Latina Initiative Youth Action & Advisory Council (YAAC) is designed to engage junior and senior high school students in Colorado that have a drive to create change in the Latina/o community. These students have a deep commitment to the idea that young people have the power to bring about critical changes in our communities.
The Youth Action & Advisory Council (YAAC) is a leadership opportunity for young women to utilize and further develop their leadership skills while being civically engaged in their communities.
What are the responsibilities a YAAC member?
- Support the Latina Initiative’s mission to cultivate, support and maintain the civic involvement of Latinas and their families in Colorado.
- Commit to serve on the YAAC for one year.
- Attend monthly YAAC meetings. The meetings will be scheduled in advance so that members can make arrangements for attendance.
- Actively assist and advise the organization in the areas of youth program development and outreach.
- Be available and eager to represent the organization in various settings.
- Complete the necessary requirements to obtain a certificate of completion in one of the Issue Education Academies.
How will YAAC work?
The YAAC focus of three development areas: (1) Monthly Council Meetings, (2) Leadership Development Academy, and (3) Issue Education Academy.
(1) Monthly Council Meetings will operate much like a board of directors meeting, where YAAC representatives will elect an executive committee of a chair, vice chair, communications officer and a YAAC representative to the LI Board of Directors. This representative will be a voting member of the LI Board of Directors. The YAAC will advise LI staff on how to better engage and increase the presence of a youth voice in LI programs.
(2) Leadership Development Academy will include skill building sessions like: How to be an Effective Member of a Board or Commission; Healthy Lifestyle; Assessing Your Personal Leadership Power; Public Speaking & Writing Skills; and Personal Financial Management and Planning
(3) Issue Education Academy: Each YAAC member will be required to complete the necessary requirements to obtain a certificate of completion in one of the following issue areas: (a) Education (b) Immigration (c) Economic Justice & Civil Rights (d) Healthcare. Each member will choose an issue of interest and will have hands-on and experiential learning requirements in order to obtain the necessary points for completion.
For more information contact Maria De Cambra at 303-572-2241 or maria@latinainitiative.org
