Youth Action Institute

Formerly known as the Youth Justice Board, the Youth Action Institute has two primary goals: first, to develop young people's skills in research, project management, and collaborative work; and second, to establish young people as contributing experts in public policy discussions and decision-making. 

Fellows with the Institute explore different issues as they apply to young people’s sense of safety and agency, particularly as those issues intersect with public safety and the legal system. They offer their research findings and thoughtful, actionable policy recommendations to support improved outcomes and experiences for impacted young people.

Fellows are rigorously trained in anti-oppression practice, qualitative research, the policy landscape of New York City, and the intersections of those areas. Following training, teams of Fellows identify their policy and issue areas of interest and craft an overarching research question to focus on. After their initial research process (outlined below), they craft preliminary recommendations to improve outcomes for young people, then narrow their research question to support a second iteration of this research process. Upon completing their second phase, Fellows refine their preliminary recommendations and present them to stakeholders within community-based organizations, government offices, and advocacy groups for feedback and dialogue. Fellows then take those final recommendations and prepare materials for publication, advocacy, and sharing across a range of audiences. 
 

The Youth Action Institute is actively recruiting new members!

If you or someone you know are between the ages of 16 and 21, live in New York, and are interested in building your research, advocacy, teaching, and community-building skills, we encourage you to apply! Read our Youth Action Institute Application Form and Guide for more information about the Institute, Fellowship, and the application process.