NN4Y’s New Youth Action Leadership Certificate

The National Network for Youth is excited to announce our new Youth Action Leadership Certificate! This certificate program is designed to equip young advocates with the tools to lead systemic change. It builds on our Local Cross Systems Collaboratives work and is guided by direct input from youth and young adults with lived expertise.

Young leaders are stepping up to drive change, and this program gives them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a lasting impact.

This structured 8-week learning program is designed for young adults (18-24) who have experienced homelessness, as well as allies seeking to support youth. Participants will gain the confidence to lead in Youth Action Boards (YABs), Continuums of Care (CoCs), and other decision-making spaces.

Allies can also join, learning alongside youth, to enhance their own advocacy skills and build stronger partnerships with youth and young adults.

Young people with lived experience bring valuable insights to homelessness policy and service design. However, they often face barriers to full participation, such as limited access to training, uncertainty about how systems work, or feeling unprepared to engage in formal settings. This program breaks down those barriers by:

• Providing an engaging, accessible, and practical training on how to influence systems effectively.
• Building confidence through hands-on activities, mentorship, and real-world application
• Equipping youth with professional skills that enhance their leadership in both advocacy and career pathways.

Participants will explore key topics facing YABs, discovering solutions to their pressing questions, like:

• Advocacy & Public Speaking: How can I share my personal experiences to drive meaningful change?
• Housing & Homelessness Systems: How do funding, policies, and structures impact the housing and homelessness systems?
• Building Relationships: How can I effectively engage stakeholders as equal partners?
• Facilitating Meetings: How can I lead inclusive, productive discussions?
• Project Management: How can I organize initiatives and turn ideas into action?
• Running a Youth Action Board: What are the best practices for leading and managing a Youth Action Board?

NN4Y is collaborating with communities to bring this new program to their groups in the way that works best for them:

• Personalized Program: NN4Y collaborates with your community directly to provide the training.
• Open Cohorts: Individuals can join NN4Y-hosted sessions (anticipated to start in Fall 2025).
• Group Pairing: NN4Y coordinates small groups to be paired with others to form a full cohort.

The cost of the Youth Action Leadership Certificate program varies depending on the format and group size. If you’re interested in bringing the program to your community or participating in an upcoming cohort, please fill out the interest form.

We are excited to connect with you and learn more about how we can support your local work! Together, we can prevent and end youth homelessness.