Youth as Solutions Program

Youth as Solutions is a national youth leadership program facilitated by the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), an organization committed to empowering young people to enact meaningful change in their communities. The program is designed to cultivate leadership and civic engagement among students in grades 6 through 12 by supporting the creation and implementation of student-led social action projects. Participants form Youth Councils or Leadership Teams composed of at least two students and an adult mentor affiliated with a public school, school district, nonprofit organization, or government entity. Once accepted into the program, teams attend a live, virtual kickoff training and are encouraged to recruit additional team members to support their project. The teams follow NYLC’s IPARD service-learning framework, which includes Investigating a community issue, Planning a solution, Taking Action, Reflecting on outcomes, and Demonstrating results. Throughout the school year, teams also participate in monthly virtual sessions with other youth teams nationwide. The program supports projects in four impact areas: Education, Community Health, Environment, and Civics and Democracy. Teams can develop initiatives ranging from promoting educational equity and improving mental health outcomes, to advocating for environmental sustainability or civic participation. Teams receive funding between $250 and $1,000 to implement their projects, along with templates, training materials, and continuous mentorship. Eligibility is limited to student teams affiliated with public entities or nonprofits, and participants must be U.S.-based. The adult mentor receives professional development, while students build leadership competencies and engage in peer learning with changemakers from across the country. Sponsors such as GM, Honda, and 9/11 Day support specific thematic tracks like teen driver safety and civic engagement. The application cycle for the 2025–26 school year is now closed, with the next round expected to open in Spring 2026. Interested applicants will be able to explore the impact areas and submit applications during the next open window. Application materials typically include team composition, project goals, and alignment with impact areas, and participants must adhere to program milestones and reporting expectations throughout the academic year.

Teams should clearly articulate the local issue they are addressing, align with an impact area, and demonstrate student leadership and collaboration with an adult mentor.