The Youth Leadership Council is for returning Y-WE youth seeking to deepen their leadership and become stewards of Y-WE culture, by contributing their ideas, supporting Y-WE staff to do direct outreach to other youth, building their skill as facilitators, and applying their leadership in the greater community. It’s also a space of self reflection, learning, and connection. In order to be eligible you must have previously completed at least one Y-WE program. What kind of leader do you want to be?

Applications are currently closed. Check back in the summer to learn about our 2025 cohort!

2024 Cohort:
Creating Ecosystems of Transformation

Weekly on Thursdays, March 7-May 16, 4:30-7:30PM

Location: The Y-WE Building (5623 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118)

Facilitated by Karisa Morikawa and Shaena Spoor

This year’s cohort will be centered around the theme “Ecosystems of Transformation.” Over the course of 10 weeks, we’ll be unpacking the conditions that allow us to cultivate collective power. Together, we’ll learn what it means to embody our values, co-create accountable communities and explore the abundant ways to engage in social change. We will create space for our grief so we can hone in on our capacity to tend to and foster hope. 

This program is for folks between the ages of 15-20 who have already done at least one Y-WE program. This cohort will be focused on cultivating community and the series will build on prior sessions. Because of this, we ask that participants who enroll are mindful of their capacity and plan to attend all 10 sessions. It is our intention to use this time together to practice community accountability and, in doing so, honor our commitments. This program will center BIPOC youth. 

I want to continue being a part of the social justice work and to remember that I am enough. 

—Y-WE Youth Leadership Council Participant

Questions? Interested in getting involved?

Please contact our Program Manager, Karisa Morikawa, at karisa@y-we.org.

I am more confident with my voice, and I can speak up for myself better.

—Y-WE Youth Leadership Council Participant

Want to help youth develop their leadership skills?
Become a Mentor
*those who identify as women, girls, trans, non-binary, or gender expansive