Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead
Chapter Registration is Now Open!
YCD Chapters
You may feel strongly about making positive change as an individual, but having a group of peers who feel similarly and are committed to this work will make your efforts that much stronger. Creating a group will give you and others a community to build relationships, encourage one another when you face challenges, brainstorm solutions, and make positive change on a much larger scale than if you were just working alone!
In YCD terms, organizing really means to form a club or group.
We call these groups YCD Chapters.
What is a YCD Chapter?
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YCD chapters and experiences help young people explore, reflect on, and shape their identities through dialogue, activities, workshops, and group projects that they lead. Participants not only come to understand their identity, but build self-confidence in who they are, as well as who they want to become.
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YCD provides leadership training to youth leaders of each chapter, so these spaces are authentically youth-led. Leaders gain valuable skills they can use for the rest of their lives, including bonding strategies, facilitation skills, conflict resolution, and much more.
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YCD chapters provide spaces where young people can explore the social issues they are curious or passionate about. YCD provides workshop guides to help youth learn and reflect on these issues, and to develop a platform for educating their peers around them.
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YCD chapters provide young people with community, support, and guidance to make a difference through an action project. Chapter members agree on, plan, implement, evaluate, and celebrate the change they made in their community — and it’s 100% youth-led.
YCD Chapters are youth-led groups that partner with YCD for a full school year to take action in their community by researching, designing and completing a YCD supported Action Project.
Through this comprehensive process of identifying a challenge within your community, designing a project to address it, and taking action with your chapter, students will:
What Does a Year as a YCD Chapter Look Like?
Every YCD Chapter follows a year-long journey that is intentionally designed to help students grow from passionate individuals into confident community leaders. Through leadership development, hands-on learning, networking, and real-world action, students gain the knowledge, skills, and support needed to create meaningful change in their schools and communities.
Chapter Registration: August
The YCD Chapter year begins each August as schools, student organizations, and community groups register for the upcoming year. Once registered, chapters are welcomed into the YCD network and begin preparing for an exciting year of leadership, learning, and action.
Training & Education: September to December
The first phase of the year is dedicated to building a strong foundation for your chapter. During these months, students begin meeting regularly as a group, getting to know one another, establishing trust, and creating group norms that will guide them throughout the year.
Students also begin exploring the justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and access (JEDIBA) issues they are most passionate about. Through guided discussions and activities, chapters identify the social justice issue they want to address through their Action Project later in the year.
This phase includes two signature YCD trainings.
Power Up! Leadership Training
Held each October at the University of Denver, Power Up! equips students with the essential leadership skills needed to build and lead an effective chapter. Through interactive workshops, students learn how to facilitate meetings, organize a team, build inclusive communities, understand the foundations of community organizing, strengthen their leadership style, and much more. Power Up! provides the tools chapters need to begin the year with confidence and purpose.
Power Forward! Action Project Training (Late Fall)
After learning the fundamentals of leadership, chapters participate in Power Forward!, a full-day workshop focused on designing their chapter's Action Project. Students engage in hands-on sessions covering project planning, stakeholder management, asset mapping, goal setting, and implementation strategies. By the end of the day, every chapter leaves with a clear action plan and the resources needed to begin creating change in their community.
Networking & Inspiration: January
After a fall filled with learning and preparation, students gather from across the country for the Annual YCD Conference in Denver.
The conference is an opportunity to connect with hundreds of student leaders, activists, educators, and community members who share a commitment to creating more just and inclusive communities. Chapters have the opportunity to discuss the Action Projects they developed during Power Forward!, exchange ideas with students from different schools and communities, attend inspiring keynote presentations, experience student performances, and participate in educational workshops covering more than 40 JEDIBA-related topics.
Students leave the conference energized, inspired, and ready to put their ideas into action. You can learn more about the conference on our Events page.
Take Action: February to May
With a well-designed Action Project, a trusted team, and renewed inspiration from the conference, chapters spend the spring bringing their vision to life.
Over the course of four months, students implement the Action Project they designed, working to create meaningful and measurable change within their school or community. This experiential learning process allows students to apply the leadership, communication, collaboration, and community organizing skills they have developed throughout the year.
Throughout this phase, YCD staff provide ongoing support to both students and adult mentors. Whether a chapter needs help overcoming challenges, adjusting project goals, connecting with community partners, or troubleshooting unexpected obstacles, our team is available to help chapters succeed and make thoughtful pivots when needed.
At the conclusion of the school year, chapters report back to YCD, celebrating their accomplishments and reflecting on the impact they made.
Reflect & Prepare: June to August
After completing their Action Projects, chapters spend the summer celebrating their successes, reflecting on lessons learned, and preparing to register for the next YCD Chapter year.
Every step of the YCD Chapter experience is intentionally designed to build the knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills students need to become the next generation of community changemakers. Rather than simply learning about leadership, students experience it firsthand by identifying real community needs, designing solutions, and leading meaningful change alongside their peers.
Every chapter is unique.
While this timeline represents the typical YCD Chapter experience, we recognize that every school, student organization, and community has different needs. Action Projects, meeting schedules, and program timelines may vary, and YCD is happy to work with chapters to develop abbreviated or adjusted timelines that best fit their goals and circumstances.
Ready to Become A YCD Chapter?
Why Become a Chapter?
Becoming a chapter is the most comprehensive way to engage with YCD and maximize your impact throughout the year.
Membership as a YCD Chapter includes:
Free registration to Power Up! Leadership Training (offered in person or virtually) to learn skills of meeting facilitation, group decision making, and community organizing
Free registration to the 35th Annual YCD Conference for a day of networking, inspiration, and celebration with over 600 attendees from across the country
Free registration to Power Forward! Action Training (offered in person or virtually) to gain the skills in designing and implementing your Action Project from start to finish
Ongoing coaching and consultation for your chapter from YCD’s Program Manager
Free access to YCD’s monthly Chapter Connections newsletter featuring opportunities, resources, and chapter highlights
Chapter Membership
Annual Chapter Membership: $300 per school year.
We intentionally keep membership affordable so more schools and organizations can participate. Scholarship assistance is available for groups with financial need because we never want cost to prevent students from participating.
If you have questions or concerns with membership fees, please contact Amy Atkins, program manager, at aatkins@ycdiversity.org
Who Can Become A Chapter?
A chapter can be almost any existing student organization with motivated student leaders and an adult advisor.
YCD chapters are often (but not always):
Diversity or multicultural youth groups/clubs
Student governments and student councils
Peace/conflict resolution focused organization including PeaceJam and Interact
Affinity groups celebrating specific student ethnicities including Black Student Alliance, LULAC, and Native/Indigenous student clubs
GSAs, GLSN or other groups celebrating and supporting TQ2S+ and allied youth
Religious student groups interested in exploring interfaith dialogue and positive social change
Youth environmental groups focused on climate justice work
Youth mental health and substance prevention groups
Youth commissions
School district youth equity committees
Library teen councils
And many more!