Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison Program
The Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison Program (OYCL) is a three-month paid fellowship for youth ages 16 to 26 to equip them with the skills and tools they need to directly advocate to lawmakers.
Congressional Liaisons will join online trainings twice a month, participate in short assignments and check-ins, and share their experiences with each other as they learn to be advocates for themselves and their communities, speaking up on behalf of Opportunity Youth to hold politicians accountable to the communities they serve.
This virtual, part-time program was designed with and for Opportunity Youth to level up their advocacy skills and connect to others working for more equitable access to opportunity.
About the Program:
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- What is the time commitment? We anticipate Congressional Liaisons will spend approximately 30-hours on this project between the online trainings and assignments.
- When and where do the sessions take place? This is a virtual program, and most trainings will be in the evenings, Eastern time.
- What is the compensation? Congressional Liaisons will receive $2,500 through the course of the program upon completion of assignments. You will also receive a $500 bonus once you complete your meeting with your member of congress or congressional staffer.
Who Can Apply:
The program is open to current or former Opportunity Youth aged up to age 26 (Opportunity Youth are young people who have been disconnected from both school and work).
All applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, severe/morbid obesity, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, and we will not ask about your immigration status.
Past Participants
Our first OYCL cohort kicked off in November 2021 with 7 young leaders, and our second cohort ran in Spring-Summer 2022 with 15 young leaders. We are excited to continue growing this community of Opportunity Youth leaders with our upcoming cohort!
To learn more about past program participants, visit here.
