When people feel empowered they participate. When they can see the impact they’re making they come back for more.

Youth Leadership ACADEMY

—Mayor Bill DeBlasioOn the need for youth civic engagement in NYC

Coro is New York City’s premier civic leadership training organization and a community of more than 2,500 alumni in business, government, nonprofit and schools who are shaping the future of our city.

For over 30 years, Coro New York Leadership Center has used the city as its classroom, teaching students, executives, activists, and entrepreneurs how New York City works so they can make it better. With the belief that young people are valuable contributors to civic life, Coro youth programs aim to elevate youth voice and establish meaningful partnerships that engage youth as active participants in policy and decision-making processes that impact their lives.

In partnership with the New York City Department of Education (DOE), Coro’s Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) for Borough Student Advisory Councils (BSACs) builds the leadership skills and capacity of young New Yorkers to weigh in on policies that impact their daily lives as public school students.

WHO IS YLA?

WHY IS THE YLA UNIQUE?This program offers youth intensive training and hands-on experience co-leading BSACs with DOE adult leadership. Together, through authentic youth-adult partnerships, they plan and facilitate BSAC meetings that empower youth in each borough to advocate for school, community and system change. When adult decision-makers invite young people to the table and genuinely seek their feedback, the collaboration results in the opportunity for change to occur.

THE NETWORKThe YLA brings together a network of civic-minded students of diverse backgrounds committed to lifting up youth voice and leading change. Upon graduation from the YLA, they join an accomplished commu-nity of Coro alumni from all industries and sectors who are dedicated to supporting one another and improving the City so that it is a better place to live, work, and learn.

THE KNOWLEDGEParticipants gain direct experience working with adult partners in the DOE to lead change. They learn about critical policies and practices that influence students city-wide and become engaged in the tough conversations most related to school culture, safety, relationships, and creating supportive learning environments in NYC schools. Serving as ambassadors and liaisons for their school-based peers, YPFs also listen to and amplify the voices of students who may otherwise not be heard.

THE SKILLSParticipants will gain a deeper understand-ing of education policy, the skills to engage their peers and other community members in decision-making processes, and the oppor-tunity to make a real and lasting impact in the school system. Participants will earn a stipend for successful completion of the program schedule requirements.

A cohort of 28 high school students (four per BSAC) is selected to participate. We aim to select a pool that reflects the demographic diversity of New York City and the participating boroughs.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS• Entering 10th–12th grade in the coming

school year

• Is a returning BSAC member and/or committed to ongoing BSAC involvement.

• Recommended by school staff/and or Climate Managers in charge of their respective BSAC.

• Demonstrated interest or curiosity in education policy and civic engagement.

• Ability to commit to a rigorous program schedule: › Two-week Summer Institute

(July 16th—July 27th) › Six Training Days held on Saturdays or

non-instructional days during school year.

• Help facilitate one BSAC city-wide event.

• A Minimum of 6 hours of service per month for BSAC related work.

APPLICATIONProgram fees are waived due to the generous support of our funders. For more information and to apply, visit coro.nyc. Application deadline is Sunday May 13, 2018.

my YLA EXPERIENCE

I think the most valuable thing is that adults and young people get to talk to each other and listen in a way that diminishes the hierarchy and power dynamic typically between young people and school staff... It’s the structure to promote community and listening that is powerful

— Ari Sussman, BSAC FACILITATOR &

CORO ALUM (Fellows 2005)

You’re not born to lead, you’re trained to lead, ant that’s what the YLA does. It allows you to start within and impact the world.

—Yazmin Abdullah YLA PARTICIPANT 2017–2018

Business of Sports School

Coro means being immersed in a welcoming community that creates platforms for strong leaders to voice their truths and grow. The YLA has opened doors to opportunities that have helped me reach my full potential.

—Kay Galarza YLA PARTICIPANT 2017-2018

Baruch College Campus High School

—Meredith McDermottDIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY

NYC Department of Education

42 BROADWAY, SUITE 2001, NEW YORK, NY 10004212.248.2935 | coro.nyc

KEY PROGRAM FEATURESLEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Over the course of the program, partici-pants receive intensive leadership training, an introduction to policy and NYC DOE decision making processes, as well as skills-building in public speaking, facilitation, inquiry, data gathering, and other change making strategies. INTERNSHIP Participants will contribute a minimum of six hours of service per month working with their Adult Partners, gaining hands-on experience planning and facilitating BSAC

meetings and fostering change through conducting outreach, surveying peers, seeking feedback, elevating ideas and championing youth voice to influence change at the borough level. YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIPS YLA youth will receive guidance and coaching from Coro adult staff while partnering with Climate Managers and other Borough Field Support Center staff who will support their learning, leadership development, and professional growth throughout the program.

YLA is a partnership with: Support has also been provided by:

YLA SPONSORS

The Pinkerton Foundation

My office has been working with YLA students to activate student voice in our school outreach strategy for sustain-ability. Our discussions with them have generated innova-tive, viable ideas that will help strengthen school-based collaboration between students and adult partners. We are excited to share with teachers and administrators the ideas shared at BSACs that we will implement next year!

—Janet Vasquez Director of Guidance

Services & Post-Secondary Planning 9-12, Bronx Field

Support Center

Student voice is the impetus for change. They have great ideas so we need to listen and help them operation-alize their ideas.