Rock the Vote engages young people.

The Ruckus Society
www.ruckus.org

The Ruckus Society provides young environmental, social justice and human rights organizers with the tools, training, and support needed to achieve their goals.  Working with a broad range of communities, organizations, and movements- from high school students to nonprofit organizations-Ruckus facilitates the sharing of information and expertise that strengthens the capacity to change our relationship with the environment and each other.

SHiNE:  Seeking Harmony In Neighborhoods Everyday
www.shine.com

SHiNE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) works to improve teen’s lives by providing an array of programs and opportunities that build self-esteem, foster nonviolence and respect for diversity, and promote youth leadership.  SHiNE specializes in inspiring teens to become actively involved with issues that they care about and offering relevant opportunities to do so.

Taking It Global
www.takingitglobal.org

Taking It Global (TIG) is about encouraging young people to believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference in their world.  It is a global, nonprofit initiative which creates environments, both virtual and physical, where young people are exposed to new thinking, a diversity of voices, and new opportunities.

Third Wave Foundation
www.thirdwavefoundation.org

The Third Wave Foundation strives to combat inequalities faced by young activist as a results of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status or level of education.  In efforts to empower young women to lead movements for equality, Third Wave is providing resources and is building a lasting foundation for social activism around the country.

What Kids Can Do, Inc.
www.whatkidscando.org

What Kids Can Do is a national nonprofit which was founded by an education and journalist who felt an urgent need to promote perceptions of young people as valued resources, not problems, and to direct more public attention to challenging learning that inspires their best work.  What Kids Can Do also responds to a need to bring youth voices to adult debates about public education.

YMCA of the USA-Teen Programs
www.ymca.net

The YMCA is an international movement now present in most communities around the country, as well as the world. The YMCA builds communities of people of all ages, faiths, races, abilities and incomes. 

Youth Action Net
www.youthactionnet.org

Youth Action Net facilitates the mobilization and impact of young people by seeking to connect, inspire and nurture present and future young leaders.  The aim of Youth Action Net is to provide a virtual space where young people can share lessons, stories, information and advice on how to lead effective change.

Youth In Action Campaign
www.youthlink.org

The Youth In Action Campaign is a national initiative which was created by the Foundation of American to improve citizenship, service, democratic participation, and civic responsibility in future generations.  The Youth In Action Campaign serves as an umbrella to provide programs, recognition, and incentives for youth initiated activities that are improving both local and national communities.

Youth on Board
www.youthonboard.org

Youth on Board helps young people and adults think differently about each other so that they can work together to change their communities.  Youth on Board doesn’t just build skills; it works to build mutually respectful relationships between young people and adults that allow youth to move from the margins of their communities to the center.

Youth Venture
www.youthventure.org

Youth Venture empowers young people to create and launch their own social enterprises, and to take greater responsibility for their lives and for creating change in their communities.  The projects sponsored by Youth Venture are as diverse as the needs, ranging from after-school tutoring services to teen-led virtual radio stations, video festivals, and youth diabetes support groups.

YouthNOISE
www.youthNOISE.com

YouthNOISE, an initiative of Save the Children, is a Web-based resource designed to engage teens in social issues on their terms, in their words, and utilizing their preferred media.  Our mission is to inspire teens to learn about issues affecting their generation, to connect them with a community of other young people, and to empower them to take action and create positive change in the lives of young people everywhere.

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