Youth Activist Institute Intern

TITLE: Youth Activist Institute Intern

SUPERVISOR: Youth Activist Network Manager

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: June 1, 2026 – September 6, 2026

COMPENSATION: $20/hour for 22 hours per week

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION: Advocates for Youth (Advocates) partners with young people and their adult allies to champion youth rights and build power to transform policies, programs and systems to achieve bodily autonomy and sexual health, rights, and equity for all youth. Advocates for Youth envisions a society in which all young people are valued, respected, and treated with dignity; sexuality is accepted as a healthy part of being human; and youth sexual development is normalized and embraced. In such a world, all youth and young adults are celebrated for who they are and afforded honest, affirming, inclusive sex education; access to confidential, universal sexual health services; and the economic, educational, and social power to exercise their bodily autonomy and make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.

GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Under the supervision of the Youth Activist Network Managers, the YAI intern will assist in planning the Youth Activist Institute.

The Youth Activist Institute (YAI) is Advocates’ annual three-day youth activist training in Washington DC to take place Thursday, September 3rd - Sunday, September 6th, 2026. Each year, 75 youth activists from across the country are selected to attend the conference. At the YAI, youth activists receive in-depth training on reproductive rights and justice, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and social media activism. In preparation for the event, the YAI intern will play an integral role in coordinating event logistics, working with participants to ensure completion of registration forms, and preparing event materials.

RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Attend virtual planning meetings with small planning committees and all staff meetings.
• Assist in coordinating event logistics including hotel rooming lists, catering orders, and travel.
• Overseeing registration for 75 training participants including tracking registration, ensuring all participant contracts & paperwork are complete, preparing materials for conference participants including certificates, name tags, and printing essential documents.
• Day of coordination and logistics and other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must have excellent organizational and administrative skills with a demonstrated interest in organizing, advocacy, and global and/or domestic sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice issues. Demonstrated capacity to work with a diverse group is a must. Ability to pay keen attention to detail and to be able to prioritize and meet deadlines.

Please note that while this is primarily an events planning internship, there will be opportunities to learn more about youth sexual and reproductive health rights and justice!

COMPENSATION: The intern will be paid $20 per hour for 22 hours per week between June 1st - September 6th. (Hours are flexible, depending on schedule).

LOCATION: Advocates’ office is based in Washington, D.C. This position is remote for the summer, with a transition to in-person support in Washington, D.C. as the conference approaches. Because planning preparations will take place onsite in August and September, we will only consider candidates based in or near the DMV/Washington, D.C. metro area.

Note: The intern must be available in-person for the full duration of the Youth Activist Institute (Thursday, September 3 – Sunday, September 6) and able to remain onsite at the hotel venue for the entirety of the conference. Lodging and per diem will be provided during the conference.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested applicants should complete the application on this Google Form by Sunday, May 3rd.

Once received, additional information will be sent if you are selected for a virtual interview. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. No telephone calls or email inquiries, please.

Advocates for Youth is an Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act employer and strongly encourages people of color and LGBTQ people to apply.

• 4 day work week
• Work location is remote for the summer with transition to hybrid in Washington, D.C. as conference approaches