Young Advocate Program - Chicago, Illinois

Young Invincibles is building a movement! We are looking for young adults ready and excited to become the next generation of community leaders. This program is a unique hands-on leadership development program aimed to train young people to engage in their community around major issues that impact our generations. 

The Young Advocates Program is a leadership development program 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 focuses on cultivating and empowering young and courageous leaders who are advancing economic justice, changing the narratives that perpetuate systemic inequity, and championing transformative policy change to make higher education more affordable, expand healthcare access, and secure quality jobs. 

Young Advocates work with our regional offices in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas to strengthen the voices of young people across our issue areas. The program is an excellent opportunity for young adults ages 18 to 34 to develop skills, gain experience in the core functions of advocacy and public policy work, and build their overall professional skills. Our Young Advocates are passionate about YI’s mission and are interested in building power among young adults to effect positive change in their communities.

ELIGIBILITY 

• The Young Advocates Program is open to young adults ages 18-34 living or attending school in our regional offices in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas.
• Availability and commitment to the entirety of the program
• Must be aligned with YI’s vision and values
• Must show strong passion and/or interest in Higher Education, Healthcare, and Workforce topics and issue areas 
• Must show willingness and ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Must have the ability to work in a professional environment and show maturity in the workplace
• Must be creative, have initiative, and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• As our program is in-person and virtual, access to a laptop and WiFi will be necessary to participate.
• A college degree or current college enrollment is NOT required.

• Applicants of historically marginalized and minoritized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

At the weekly meetings, Advocates will receive training on community organizing, policy advocacy, strategic communications skills, as well as our key issue areas. In addition, each participant will be asked to do activities such as conduct policy research, conduct surveys and/or focus groups and quantify results, participate in legislative meetings, advocate for policy changes, plan events and tactics, and produce an individual or team digital product such as a blog post, graphic quote, or video. These activities will be completed outside the weekly training hours.

TIME COMMITMENT

Young Advocates will come together weekly for virtual sessions, with occasional extended sessions for special workshops. In addition to regular virtual sessions, Young Advocate members will have to attend special events in person, attend one-on-one meetings with program staff virtually, and have skill-building assignments to complete between sessions that may be either in person or virtual. 

Program Start Date: February 07, 2025

Program End Date: May 02, 2025

Schedule:

New York 

• Friday 12 pm-4 pm ET (virtually) 

Illinois 

• Friday 11 am - 3 pm CT  (virtually) 

Texas

• Tuesday  4-6:30 pm CT  (virtually) 
• Friday from 12-2:30 pm CT  (virtually) 

Colorado 

• Fridays 9:00-1:00 pm MT (virtually) 

California 

• Tuesday 4-6 pm PT  (virtually) 
• Friday 10-noon PT  (virtually) 

Compensation 

Advocates will be paid per hour for training and work on projects throughout the program, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 hours per week depending on region.

Application process:

1. You must be available to attend Advocates Orientation and Graduation on February 07 and May 02, 2025, in person.
2. Attend an in-person event during the program (i.e. Advocacy Day, Orientation, Graduation, Monthly Engagement Events, etc.)
3. You must be available to attend weekly virtual training with your camera on. No exceptions.
4. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, with all applicants notified of their application status by January 10, 2025.

ABOUT YOUNG INVINCIBLES

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 amplify their voices in the national political conversation and policy arena. Founded by and for young adults in the summer of 2009 during the debate over health care reform, YI has quickly grown into a leading voice for young people on the issues of healthcare, higher education, pathways to jobs/workforce, and civic engagement.

YI offers a competitive and equitable salary based on our organizational values and established compensation philosophy. As an indicator of our values, YI practices salary transparency by posting salary ranges on all job descriptions and postings. YI also provides a comprehensive benefits packageo including medical, dental, & vision coverage, company-funded HRA plan; 401K retirement, life insurance, generous vacation, monthly paid Mental Health Mondays or Summer Fridays (dates determined by YI), access to the Employee Assistance Program, and access to a variety of professional development opportunities.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

YI is an equal employment opportunity employer and strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply. YI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, (including transgender status), weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency, where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law.