NYCLU Student Ambassador
Become a Youth Ambassador through the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, we are a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with eight chapters and regional offices and more than 160,000 members across the state. Our mission is to defend and promote the fundamental principles and values embodied in the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the New York Constitution, including freedom of speech and religion, and the right to privacy, equality and due process of law for all New Yorkers. We believe that all New Yorkers have inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government or by majority vote.”
“The NYCLU's youth program began as the Teen Health Initiative in 1997, founded with the mission of removing barriers that prevent young people from accessing critical health services and information. Now, over 20 years later, TAP carries on the mission of the Teen Health Initiative and is a part of the NYCLU’s new Education Policy Center. TAP students work on broader NYCLU advocacy issues, including ending the school to prison pipeline, protecting student privacy and creating safe and supporting schools for all students.”
Youth Ambassadors are high school students working with the NYCLU to inform and advocate for change. It’s an incredible opportunity to take a leadership role in bringing about change and social justice.
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc?
Start an information campaign or speaker series at your school. Want to learn more? Check out our PDF for more information on how to get started.
Choose a specific issue that you care about and start an independent study at school. Then write an essay about the topic and submit it to one of the many competitions sponsored by The New York TImes.
Start a conversation with local leaders about the issues of importance to youth in your community. Convene a Youth Town Hall.
HOT TIP: Lots of kids join special interest clubs. Very few become leaders and advocate for change in their communities. Do you want to step up but not know where to begin? If your political leanings are progressive than your local branch of the ACLU is a great place to start.