Note from the Director
Dear YP4 Activist,

It’s hard to believe that the YP4 regional trainings are behind us and that its time to begin another school year!

This summer has been phenomenal and truly beyond words. From meeting our first group of Midwest Fellows in Detroit to closing out the summer with the Southern Fellows in Atlanta, it has been a wonderful experience getting to know each of the 2010 YP4 Fellows (click here to check out pictures of our regional trainings). Thank you to our Alumni Board and to our three rockstar interns for all your hard work this summer!

It’s also hard to believe that we’re almost done with our newest Progressive Academy Online series “How to Find A Progressive Job”. Our next session will take place on Thursday, August 26th at 3pm EST. To register click here. Speaking of progressive jobs, due to overwhelming demand from our alumni, we’re convening a think tank of alumni to help us build a YP4 Career Center. If you’re interested in participating visit here.

In addition to our work with the YP4 Fellows and alumni, we have also been busy with the newest class of the Front Line Leaders Academy (FLLA) (click here to meet our 2010 Fellows). Next week we’ll be hosting our second training in Los Angeles, CA in conjunction with the Young Elected Officials Network’s Policy Academy on Immigration and Redistricting. (if you’re in the area and would like to attend our networking reception contact Joy Lawson).

We’re so excited about all of our amazing new Fellows and can’t wait to share more updates with you soon.

We’ll see you in the field,

Rebecca Thompson 

It’s been an amazing and transformative summer for our staff – the energy and knowledge of the 2010-2011 fellows inspired us over and over. In just three short months, the YP4 staff, interns, and alumni board planned and implemented four three-day regional trainings in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Berkeley, and Atlanta.

This summer we spent a lot of time building relationship, thinking about how we tell our stories in authentic and compelling ways, started to identify what it means to hold progressive values, examined privilege and oppression in the work we do, and began to explore our visions and goals for the social justice work we’re embarking on this year. And the work is just getting started!

For the rest of the year, fellows will be building on the base we created this summer, to ensure that they're developing their skills and understanding of the issues.

We’re excited to launch the next phase of the fellowship program. Fellows have completed a comprehensive needs assessment, and the YP4 team is hard at work identifying mentors in the YP4 network to work with them!

Our Fellows will spend the next four months working with a mentor, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and developing ideas for their Blueprints.

After they have successfully completed these steps, they will be invited to attend the National Summit in Washington, DC (Save the Date: January 14th-17th, 2011).

Our team has been hard at work to ensure that the National Summit is better than ever and that our fellows have the skills and tools necessary to create lasting change in their communities. They will also be joined by some of the most dynamic progressive leaders and organizations in the country (if your organization is interested in participating in the summit please contact Rebecca Thompson).

Young People For Fellows at Florida State University have been organizing LGBTQ students and allies for 4 years to advocate for a university wide non-discrimination policy that protects students on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

This summer YP4 alumnae Jessica Pinto saw the results of this hardwork when the Board of Trustees passed a new more inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination statement (PDF). The new policy will ensure that students, faculty, and staff are not discriminated against in housing, employment, student activities, or in academic settings.

Congratulations Florida State University Fellows, the work you've done to speak out for equality on your campus and in your community is invaluable. We're proud to have been part of the win!

Are you an alum? Tell us about a recent victory you've won in your community!

Have other ideas for the Alumni Network? Tell us how you want to be involved!

How to Ace a Job Interview
August 26, 2010, 3:00 – 4:30 EST
We all get the jitters when we interview for a job we really want. Join career consultant, Alyssa Best, for this online session on presenting your best self in the interview process. We'll discuss ways you can market your strengths and accomplishments, how to respond to tough questions you may be asked, and the importance of bringing a few questions of your own to the interview. To attend this session you can register online here. 

Sign up today to receive information about future Progressive Academy Online sessions!

The Greenlining Institute is a national policy, organizing, and leadership institute working for racial and economic justice.   We ensure that grassroots leaders are participating in major policy debates by building diverse coalitions of grassroots leaders that work together to advance solutions to our nation's most pressing problems.   Our leadership Academy has become the "farm system" for tomorrow's social justice leaders, training the best and brightest from our community.  Our policy experts conduct research and coordinate multi-pronged strategies on major policy issues, including but not limited to the environment, wealth creation (asset building), philanthropy, health, energy, communications, and higher-education. 

As part of Greenlining's overall mission to impact state and national policy and secure community reinvestment on behalf of low-income and communities of color, the Greenlining Academy works to develop the next generation of multi-ethnic leaders and informed community members through its leadership training programs. The Academy promotes leadership in students who want hands-on public policy and advocacy experience and provides opportunities for them to acquire skills and build vital social networks that will enhance their effectiveness as future social justice leaders. To read more about the Greenlining Institute and the Greenlining Academy visit the organization's website!

Would you like your organization to be featured in our monthly Partner Spotlight? Let us know!



New Leaders Council Institute
Applications open September 1st

Ever wish there was a Home Depot for building a movement? A place, that, as young, progressive professionals, you could get a diverse array of tools that help you build whatever you want? At New Leaders Council (NLC), we combine skills-based training, mentorship, and community networking to build the foundation of a strong, progressive democracy. NLC does this through its free, hallmark program, the NLC Institute, a training program for young professionals (post-education) committed to long-term progressive change whether you're running for office, building a nonprofit movement, or being an engaged progressive advocate. The NLC Institute applications open on September 1, 2010. Join us on Facebook or sign up for our e-mails and we'll be sure to let you know when applications are available.

Native Youth Training
September 15-18, 2010
San Diego, CA

Native Vote Washington
September 20-24, 2010
Spokane, WA

Continuing Paul and Sheila Wellstone's commitment to Indian Country, Wellstone Action has created a new Native American Leadership Program (NALP), designed to strengthen Native American leadership and civic engagement. There is increased demand in tribal communities for training on organizing to address such issues as increasing jobs and opportunities, lack of political representation, inadequate access to education and health care, environmental challenges, and high rates of domestic and sexual assault. For more information e-mail peggy@wellstone.org.

Facing Race
September 23-25 , 2010
Chicago, IL

Building on the success and excitement generated by racial justice activists from across the country, Facing Race 2010 guarantees lively discussions on today's hot-button race issues while offering models for real change. To learn more, click here.

This Fall, Idealist.org is putting on a series of Graduate School Fairs across the nation!

At each of these fairs you can speak with representatives from local, national, and international programs focusing on Nonprofit Management, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Work, Education, International Affairs, and many other fields, and learn about their admissions process and about how to make yourself a stronger candidate for
graduate school. If you are thinking of going to Graduate School in the next year or two, we hope to see you at one of these events:

September 16  - New York, NY - (with over 200 schools)
September 20  - Providence, RI - (75)
September 21 - Boston, MA - (180)
September 23 - Pittsburgh, PA - (50)
September 27 - Philadelphia, PA - (65)
September 29 -Toronto, ON - (60)
September 30 - Washington, DC - (200)
October 18 - Minneapolis, MN - (70)
October 19 - Chicago, IL - (135)
October 20 - Ann Arbor, MI - (75)
October 25 - Denver, CO - (60)
October 27 - Seattle, WA - (80)
October 28 - Portland, OR - (80)
November 1 - San Francisco, CA - (120)
November 2 - Los Angeles, CA - (115)
November 4 - Atlanta, GA - (75)

For more details - including location, directions, and a list of registered schools - and to register (the fairs are free, but we need to know how many people to expect), please
visit:http://www.idealist.org/gradfairs

One Nation Working Together March on Washington
October 2, 2010

As members of the Generational Alliance (GA), a strategic collaboration of 15 national youth organizations building power for underrepresented and low income communities, YP4 recently signed on to support the “One Nation Working Together” March on Washington.

One Nation Working Together is about reordering our nation’s priorities to invest in our most valuable resource- our people. A coalition of hundreds of progressive organizations across the country, One Nation believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream- a secure job, a safe homed a quality education. We will come together and speak on behalf of the millions of people who have been affected by the economic downturn in the past few years. We will fight for meaningful, stable jobs, homes we can call our own, the opportunity for our children to obtain a quality education regardless of economic circumstances and the chance to become an American citizen and contribute to improving America.

Our dream is simple- the American Dream. We are going to March on Washington on October 2, 2010 (10.2.10). Whether we come by car, bus, plane, or train, we will mobilize tens of thousands of people to march in solidarity at the Nation’s Capitol in order to protect our jobs, our education and our economy. We will build diverse community coalitions that represent what our neighbors and cities look like. We will phone bank, canvass, plan events, and physically reach out to the community using our relations and grassroots tactics to not only get people on the bus to Washington, DC but to build a movement that people can resonate with and believe in.

If you or your organization is interested in participating in the march, contact Jessica Pierce of the Generational Alliance at jessipierce@gmail.com.

Organizing for Social Change
Midwest Academy
October 11-15, 2010/November 15-19, 2010
Chicago, IL/ Baltimore, MD

The Midwest Academy offers a five day, residential, comprehensive "Organizing for Social Change" training throughout the country. Participants come from a wide variety of organizations. Most are working on specific issue campaigns and building powerful, progressive organizations. The training helps them to be more strategic in their fight for social, economic, racial and environmental justice.

There are different methods of organizing or ways of making social change, and all have their uses. Midwest Academy uses and teaches the "Direct Action Organizing" concept. Direct Action Organizing is based on the power of people to take collective action on their own behalf. The point is not that one approach is better than others. In fact, often many kinds of organizing are needed, but the Midwest Academy focuses on Direct Action Organizing.

The Public Policy and Leadership Conference (PPLC) is designed to inform students about careers in the public sector. The conference will encourage students who possess a commitment to public service to prepare for graduate study in public policy and international affairs, as well as to provide information on financial support through various fellowship programs.

The conference aims to attract students from groups under-represented in public policy and international affairs in an effort to increase the diversity of students receiving these professional degrees. The conference will help prepare future leaders for study in public policy, particularly those from historically under-served communities and people of color. Participants receive paid travel, accommodations, and meals. Please note that the conference is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in their first or second year of undergraduate studies only. Apply Online today!

National Summit
Young People For
Save the Date: January 14th-17th, 2011

Advocates for Youth is excited to announce SafeSite applications for the Great American Condom Campaign are now open!  

The GACC is a youth-led grassroots movement to make the United States a sexually healthy nation. To do this, college students apply to become SafeSites, or individual condom distribution points. Once selected, SafeSites receive a free box of 500 Trojan condoms to distribute to their peers.  For more information or to apply, go to www.amplifyyourvoice.org/gacc.  Applications close September 1st, 2010.

CPL's New Leaders Fellowship…Applications are due September 20, 2010!

Please help us identify talented young people who are looking for or have recently started jobs in progressive organizations in D.C. You can forward this e-mail on to them or nominate them today.

CPL's National New Leaders Fellowship is a 5 month program in Washington, D.C. that helps talented young people of color, women and people who identify as LGBT jump-start their careers in the progressive movement.

If you know a young leader who is committed to progressive political change and has demonstrated leadership experience, please encourage them to go to www.cplnewleaders.org to apply today. Applications close Monday, September, 20th.

CPL's Executive Fellowship...Applications are due September 20, 2010!

The CPL Executive Fellowship is a selective nine-month, part-time leadership development program for future senior and executive leaders of progressive organizations in Washington, D.C.  Through training, coaching and mentoring, the program gives rising executive leaders the skills and networks they need to develop and manage highly effective progressive advocacy, organizing, policy, and electoral organizations.   

The program will start in December 2010. CPL is currently accepting applications and nominations for the program. Learn more about the program, including how to apply or nominate someone you know

We’re excited to announce the launch of the fourth annual Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition, sponsored by Ashoka’s Youth Venture® and Staples. We’re looking to celebrate the stories of young changemakers around the world who are creating positive impact through their youth-led ventures, and we need
your help to identify them.

The global competition is open to young people between the ages of 12 and 24 who have launched their own youth-led ventures. We’re looking for amazing youth to share how their work demonstrates exceptionally inspirational changemaking, particularly in areas of empathy, teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Nominations and entries will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 20, 2010.

Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizing Training Program

The Anne Braden program is designed for white social justice activists and organizers who are looking to grow in thir anti-racist skills, analysis, and organizing practice. Its not a series of 101 style workshops, but an intensive leadership development program intended to support already-politicized white activists in becoming more effective, historically-grounded, and accountable anti-racist organizers and multi-racial movement builders. The program is particularly looking to recruit working-class, jewish, women, LGBT and queer-identified participants, members of movement organizations, and organizers working in anti-war, environmental, global justice, gulf coast solidarity efforts, and working class-based social justice struggles. White activists who don't fit that description but who have experience working for social justice and are looking for a rigorous political education and organizing training program are encouraged to apply as well. For more information or to apply, please click here.

Are you working to start a community action project or program? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? If you answered, "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a Do Something Seed Grant. Do Something gives out a $500 Do Something Seed Grant every week to help young people just like YOU!

Do Something Seed Grants are targeted towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started. These grants can be used to jump-start your program or to realize your ideas for the first time.

If you are looking for funding to help take your project to the next level, check out the  Do Something Growth Grants!