Our official Youth Ambassador Program
Youth Voices
Youth Voices is an annual cohort of exceptional young people ages 13-18 who team up with our organization to offer their unique stories and words of advice to other LGBTQ+ youth around the globe! They are students, artists, and activists who are working to change their communities for the better and who have a passion for empowering their community of LGBTQ+ peers with their insights and observations.
What do Youth Voices Do?
As ambassadors of the organization, our Youth Voices have opportunities throughout their year-long commitment to:
- Participate in It Gets Better’s impactful storytelling efforts – across its social media channels, in email newsletters, during key efforts like Pride and LGBTQ+ History Month, and so much more.
- Contribute to strategic planning efforts that help craft future It Gets Better EDU and other organizational programming that directly engage and involve LGBTQ+ youth.
- Help It Gets Better’s identify new opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ young people, and assist in incorporating the support of the organization’s current volunteers, staff and board of directors, donors, foundational partners, corporate sponsors, and more in those efforts.
- Develop experiences, skills, and relationships that will shape their development as future leaders of the LGBTQ+ movement and as powerful advocates for social justice.
- Establish friendships with their fellow ambassadors that will last a lifetime, particularly during the 4 day meet-up experience hosted by the organization in Los Angeles.
- Receive a financial stipend.
See some of the incredible initiatives our Youth Voices Class of 2022 participated in here!
Who Can Be a Youth Voice?
Here are some of the top qualifications we look for in our Youth Voices:
- Shares It Gets Better’s mission to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe.
- Holds a passion for LGBTQ+ rights, racial and gender equality, and social justice, and can speak effectively to those issues.
- Uses gender-inclusive language and embraces the full LGBTQ+ spectrum.
- Has a knack for public speaking and the ability to tell one’s own story, and can learn to share the story of the organization.
- Enjoys participating in a group and knows how to share ideas. Most importantly, knows how to listen to and value input from others.
- Has an optimistic mindset, and is willing to try new things and face new challenges head on.
- Is able to be flexible and balance on average 5 hours of work per month as a youth ambassador with their own personal and school responsibilities.
- Exhibits values of leadership and is already in the process of building a resume of leadership experiences.
Have any questions or want to support Youth Voices? Contact our Senior Coordinator of Education, Rae: education@itgetsbetter.org.