Young Invincibles is building a movement! We are looking for young adults who are ready and
excited to become the next generation of community leaders. This unique, hands-on program
trains young people to engage in their communities around the major issues shaping our
generation.
The Young Advocates Program is a leadership development initiative of Young Invincibles (YI)—a
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to amplify the voices of young adults in the
political process and expand economic opportunity for our generation. YI cultivates and
empowers young, courageous leaders who are driving transformative policy change to make
higher education more affordable, expand healthcare access, and secure quality jobs.
Young Advocates work alongside our regional offices in California, Colorado, and Texas to strengthen youth voices across these issue areas. The program is an excellent opportunity for young adults ages 18 to 34 to develop advocacy and leadership skills, gain hands-on experience in public policy, and build connections with peers and mentors. Our Advocates are passionate about YI’s mission and committed to building youth power to create positive change in their communities.
Program Overview:
The Young Advocates Program is open to young adults ages 18–34 living in or attending school in one of our regional states: California, Colorado, or Texas.
At weekly meetings, Advocates will help lead organizing campaigns focused on higher education, healthcare access, worker justice, and civic engagement. Participants will drive projects such as developing policy priorities, organizing and supporting statewide conferences and community events, leading voter engagement efforts, promoting healthcare enrollment campaigns, creating digital content, and recruiting and mobilizing other young adults to take action in their communities.
Time Commitment: Advocates meet weekly for virtual or in person working sessions, with occasional extended sessions for special workshops. In addition to these sessions, participants attend in-person events, one-on-one meetings with staff, and skill-building assignments between sessions. This program is designed as a cohort experience where everyone’s participation matters. Consistent attendance and engagement are required. Because spaces are limited and participants are paid, please only apply if you can commit to attending all sessions and completing program activities through December 11, 2026.
Program Dates: 12 Week Program; September 18, 2026– December 11, 2026
Session Times:
- California: Fridays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm PT (virtual)
- Colorado: Fridays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm MT (virtual)
- Texas: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:30 pm CT and Fridays, 12:00 – 2:30 pm CT (virtual; in-person meetings held on the last Friday of each month)
Compensation
Advocates are paid hourly for training and project work, averaging 6–10 hours per week.
State Hourly Pay Rate
- California $18.42
- Colorado $19.29
- Texas: $15.00
Applicants Must:
- Must be 18 or older and eligible/authorized to work in the United States
- Be available and committed to the entirety of the program.
- Align with YI’s mission, vision, and values.
- Demonstrate passion or interest in higher education, healthcare, and workforce issues.
- Be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Exhibit professionalism, maturity, and initiative.
- Be creative, flexible, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Have access to a laptop and WiFi to participate in virtual sessions.
Application Process
- Must be available to attend Orientation (September 18, 2026) and Program Close (December 11, 2026) in person
- Must attend in-person events such as Policy Shark Tank, State of Young California, and community outreach
- Must attend weekly work sessions with cameras on (no exceptions)
- Must be able to attend in person meetings twice a month
- Applications close July 17, 2026, at midnight eastern time. Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
Skills Required
- Must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the United States
- Align with Young Invincibles' mission
- Demonstrate passion for higher education and healthcare
- Have access to a laptop and WiFi
What We Do
Young Invincibles was founded in the summer of 2009, motivated by the recognition that young people’s voices were not being heard in the debate over health care reform. Co-Founders Ari Matusiak and Aaron Smith and a few friends wanted to change that, so they set up a one page website, asking young people to share their stories, believing in their generation’s capacity to stand up and make itself heard. In a little more than a year, ‘YI’ went from a group run out of a law school cafeteria to a national organization, representing the interests of 18 to 34 year-olds and making sure that our perspective is heard wherever decisions about our collective future are being made. We do this through conducting cutting-edge policy research and analysis, sharing the stories of young Americans, designing campaigns to educate on important issue areas, informing and mobilizing our generation and advocating to change the status quo. We still believe in our generation – now more than ever. We know that our generation will define the future we share as a nation. These are difficult times. But this is also our time. Why don’t you join us today?
