Youth Advocacy

RYSE is committed to fostering the capacities and role of youth as strong, powerful and responsible leaders serving their communities. Through holding decision making power, expressing their voice, developing critical thinking and analysis, young people will become prepared to govern and play leadership roles in their own lives and communities. RYSE aims to develop a cadre of youth leaders engaged as key stakeholders and decision-makers in their lives, communities and beyond. The RYSE Youth Center offers young people the space and opportunity to participate in a diverse and dynamic series of leadership and advocacy programs, activities and events that support meaningful interactions with peers, diverse peer communities and community members.  

The RYSE Leadership Team (RLT) serves as the youth leadership team for the Center and the primary leadership program at RYSE.  The RLT reflects the racial, cultural, gender, sexual orientation and religious diversity of the community and is responsible for: (1) collecting input and feedback from RYSE participates on the operations and programs of the Center; (2) developing and implementing advocacy campaigns on issues and priorities identified by the RYSE membership; (3) serving as ambassadors for the Center; (4) promoting the Center’s mission and philosophy to the membership and the broader community; and (5) serving on the Board of Trustees with full decision-making powers.  In addition to the RLT, additional leadership programs include the Digital Justice Team, who is responsible for researching and generating content for the Virtual Youth Center; and the soon to be launched Media Arts Team, a crew of RYSE members that plans and implements performances, events, and activities, and creates socially conscious and youth-relevant media tools.