Volunteer with the Youth Leadership Initiative

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InIt, our Youth Leadership Initiative, is a selective, ten-month teen development program that teaches leadership skills and ignites a passion in high school students to create socially responsible communities. Integral to the success of the program are our InIt volunteers, individuals committed to supporting the development of youth leaders. Many volunteers are past InIt delegates or Anytown attendee

We have two different volunteer roles, based on your level of experience. Both roles involve connecting with and mentoring students, assisting with group activities and discussions, and participating in all program activities.

Advisor

If you are an experienced professional, educator, or youth worker, the Advisor role could be a fit for you. Advisors take on the following types of activities:

• Facilitating workshops on class, race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, and disabilities
• Planning and co-facilitating discussion groups
• Leading large group activities
• Mentoring individual students

Junior Advisor

If you are a high school graduate, college student, or recent graduate with an awareness of social justice issues and some facilitation experience, the Junior Advisor role could be a fit for you. Junior Advisors take on the following types of activities:

• Co-facilitating discussion groups
• Mentoring individual students
• Coordinating and supervising students’ unscheduled free time

What is the time commitment?

We ask our InIt volunteers to first complete 20 hours of training. After you are trained, you will help staff Immersion Week, the overnight training week that kicks off the program before the school year begins. For the 2016 Immersion Week, we ask that you be present from the morning of Sunday, July 10 through the afternoon of Friday, July 15, including staying overnight in the dormitories. After Immersion Week, you will continue to help out at the monthly Saturday Program Days from September through May.

2016-2017 Volunteer Schedule 2016

• June 9, 6 - 9 pm: Training Session #1 (mandatory)
• June 11, 10 am - 6 pm: Training Session #2 (mandatory)
• June 25, 10 am - 3 pm: Training Session #3 (mandatory)
• July 10, 9 am - July 15, 6 pm: Immersion Week (mandatory)
• September 17, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• October 15, 9 am -5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• November 19, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• December 17, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day

2017

• January 21, 9 am - 1 pm: Monthly Program Day; 1 pm - 8:30 pm Social Justice Arts Slam
• February 25, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• March 18, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• April 15, 9 am - 5 pm: Monthly Program Day
• May 11, 3 pm - 8 pm: Graduation

Will I receive compensation?

We are able to provide a modest stipend to volunteers to compensate them for their time during Immersion Week. Advisors will receive a stipend of $400, and Junior Advisors will receive a stipend of $200. Food, lodging and transportation during Immersion Week and lunch on Monthly Program Days will also be provided.

How do I apply?

All interested candidates, including returning volunteers, must submit a completed application.

You can apply in one of two ways:

• Complete an online application at ywboston.org/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-with-init/
• Download a PDF of the application and submit it via mail to Emily Conwell, YW Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Suite 403, Boston, MA 02116, or via email to econwell@ywboston.org, or via fax to Emily Conwell, 617-585-5499.

We will accept applications on a rolling basis. For priority consideration, please submit all parts of the application by April 10, 2016 at midnight. New applicants will be invited for an interview starting in April. Final decisions will be made by the end of May.