YOUth Have a Voice!
Youth in Governance and Civic Engagement Program
YOUth have a Voice is a nine-month program open to teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project on a topic of their interest.
Youth projects will be in one of three categories:
- Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative
- Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed
- Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project
Teens will be mentored by adults to assist their learning of civic processes and ways to meet their project goals. The program will be from late August 2023 to May 2024 and the total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours depending on the type of project. The program will be open for teens ages 14+ years old or entering high school in the fall of 2023.
Registration has been extended to August 7, 2023!
If you believe, after reviewing our program requirements, you are eligible and agree to meet all requirements of this program, proceed to complete and submit the following:
The program will be limited to 16 youths.
Youth Project Categories:
For Questions:
Please contact Andrew Hudacs, Assistant Extension Professor, 4-H Statewide Teen Leadership and Workforce Development (UMaine Extension), by email at andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, or call 207.581.8204.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).