Now Accepting Youth Catalyst Team & Girls Action Board Applications
YCT Info
What is the Youth Catalyst Team?
YCT members operate as paid consultants at $40/hour: providing training and coaching, developing tools and resources, and propelling national awareness efforts and systems change. Youth and young adult leaders are part of the team - focusing on creating transformative change in programs, services, and systems for youth experiencing homelessness, strengthening mentoring programs for older youth, and other initiatives as they arise. YCT members are passionate about using their lived expertise* to improve programs, services, and systems, resulting in stronger outcomes for youth and young adults.
Who We Are Looking For
In order for our team to be fully representative of the programs and systems we work with, we are looking for particularly youth and young adults who are:
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
- Young men
- Transgender and gender expansive
- From rural communities
- Born outside of the United States
- Age 18-24 at the time of application
who have lived expertise in:
- Child welfare, youth homelessness, mentoring, juvenile justice, trafficking/exploitation, prevention efforts, or mental health
About the Work
Take a look at a few of the projects YCT consultants put out this past year:
- Guide to Authentic Youth Leadership and Collaboration. YCT created a tool to guide as a template for developing and sustaining youth and young adult leadership groups.
- Spark Session at the 2022 RHY National Grantee Training: Equity, Experience, & Expertise: Bringing YYA to the Table. In this 5-minute video, Evelyn covers their first-hand experience as a YYA with lived expertise working in the field of youth homelessness and provides unique insights for transforming both your organization and the lives of the YYA you serve.
- Writing blogs and contributing to resource sharing throughout the year:
GAB Info
What is the Girls Action Board?
GAB consultants are part of the Youth Catalyst Team, operating as paid consultants at $40/hour. GAB members will focus on preventing and addressing trafficking, with a focus on culturally responsive services for Black girls. The GAB team aims to create pathways for Black girls to lead in the work that centers their healing, resilience, and professional development. Members use their knowledge, skills, and vision to assist in overseeing the preventing and addressing trafficking initiative, provide insight, co-create materials, co-facilitate webinars, and share their lived expertise* to ensure quality, culturally responsive services for Black girls.
Who We Are Looking For
In order for our team to be fully representative of the programs and systems we work with, we are looking for the following applicants:
- From a diverse representation of YYA identifying as Black girls. This includes those who may identify as Latinx or Caribbean, and members of the queer community.
- Who have a deep understanding of topics related to prevention and early intervention of sex trafficking
- Who are passionate about change, and be able to lead with that passion. We are seeking individuals with motivation, vision, and commitment!
- Age 18-24 at the time of application
About the Work
The GAB team has been busy in 2022! Check out just a few of their recent projects:
- Take Action Against Trafficking of Black Girls Video Series. In this 3-part video series, we amplify several voices from the field - direct service professionals, researchers, youth and young adults with lived expertise, and multidisciplinary providers. We cover topics based on the emerging trends and promising practices for prevention and early intervention for Black girls who are at risk of or are experiencing sex trafficking.
- Engaging Black Girls Tip Sheet. This tip sheet explores the importance of engagement with Black girls; identifies political, social, and cultural barriers; recommends considerations and practices; and offers resources for an intersectional approach to partnership with Black girls.
- Black Girl, Speak Your Mind. GAB members wrote and performed this collaborative poetry piece about the importance of centering Black girls.
- "What If ...?" Podcast Season 2. In season 2 of the podcast, the team explores the question, “What if we talked to each other regularly about human trafficking and centered community in the process?”
- Gwen’s Girls Black Girls Equity Summit 2022. GAB members presented at the summit on Trauma-Informed Partnerships With Black Girls At Risk Or Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
- Writing blogs and contributing to resource sharing throughout the year:
YCT & GAB Info Session
Did you miss our info session on January 6th?
Learn more about the Youth Catalyst Team and Girls Action Board paid consulting opportunities.
- Youth/young adults were able to talk with current and former team members and Youth Collaboratory staff to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of our work and this opportunity for 2023.
- Information was shared about the application process, details about the consultant role, and what it's like to be a member of the team.
- Watch the recorded session here.
Ready to Apply?
Apply Here. We recommend you review the application first, then set aside time to fill out your responses. You can save your progress and resume as needed.
The deadline to apply has been extended to February 10, 2023.
For questions about these opportunities, the info session, or the application, please email yct@youthcollaboratory.org.
* Lived Expertise: A strength based term that encompasses the "understanding of, and intersections with emergency shelters, safe-houses, transitional living, drop-in centers, or other programs for youth experiencing homelessness, trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation, domestic violence, foster care or juvenile justice system.” These unique experiences help youth develop and utilize skills that are specific and desired for the Youth Catalyst Team.