Youth Advocacy Internship

Did you know...?

• 75% of high school students nationwide students experienced bullying due to their sexual orientation? GLSEN School Climate Survey 2005
• 38% of high school students nationwide were physically harassed due to their sexual orientation or gender expression? GLSEN School Climate Survey 2005
• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual students who attend DC Public Schools experience significantly higher rates of truancy, poor academic performance,substance abuse, dating violence, attempted suicide, and rape than their straight peers? DC Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2007

Want to help make our schools safer and get community service credit? Apply for SMYAL's Youth Advocacy Internship! The mission of SMYAL’s Youth Advocacy Internship is to provide you with opportunities to develop leadership skills, increase
your knowledge of and raise awareness about LGBTQ issues, promote tolerance, and advocate for positive social change!

Expectations:
As a Youth Advocate, you will be expected to:

• Commit to fulfilling the program mission from September 15, 2008 to December 31, 2008.
• Attend required weekly meetings from 6-8pm on Wednesdays, orientation, and workshops for a total of 30 hours.
• Observe, co-facilitate, and co-lead an LGBTQ awareness workshop for a school or community organization.
• Help create educational materials and programs for the workshops.
• Participate in SMYAL outreach events.
• Post bi-weekly report on SMYAL youth blog.

Qualifications
SMYAL is looking for 10 straight ally, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning, youth who demonstrate strong leadership ability for the Youth Advocacy Internship. You must be 15-18 years of age by the application deadline in order to
apply for the position. If you are under 18, the parental consent form must be signed and turned in with the application. A letter of recommendation from an adult that you have worked with in the past three years is required.

Benefits
Youth advocates receive numerous benefits for their service. In addition to developing public speaking skills and leadership abilities, high school students can earn community service credits from participating schools for their work or a monetary stipend. Youth advocates will also gain experience in the promotion, publicity, public policy, and internet publishing career fields. Food will be provided at weekly meetings in addition to metro fare if needed.

Deadline
The application period begins on Friday, August 15, 2008 and ends on Friday, September 19, 2008. Applications need to be mailed, faxed, e-mailed or hand delivered to SMYAL. If you have further questions please contact SMYAL’s Leadership and Community Education Coordinator, Linsey Mayhew at the e-mail address and phone number listed below. Good Luck!

Download the application here!

For more information or to get involved contact: