Youth Leadership Institute

About the Youth Leadership Institute 

The Youth Leadership Institute was developed to train the next generation of LGBTQ leaders with emphasis on African American lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. Four "Fellows" will be selected each year to receive rigorous training in nonprofit management, community organizing, and social justice as well as mentorship from community leaders. Fellows will design their program for the year and organize an annual youth summit. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend.  

 

 

"FELLOW" CRITERIA: 

• African American lesbian, bisexual, or transgender woman aged 18 to 24 
• Strong desire to learn about and apply non-profit management, community organizing, and social justice techniques and frameworks 
• Ability to devote 10 hours per week, including some Saturdays on training/activities 
• Completion of orientation/training 
  
  

MENTOR CRITERIA: 

• African American lesbian, bisexual, or transgender woman 
• Strong commitment to sharing experiences, lessons learned, and skills 
• Commitment to meet with assigned "fellow" at least two times per month 
• Completion of orientation/training 

Affinity needs additional mentors for the Youth Leadership Institute. Mentors meet with their scholars in person at least once each month and talk to them on the phone as frequently as needed. There are also mentor-specific meetings and activities during the 12 months. The average time commitment is 2-4 hours per week.  If you'd like to mentor one of these dynamic, young scholars, please download the Mentor application and follow the submission directions. To  download the application, click Leadership Institute Mentor Application (PDF version) or Leadership Institute Mentor Application (Word version).

We appreciate all the interest of young people in becoming Youth Leadership Institute scholars. However, the Institute is full for 2009/2010. We have other opportunities, though. If you're interested in volunteering for Affinity, please call the office. We will begin reviewing applications for the 2010/2011 Institute year in March 2010.

 

If there are questions, please contact Aisha Truss, Youth Program Coordinator, by phone at 773.324.0377 or by email at leadershipinstitute@affinity95.org.