Apply to be a DemocracyReady NY Youth Cohort Member!
Are you a high school or early college student from NY state? Join us this semester as a DemocracyReady NY Coalition Youth member!
Applications now open: https://forms.gle/PZY8FPAsbajFmsvPA
Preference given to applications received by Sept. 22ndYouth Members will…
advocate for NY students’ right to be prepared for civic participation and the school issues they care about
engage in student-led research & inquiry
work alongside a statewide, nonpartisan, intergenerational coalition of organizations & individuals!
advocate for NY students’ right to be prepared for civic participation and the school issues they care aboutengage in student-led research & inquirywork alongside a statewide, nonpartisan, intergenerational coalition of organizations & individuals!
DemocracyReady NY is a statewide, nonpartisan, intergenerational coalition of organizations and individuals committed to preparing all students for civic participation. The DemocracyReady NY Coalition values youth leadership and participation across all areas of advocacy. To that end, our youth engagement program is designed to support and amplify the voices of young people from urban, rural, and suburban districts across New York State as they engage in student-led inquiry and advocacy, and as they work alongside coalition members to advocate for New York students’ right to be prepared for civic participation.
We invite high school and early college students to join the coalition as “youth members.” They will join 1-2 multigenerational committees and contribute to research, advocacy, and event planning as needed. They will attend weekly virtual check-ins, monthly committee meetings, and bimonthly general meetings. While the majority of activities will be held via Zoom to accommodate students across the state, we expect to plan 1-2 in-person events for the year in New York City at Teachers College, Columbia University, and/or in Albany.
What Do DemocracyReady NY Youth Ambassadors Do? See the spring 2023 cohort of youth ambassadors host a youth-led event for New York Civic Learning Week 2023.
Youth members will commit approximately 3-5 hours each month and receive a stipend of $300 for each semester of the 2023-24 school year. Members will receive the stipend at the end of the fall and spring semester based on their satisfactory participation. Requirements for satisfactory participation in the program will include:
- regular meeting attendance,
- participation in projects outside of meetings (e.g., following up on action items),
- the completion of a short reflection paper or creative project at the end of the semester.
High school students’ contributions may also be eligible for credit toward the award of the Seal of Civic Readiness, if their schools are participating.
