Youth Catalyst Team
A national initiative for young leaders, ages 18-24, who use their knowledge, skills, vision, and personal understanding of systems/services to advance the youth services field.
Youth Catalyst Team (YCT) members operate as paid consultants: 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 - working in authentic partnership with Youth Collaboratory to reimagine possibilities for each youth, family, agency, and the larger youth services field.
About Us
What is the Youth Catalyst Team (YCT)?
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 expertise to improve programs, services, and systems, resulting in stronger outcomes for youth and young adults.
What is the Girls Action Board (GAB)?
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 expertise to ensure quality, culturally responsive services for Black girls.
Join YCT/GAB
YCT Info
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 expertise in:
- Child welfare, youth homelessness, mentoring, juvenile justice, trafficking/exploitation, prevention efforts, substance use, or mental health
About the Work
Take a look at a few of the projects YCT consultants put out this past year:
- Resource Development
- Webinars
- Writing blogs and resource sharing:
GAB Info
Who We Are Looking For
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. We specifically encourage applications from Afro/Black girls or queer or non-binary identifying YYA. This work centers on the experience of Afro/Black girls or queer and non-binary YYA, including those who identify as continental and non-continental African, Afro- Latinx, or Afro-Caribbean. Our commitment is to create a team that reflects the multiplicity of Black experiences and fosters an inclusive environment for all.
- 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 2023! 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?”
Details about upcoming Information Sessions and application information are coming soon! Join our mailing list (check "receive updates for Youth and Young Adults") to stay updated on this opportunity.
Meet Our Members
Each YCT member brings unique skills, expertise, and energy to the team, and to Youth Collaboratory as a whole. Meet the Current Members of the YCT Team.
Guide to Authentic Youth Leadership and Collaboration
The Youth Catalyst Team created a tool to share some of their best practices! This guide is for youth and young adult leaders, catalysts, and advocates - as well as the adult collaborators that support their work. You can use this guide as a template for developing and sustaining youth and young adult leadership groups. Download the guide.
Girls Action Board Poem: Black Girl, Speak Your Mind
The Girls Action Board (GAB) aims to create pathways for Black girls to lead in the work that centers their healing, resilience, and professional development. GAB members wrote and performed this collaborative poetry piece about the importance of centering Black girls.
COVID-19 Response
The Youth Catalyst Team engaged in a critical discussion of what they're hearing in their communities and tips for staying safe during COVID-19. Click here to listen to what they had to say.
Learn More
For more information about the Youth Catalyst Team, or to request training, consultation, brainstorming, coaching, or other project partnership, email us at yct@youthcollaboratory.org.
