Youth Leader Fellow

The ReThink Citizens Youth Coalition Innovator Academy is looking for five passionate Illinois based college students to join our groundbreaking Innovator Academy both as participants and as mentors/youth leaders for our younger participants! This is a unique opportunity to guide and support middle and high school students (ages 13-17) as they develop innovative solutions for a better digital world—while also getting access to the same incredible mentorship, training, and resources (featuring speakers like Monica Lewinsky, Frances Haugen, and Arturo Béjar) to develop your own initiatives and projects.

Youth Leaders Time Commitment

Like all participants, Youth Leaders will be expected to commit to approximately 5 hours of regular virtual programming each week. To make the program as accessible as possible, we’ve scheduled program sessions in the evenings from 5:00 – 6:30 CT, just 2 times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

In addition to the regular programming, our team will work with Youth Leaders to facilitate and design structured mentorship opportunities that they can offer to younger RCYC participants. These opportunities include one-on-one office hours, brainstorming sessions, and review/feedback sessions. This will add an estimated 2 additional hours of time commitment each week.

As a Youth Leader, you will:

? Receive a $750 stipend for your involvement over the six-week program (June 23 – August 1, 2025)

? Work directly with young innovators, offering guidance and support

? Develop your own idea to improve the digital world, with access to expert mentorship and training

? Be part of an intergenerational community of changemakers working to create a safer, more ethical, and inclusive digital future

? Present your work at our in-person Innovator Showcase in Chicago, IL on August 2, 2025

We believe in the power of mentorship and intergenerational support—this program is about learning with and from each other, no matter where you are in your journey. If you’re a college student based in Illinois who is passionate about innovation, mentorship, and making an impact, we encourage you to apply!

?? Application Deadline: April 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM CT