ABOUT YA-YA NETWORK

YA-YA Network prepares young people (ages 15-19) to become the next generation of activists in the movement for social and economic justice. Using youth organizing as a strategy for youth development and social transformation, YA-YA builds the capacity of young people to influence policy, improve institutions, and change systems that directly impact youth, their families, and the communities they live in. 

We offer a holistic program that prepares young people to take on leadership positions within YA-YA and beyond and become lifelong activists in whatever career they choose. 

YA-YAs have led and contributed to several winning campaigns. Our ongoing Education Justice campaign includes fighting for an end to the school-to-prison pipeline, police-free schools, counselors not cops, fully funded restorative justice programs and an end to the racist use and placement of metal detectors in schools. We do this work through an anti-racist, anti-sexist, class-conscious frame.

This organization is for you if you are:

• Mission and Values Aligned: All candidates should embrace YA-YA’s mission and model of building youth power. You should demonstrate a commitment to economic, racial, and social justice, respect, and willingness to learn from differing perspectives, voices, and backgrounds.

• Driven by Inclusive Engagement and Sustainable Impact: You have a keen understanding of and track record in inspiring stakeholder engagement, social change and youth leadership development. Through prior efforts you’ve led, you can demonstrate policy and systems changes that yield better outcomes for young people.

• A Vibrant and Engaging Facilitator: You can develop and run immersive programs and workshops for youth at various stages in their development as leaders and community organizers. You challenge assumptions, uplift the experiences in the room of people impacted by the systems YA-YA Network seeks to transform, and lead participants in achieving common goals.

• A Visionary and Systems Thinker: You balance being a visionary with being strategic. You have current or prior experience in community or political organizing, coalition building, program design, management and evaluation. In your previous work, you have developed innovative solutions to complex problems and galvanized support across multiple organizations, city agencies and communities.

• An Expert in Partnership Development and Management: You have experience mobilizing partners and networks to implement new ideas and innovative approaches. You can demonstrate knowledge and success in partnership development. You see youth as integral partners in your work. You have experience building or managing a team. You can align resources with priorities and goals. 

• People and Team Management: You have built or managed cross-functional teams that are values-driven, results-oriented, and collaborative. Your prior experience includes recognizing the potential of individuals and coaching them toward their personal and professional goals.

• An Effective Communicator with All Stakeholders: You can comfortably lead conversations with community members, staff, board members, funders, partners, and other key stakeholders with confidence, credibility, and high emotional intelligence (including possessing self and social awareness).

Current Open Positions here