Youth Leadership Opportunities at MYAN

• MYAN's year-long youth leadership program (dubbed MYAN Youth Leaders Alliance or MYLA by its first participants) is in its third year in 2012-2013. For complete details about the program and the next application deadline visit the MYLA page.
  
  
• MYAN's Youth Leadership Summit is a fantastic skill-building and networking opportunity for any current or aspiring youth leader, as well as the adults who support young people to lead.
  
  

For more information about youth leadership opportunities and resources at MYAN, contact our Youth Engagement Program Manager, Nicole McKenney.

Youth Leadership Opportunities Around Our Network & the World

In addition to our own youth leadership opportunities, it is our goal to promote youth leadership opportunities throughout the state and across the country. This list is a work in progress and we need your help to expand it! Contact us at myan@opportunityalliance.org if you know of an opportunity we should add.

• Summer Organizing Program Organizing for America trains summer organizers. They're looking for a new generation of organizers -- not only to help win elections but also to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country. If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that have helped to build and power this movement, and you'll be assigned to a specific community where you'll get to work organizing supporters.
  
  
• Student Membership on the Maine State Board of Education The State Board of Education (BOE) includes two student members, a junior and a senior, one from the First Congressional District and one from the Second Congressional District. Excepting the vote, student members have full privileges and responsibilities of membership. Each spring the board opens applications from current sophomores in good standing so that the successful candidate will be seated as a high school junior and will serve the Board for two years. Which congressional district the student is recruited from alternates year to year so there is always student representation from both districts. Check the BOE web page for the most updated application materials and timeline!
   
• Bezos Scholars Program at the Aspen Institute This unique scholarship engages a Student Scholar and an Educator Scholar from 12 selected public high schools from across the nation. The 2011 Bezos Scholars—12 Student Scholars and 12 Educator Scholars—will fly to Aspen, CO, and attend the Aspen Ideas Festival from June 26 – July 2, 2011. During this all-expenses-paid week, funded by the Bezos Family Foundation and hosted by the Aspen Institute, scholars will engage in seminars and informal meetings with international leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs and artists from diverse fields. It’s a journey that begins in Aspen and continues as scholars return home with inspiration, tools and resources to transform their own big ideas into Local Ideas Festivals. During the following academic year, Student and Educator Scholars will apply for $1,000 seed grants to plan and launch sustainable Local Ideas Festivals that will leave a legacy in their schools. Learn more at the Bezos Family Foundation website.
   
• Be Part of Maine's Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) Maine's 125th Legislature (which is sworn in in January) is looking for 16 youth* to be part of its Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)!
  
  What is LYAC?
  This council advises the Legislature on policy matters related to young people. One person* from each of Maine's 16 counties will be appointed to serve for 2011-2012. The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate make the appointments absed on the recommendations of the adult members of the Council.
  
  So how can you get involved?
  The adult members are recruiting interested youth until mid-December, so NOW is the perfect time to learn more! Contac the legislature who is representing your county to get more information.
  
  Interested students in Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln, and Knox Counties should contact:
  Senator David Trahan
  2084 Washington Rd.
  Waldoboro, ME 04572
  dptrahan@midcoast.com 
  
  Interested students in Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York Counties should contact:
  Senator Nancy Sullivan
  20 Westwood Dr.
  Biddeford, ME 04005
  npsullivan@gwi.net 
  
  Interested students in Cumberland, Hancock, Penobscot and Somerset Counties should contact:
  Rep. Jane Knapp
  PO Box 123
  Gorham, ME 04038
   Knappjanes09@gmail.com 
  
  Interested students in Aroostook, Oxford, Piscataquis and Washington Counties should contact:
  Rep. Terry Hayes
  PO Box 367
  Buckfield, ME 04220
   terry@megalink.net
  
  *Youth must be 15 years old and enrolled in programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or certificate of attendance or a general equivalency diploma or are enrolled in equivalent instruction programs under Title 20A, chaper 211, subchapter 1A.
  
  
• WatchMECreate Since 2002 when the Maine Technology Learning Initiative launched (you know--that whole revolutionary laptops in schools thing?), Maine students have been creating videos, blogs, podcasts and more.Now there's a newwebsite through which Maine youth can show off the amazing skills they've been gaining and take on cool real-life challenges. Find the current challenge, and what prizes are at stake, at WatchMECreate.
   
• Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) Teen Council Share your insights on teen life, PPNNE programs and PPNNE services in the Teen Council!  While serving on the council, teens will act as our advisors and discuss the following topics in an open-discussion format.  Also receive a $20 stipend for each meeting.
   
• Global Leadership Adventures Join other globally-minded students on meaningful and exciting teen study abroad programs.  Sound interesting? We have information for people of all ages and qualifications interested in our teen community service and learning programs.
   
• Global Youth Service Day Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning.  The largest service event in the world, GYSD is now celebrated in over 100 countries. On GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.
   
• Seeking Youth Leaders Interested in the Environment Maine DEP is seeking Youth Leaders interested in doing community service project to reduce the impacts of climate change such as Clean Air Zone no-idling projects and Maine Green School Energy Efficiency project or Home Energy Efficiency projects. Please contact Deb Avalone-King FMI about specific communities seeking help or starting your own project.  (287-7028 or email)  Current local community partners seeking help with Clean Air Zone projects include Kennebunk, Yarmouth, Bangor, Portland, Deer Isle.  (Some of these include paid internship opportunities for college students.) Current communities seeking help with school and/or home energy projects include Waterville, Lewiston, Portland and more.... Check out their student projects website that gives a rundown on some of the projects that Maine youth have been doing in Maine.
   
• Youth Empowerment and Policy Project Now Hiring!  YEPP provides a statewide youth perspective while working with communities to gather information on the effect that alcohol has on youth and disseminates that information to our communities, state and nation. YEPP is now looking to hire new youth members to join the group! Check out their recruiting posterfor more details and contact information.
   
• Be a Congressional Page Youth who are 16 yrs to 18 years old and have a 3.0 GPA can apply to serve in Washington, DC as a page. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have Page Programs.
   
• Be a White House Intern Youth who are at least 18 and have either enrolled in a college or are currently attending college can apply to be a White House Intern for the Obama Administration.  The honor of serving as a page during the Obama administration will be an invaluable experience.  Find out more at the White House website.
   
• Inspiring Change Through Art... Do you want to change the world with your art or writing? JJ Express Magazine is a non-profit children's magazine started by youth that uses comics to teach kids about social issues. Their comics address everything from environmentalism to poverty in a fun and engaging way. They're always looking for artists to draw contribute to these comics and writers to come up with storylines as well as artists and writers for supplementary articles in the magazine. Even if you have never illustrated or written a comic - don't worry - they can walk you through the process. All that's needed is a willingness to learn and experience creating for children. If you are interested, please send 3 samples of your work to editor@jjexpressmagazine.org or 7784 Mayflower Hill, Waterville ME 04901. They accept work from all ages and backgrounds. Check out more information at http://www.jjexpressmagazine.org/  Create. Inspire. Change.
   
• United Nations Youth Delegates Participation in decision-making is one of the key priority areas of the UN's agenda on youth. One form of youth participation at the United Nations has been through the inclusion of youth delegates in a country's official delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and various functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council. The role of a youth representative varies from country to country. One focus of a youth delegate’s work is in the Third Committee, the part of the General Assembly that deliberates on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Issues. In past instances, youth delegates have delivered statements on issues of concern to young people in the Third Committee, and have also taken part in the drafting of various youth resolutions. Learn more about being a youth delegate to the UN.