Our approach is unique, since we involve student input in every aspect of our programming. Our student leaders rotate yearly, and as such leadership training is an ongoing process.

We have a weekly Tuesday meeting with our Youth Steering Committee, usually made up of twelve to twenty students from high schools around New York City beginning in September as the school year starts. The leaders are introduced to the organizational bodies of local politics, such as the City Council and the State Assembly. They aid the organization by planning special events of their choosing, such as a pre-election debate or a Battle of the Bands-type event. These meetings are followed by a six-week training on either public speaking or local politics.

Each Tuesday meeting is composed of committees that strategize the enactment of resolutions from past Congresses. The committees delegate responsibility for calling elected officials or performing further research on a resolution. Each week, committee members update the leaders on the progression of their resolutions. Often, our leaders meet with staff of elected officials for guidance on how to progress with a particular resolution. Our administrative staff may facilitate these discussions and/or organize meetings when youth leaders are not able to (staff members never attend meetings with elected officials when youth leaders are not able to).

Beginning in January and continuing through April, youth undergo leadership training and more members are brought onto the steering committee (up to 35). These leaders play various roles (President Pro Tems, Timekeepers, and Committee Heads) at the Youth Congress in the Spring. Our administrative staff facilitates the delegation of roles and defines the detailed logistics of the Congress, organizing when and where it will take place, how many people will attend and how much it will cost. The bulk of our high school outreach is performed by a team of college interns along with the most active members of the Youth Steering Committee.

In Summer, leadership meetings emphasize research. The resolutions passed at the Congress are researched extensively in order to give our Steering Committee a strong sense of direction for the Fall. Our administrative staff guides our leaders through this research.

In sum, youth are involved in the following ways:

1. Weekly Tuesday meetings when leaders are trained and develop programs
2. Meetings with elected officials and/or political specialists
3. Seasonal events such as political debates or press conferences
4. Our Annual Youth Congress

Administrative staff facilitates discussions, performs outreach to high schools, and builds partnerships with other non-profits to provide more options for our youth leadership to enact the resolutions from past Congresses. When outreaching to non-profits, youth leaders are invited to every meeting we have with organizational directors.