2025 PAYA Youth Council
Applicant Information
Apply to join the PAYA Youth Council!
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Are you...
• A current or former youth apprentice?
• Excited about advocating on behalf of your peers?
• Interested in improving equity in and access to apprenticeship for other young people?
• Eager to grow your leadership skills?
If so, consider applying to serve on the PAYA Youth Council!
Launched in 2023, the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) Youth Council is a group of current and former youth apprentices who collaborate on youth-led projects to spread the word about the value of youth apprenticeship and improve youth apprenticeship for other young people around the country.
Working as a group, PAYA Youth Council members choose and lead at least one joint project and actively contribute to PAYA's overall body work. The inaugural cohort designed two projects -- one focused on promotional materials for youth apprenticeship programs and the other on federal youth apprenticeship policy -- that they presented to leadership at the US Department of Labor in July 2024.
We are seeking up to two additional members to join the PAYA Youth Council for the 2025 term (January-December 2025). The new members will serve alongside returning Council members. Together, the Council will decide what project(s) they want to take on and collaborate virtually to design and implement them. The Council may choose to build on the inaugural cohort's projects or take on new ones. Potential projects include:
• Learning about policy issues and advocacy strategies then meeting with elected officials
• Speaking with news media about youth apprenticeship
• Producing videos or marketing materials to raise awareness of youth apprenticeship
• Collaborating to implement a community service project
The Council's work will culminate in a free trip to Washington, DC for a in-person meeting in November 2025. In appreciation of members’ time, expertise, and insights, PAYA will provide each Council apprentice with a $1,600 stipend.
In Their Own Words: Hear from PAYA Youth Council Members
Check out the video below to hear from PAYA Youth Council members about their experience serving on the Council and why you should apply to join them!
Who can apply?
You are eligible to apply if you are…
- At least 16 years old but not yet 24 as of December 1, 2024.
- Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a youth apprenticeship program in the PAYA Network.
- If your apprenticeship program leaders told you about this opportunity, you can ask them to confirm that they’re part of the PAYA Network.
- Click here for a list of PAYA Network members. If you are unsure if your youth apprenticeship is part of the PAYA Network, please contact us at paya@newamerica.org.
- Able to travel to, attend, and actively participate in one in-person meeting in Washington, DC in November 2025.
- PAYA will cover coach/standard economy airfare or train travel, local ground transportation, lodging, and meal expenses for each participant. For participants under 18 or in high school, we will also cover costs for one adult family member/teacher/chaperone.
- Able to attend and actively participate in at least 10 out of approximately 12 monthly virtual 2 hour meetings, usually held via Zoom on a weekday evening for two hours (generally 6-8 pm Eastern time). Meetings will be held from January through December 2025.
- Interested in working collaboratively with peers to strengthen and expand youth apprenticeship. Youth Council members take on group projects and must work with their teammates outside of month meetings to achieve project goals.
- Excited to participate in a community of youth advocates and to grow your leadership and advocacy skills. PAYA expects Council Members to conduct themselves professionally as an ambassador of their apprenticeship program, employer, and school when participating in Council activities.
How do I apply?
Don’t wait! Applications are due Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Only complete and on-time applications will be considered.
There are three steps you need to take to ensure your application is complete.
Step 1: Complete the online application.
Click here to access the PAYA Youth Council application portal. (You'll need to create an account in order to view and fill out the application.) The application asks you to share some information about your background about why you’d like to participate. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be able to save your work each step of the way and return at a later time to complete your application.
Instructions for using the application portal, including how to set up your account and submit your application, are available at this link.
Step 2: Ask for a recommendation.
PAYA asks applicants to submit at least one, and no more than two, recommendations from someone who knows you well. At least one of your recommendations should be from a caring adult in your life. If you choose to submit a second recommendation, your second recommender can be either another caring adult or a peer. Your recommenders cannot be family members.
- Examples of caring adult recommenders include current or former teachers, employer/work supervisors or mentors, guidance counselors, coaches, or any other adults who know and care about you.
- A peer recommender should be someone around your age who is willing and able to submit a recommendation on your behalf.
Your recommenders should submit their recommendations using this form:
Recommendations are due at the same time as applications: Sunday, December 1 at 11:59 pm Pacific time.
You are responsible for reaching out to your recommenders, sending them the link for the recommendation form, and reminding them to submit their recommendations on time.
A few tips and resources to help you get started:
Pro Tip 1: Ask now!
It’s good practice to give your recommenders as much time as possible to complete their recommendation. Don’t wait to ask them the day before the application is due. We suggest giving recommenders at least two or three weeks’ notice.
To help you kick-start outreach to your recommenders, click here to view two sample emails to recommenders. Feel free to use all or part of these in your outreach.
Pro Tip 2: Select recommenders who know you and your strengths well.
Ideally, your recommenders should be able to tell us why your voice would be valuable on the PAYA Youth Council and what you would gain from being a part of this group.
Pro Tip 3: Say thanks!
Remember to thank your recommenders for taking the time to submit a recommendation on your behalf. You may need their help again down the road!
Step 3: Get your parent or guardian to submit a permission form.
Please note: If you’re already 18+ or will turn 18 before December 1, 2024, you do not need to complete this step.
Your parent/guardian must give permission for you to participate in the PAYA Youth Council if you are under 18.
Permission forms are due at the same time as applications: Sunday, December 1 at 11:59 pm Pacific time.
You are responsible for reaching out to your parent/guardian, sending them the link for the permission form, and reminding them to submit the form on time.
That's it!
Once you have completed and submitted the application form (Step 1), asked for a recommendation from a caring adult in your life (Step 2), and, if under 18, ensured your parent/guardian submitted a permission form (Step 3), you are all set! Make sure you complete all of these steps by the deadline of Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT.
Have questions for us?
If you have any questions about the PAYA Youth Council or the application, please contact Lancy Downs via email (downs@newamerica.org) or by phone (202-596-3610).
Need any special accommodations?
If you, your recommenders, or your parent/guardian require any special accommodations to complete your application (for example, translation services or large format materials for the visually impaired), please don’t hesitate to contact us at paya@newamerica.org to discuss how we can assist you.
How will I know if I’m selected?
PAYA will convene a selection committee of national experts, youth apprenticeship program staff, and former youth apprentices to review all on-time, complete applications. We expect to notify applicants of our decisions by early December.
Only complete and on-time applications will be considered.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you encounter any unusual circumstances that may make it difficult for you or your recommenders/parent/guardian to submit your materials on time.