
The Youth Action Institute has three main functions: public policy research, leadership development, and community building.
The Youth Action Institute is a paid, non-traditional research fellowship for young New Yorkers. Youth Fellows explore different issues that affect young people’s safety and agency, particularly as those issues intersect with ideas of public safety. Fellows create thoughtful, actionable policy recommendations to support better outcomes and experiences for affected young people. Fellows also work to educate community members about the experiences of young people.
For the 2025-2026 program year, Fellows will continue the work of prior years in investigating the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, relating to their sense of safety and dignity as they grow up in New York City.
You must be between the ages of 16 and 21.
You must live in New York City and have attended at least one year of elementary, middle, or high school in New York City.
You do not need to have any prior work experience.