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To ensure a youth voice in the program, My Civic Life is guided by the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). The YAB is composed of high school students selected across The Rapides Foundation's service area. YAB members serve hand-in-hand with the Foundation’s staff to plan and implement a fun, informative and motivational experience for youth participants and the communities they serve.
Program Benefits
Develop leadership traits: Beginning with the YAB Leadership Development Training, members will participate in ongoing leadership training in order to prepare them for the challenges of affecting positive change in their schools and communities.
Learn new skills: YAB members participate in a series of webinars to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand, evaluate, and address the needs of their communities.
Collaborate and communicate: YAB Members participate in online meetings in order to share ideas and successes that they can then bring back to their school clubs.
YAB members have the opportunity to:
Move beyond their comfort zones
Attend leadership training workshops
Serve as advisors to the My Civic Life program staff
Serve as peer-educators for service project leadership
Earn hours for diploma service endorsement
Assist in planning My Civic Life awards and recognition
Build resume content for college and/or jobs
Become alumni ambassadors
Make new friends
Have fun
What are the expectations of YAB members?
Attend and actively participate in quarterly YAB meetings
Be role models for service
Be informed about civic opportunities
Become advocates for positive change in communities
What are the eligibility criteria for serving as a YAB member?
Be a 10th, 11th or 12th grade student at a high school participating in the My Civic Life program (see participating school list)
Be able to attend the Youth Leadership Training Workshop in Alexandria, LA.
Be able to attend a majority of the online and in-person (Alexandria) YAB meetings held quarterly during the school year.
Be accessible via e-mail, phone, and Facebook between quarterly meetings
