Youth Leadership Team

National Campaign Announces 2009-2010 Youth Leadership Team

Following an extensive nation-wide search, The National Campaign is excited to announce the twelve new memebers of our 2009-2010 Youth Leadership Team:

Avery, 17
Chevy Chase, MD
Sponsor: Individual

Bardia, 16
Ormond Beach, FL
Sponsor: Pathways Elementary School

Danielle, 15
El Paso, TX
Sponsor: Thomason Hospital Teen Advisory Board

Dylan, 17
Northampton, MA
Sponsor: Individual

Jacqueline, 17
Baltimore, MD
Sponsor: Communications Consortium Media Center (CCMC)

Jared, 14
Kansas City, MO
Sponsor: Individual

Malcolm, 17
Upper Marlboro, MD
Sponsor: Patriot Technology Center

Maritza, 17
Bakersfield, CA
Sponsor: Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)

Ryan, 17
Buffalo, ND
Sponsor: Northern Light Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

Sara, 15
Washington, DC
Sponsor: The Field School

Shawnice, 16
Cincinnati, OH
Sponsor: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Postponing Sexual Involvement Program (PSI)

Tamiko, 16
New York, NY
Sponsor: Planned Parenthood of New York City

About the Youth Leadership Team

Created in 1998, the Youth Leadership Team (YLT) seeks to faithfully reflect the views of teens in The National Campaign’s work and give voice to their unique perspectives by getting them actively involved – both nationally and locally – in teen pregnancy prevention efforts.

The YLT is a select group of twelve 14- to 17-year-olds from across the nation who work with The National Campaign in a variety of ways.  The YLT meets at least twice in Washington, DC during their 18-month term to help to shape Campaign policies, programs, and messages; receive training so that they can represent the Campaign to the press and media; work with organizations to raise awareness about teen pregnancy and its prevention in their communities; and give voice to the unique perspectives and opinions of teens.  In between meetings the teens are active in implementing prevention programs into their own communities and assisting the Campaign with such projects as The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

To date, 144 teens from 37 states and the District of Columbia have participated in six YLT classes. They come from communities large and small, urban and rural, from every geographic region of the nation, and from highly diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.

Each YLT class is recruited from national, state, and local youth-serving organizations, such as the 4-H Club, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Girl Scouts, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the United Native Indian Tribal Youth Council, and others of similar caliber and reach.

Youth Leadership Team Activities

The YLT serves as the primary teen voice for The National Campaign. During their term, YLT members participate in a variety of activities that both promote teen pregnancy prevention and expand their own abilities as well. They receive media training to work with the press; we help them plan projects in their own communities to raise awareness of the issue; and we include them in many of our own activities as well, including media interviews, forums on Capitol Hill, and training for teens in various states and communities.

YLT members have been featured in media outlets nationwide, including the Associated Press, USA Today, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, Teen People, Scholastic Magazine, MTV, CNN, Channel One News, Court TV, and La Opinion (a Spanish-language newspaper) in stories related to both their personal experiences and to their YLT activities. Read articles starring members of the YLT.

YLT member have also helped to shape Campaign publications such as Thinking About the Right Nowand Talking Back: Ten Things Teens Want Parents to Know About Teen Pregnancy. The YLT was also instrumental in helping The National Campaign develop messages for our Stay Teen public service campaign.