Welcome to Youth United (YU), where passionate students are connected to adults who can provide guidance, advice, and inspiration to help them reach their potential. Youth United is a positive youth development and leadership program that allows students to build connections throughout the community. Youth United focuses on recruitment, training, leadership development, and community engagement for students in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties.
Youth United's mission aims to empower student leaders, enabling them to drive positive change within their communities. This involves organizing and mobilizing their peers to address various challenges related to education, health, and financial well-being. YU puts students in touch with trusted adults who can provide guidance and inspiration by helping students stay on track for high school graduation, preparing for college and/or a career, and taking advantage of expanded enrichment and professional networking opportunities.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Academic Year are closed.
Benefits of Youth United
- Develop Leadership & Interpersonal Skills: Allows you to hone your leadership abilities and improve your interpersonal skills by working with diverse groups of people and taking on different roles within the organization.
- Gain Experience for Personal Growth: Provides valuable experiences that can contribute to personal growth and self-discovery.
- Gain Experience for Future Endeavors: The skills and experiences gained can be valuable assets in your future career and personal endeavors.
- Gain Quality Resume Content: Provides meaningful experiences and achievements to include on your resume, demonstrating your commitment to social responsibility and community involvement, which can be appealing to future employers.
- Earn Volunteer Hours: Offers the opportunity to earn volunteer hours, which can be beneficial for various purposes, such as meeting graduation requirements, fulfilling community service obligations, or applying for scholarships.
- Build a Network: Building a network can open doors to future opportunities, both personally and professionally.YU introduces you to a wide range of individuals, including fellow volunteers, staff members, and community leaders.
- Make a Difference in Hinds, Madison & Rankin Counties: Enables you to directly impact and improve your community, contributing to positive change and well-being.
- Learn About Community Issues: You gain firsthand knowledge about local community issues, helping you become more informed and aware of the challenges and needs in your community.
- Get to Know Your Local United Way: United Way of the Capital Area allows you to become familiar with the operations, programs, and initiatives of this prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Youth United is a positive youth development and leadership program which helps students build connections throughout the community. Youth United focuses on recruitment, training, leadership development, and community engagement for students in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin counties. Youth United's mission aims to empower student leaders, enabling them to drive positive change within their communities.
- Self-motivated students.
- Students desiring to make a lasting change in their community.
- Student who is interested in building their skills to become a better leader.
YU Ambassadors are required to:
- Participate in monthly leadership development training.
- Participate in volunteer activities.
- Plan and organize school activities.
- Participate in at least three events/trainings
- Attend summer bootcamp on July 15th and 16th
- Provide advice and guidance to help students navigate.
- Assist students in planning and organizing activities.
- Inform students of resources that are available to them.
- Ensure students fulfill volunteer requirements.
- Be a resource and an advocate to ensure the success of YU.
United Way Worldwide holds a yearly Student United Way Leadership Retreat.
(YU Ambassadors, United Way staff and school advisers from around the world gather to share experiences, boost leadership and professional skills, explore their potential to create positive change in their communities, and forge lasting relationships with each other.)
Yes. Abide by your school's fundraising rules.
- Join a United Way Young Professional Leadership program; an excellent group of young professionals who are dedicated to improving lives.
- Continue to support your community by giving to the United Way of the Capital Area www.myunitedway.com
