The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is an advanced program that selects students from Journey to participate in a yearlong leadership program. Through experiential learning projects, youth develop leadership skills, prepare for college and/or career paths, and use art to advocate for change in their community. The program provides opportunities for public speaking, mentorships with younger AjA students, college prep and career development, and personal portfolio projects. YAC students are also eligible for college scholarships and paid internships.
According to our program evaluation, 80 percent of youth who continue on to our YAC go to college.
YAC Coursework
Public Speaking: YAC members hone their public speaking by facilitating peer to peer learning exchanges with non-refugee youth. They also represent AjA at events, exhibits, conferences, and board meetings.
Leadership and Mentoring: YAC members learn about leadership styles and meet prominent leaders in their community. They also develop their own personal leadership skills by serving as peer instructors and mentors to younger AjA students during workshops.
Career Paths and College Preparation: Members learn about college preparedness and various career options during college visits; writing scholarship essays; applying for AjA’s educational award; and creating a resume and interviewing for paid internships with the Museum of Photographic Arts and AjA.
Social Discourse and Debate: After learning about the importance of social discourse, YAC members serve on community panels and discuss their perspective on local issues, attend city council meetings; and meet San Diego Councilmembers.
Community Engagement: YAC members complete and exhibit personal photography projects on relevant social issues.
