Young Advocates Program

Overview

Youth Invincibles is building a movement. We are looking for young adults who are ready and excited to become the next generation of community leaders. This unique, hands-on program trains young people to engage in their communities around the major issues shaping our generation.

The Young Advocates Program is a leadership development initiative of Young Invincibles (YI)—a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to amplify the voices of young adults in the political process and expand economic opportunity for our generation. YI cultivates and empowers young, courageous leaders who are driving transformative policy change to make higher education more affordable, expand healthcare access, and secure quality jobs.

Young Advocates work alongside our regional offices in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas to strengthen youth voices across these issue areas. The program is an excellent opportunity for young adults ages 18 to 34 to develop advocacy and leadership skills, gain hands-on experience in public policy, and build connections with peers and mentors. Our Advocates are passionate about YI’s mission and committed to building youth power to create positive change in their communities.

The Young Advocates Program is open to young adults ages 18–34 living in or attending school in one of our regional states:
California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, or Texas.

Applicants must:

• Be available and committed to the entirety of the program.
• Align with YI’s mission, vision, and values.
• Demonstrate passion or interest in higher education, healthcare, and workforce issues.
• Be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Exhibit professionalism, maturity, and initiative.
• Be creative, flexible, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Have access to a laptop and WiFi to participate in virtual sessions.

A college degree or current enrollment is not required.

At weekly meetings, Advocates will receive training on community organizing, policy advocacy, strategic communications, and Young Invincibles’ key issue areas. Throughout the program, activities include but are not limited to meeting with elected officials during Day at the Capitol, creating digital content for advocacy campaigns, and conducting community outreach. Some activities, such as outreach and content creation, may take place outside of regular training hours.

Advocates meet weekly for virtual sessions, with occasional extended sessions for special workshops. In addition to these sessions, participants attend in-person events, one-on-one meetings with staff, and skill-building assignments between sessions. In-person attendance is required on Fridays.

This program is designed as a cohort experience where everyone’s participation matters. Consistent attendance and engagement are required. Because spaces are limited and participants are paid, please only apply if you can commit to attending all sessions and completing program activities through May 8, 2026.

Program Dates:
February 13 – May 8, 2026

• California:
  Fridays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm PT (virtual)
• Colorado:
  Fridays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm MT (virtual)
• Illinois:
  Fridays, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CT (virtual)
• New York:
  Fridays, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET (virtual)
• Texas:
  Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:30 pm CT and Fridays, 12:00 – 2:30 pm CT (virtual; in-person meetings held on the last Friday of each month)

Advocates are paid hourly for training and project work, averaging 6–10 hours per week.

• California: $17.87
• Colorado: $19.29
• Illinois: $16.60
• New York: $17.00
• Texas: $15.00

Young Invincibles (“YI”) is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization working to expand economic opportunity for young people ages 18 to 34 and to…