VPMA’s Youth Ambassadors Program brings together students and adult mentors to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities. The program focuses on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development.

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​Youth Participants are competitively selected students who have demonstrated leadership aptitude, an interest in community service; exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness; have the motivation necessary to be active and successful ambassador participants; and will help carry on VPMA’S programs and initiatives.

 

Program Structure ​

 

Upon acceptance into the program youth attend an introduction social where they learn more about the program and meet their mentor coaches. Throughout the year youth ambassadors will attend and participate in workshops that focus on youth leadership and service, community site visits, interactive training, project planning exercises, presentations, visits to schools, local cultural activities with other teenagers and education programming in the city and beyond.

 

Following the workshops, youth participants apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired by planning service projects in their communities. Adult participants serve as mentors in the project planning and implementation process.

 

Program Objectives

 

Learn and Experience: Youth Ambassadors study community development, civic engagement, and leadership theories and practice through our hands on program curriculum.

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Interact: Youth Ambassadors engage with others from various cultures and backgrounds.  They are able to interact with their peers and visit important cultural and governmental sites throughout the states.

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Implement: Youth Ambassadors gain hands-on experience in the design and implementation of a community based initiative in their community.

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Empower: Youth Ambassadors develop leadership skills to become civic activists in their communities and support other youth in developing these skills.