Sign-Up Opens for DMV Youth Assembly on Youth Policymaking

Are you an 8th-12th grader in a school in DC, or within one hour’s drive from DC?
Want to help empower young people + get community service hours + get a chance to win prizes including $100 cash + make helpful connections + build community + learn a lot + have fun?

Then RSVP to take part in the Youth Assembly on Youth Policymaking

(YAYP)!  YAYP is part of the DMV Democracy Learning Community (DLC), which includes Learning Life’s Democracy Dinners and the DMV Democracy Festival.  YAYP offers 8th-12th grade students in the DC region the opportunity to join a new community of caring youth and adults empowering youth in democracy, and learn about government policy making through practice with guidance from policymaking professionals.

Those students — up to a limit of 150 DMV 8th-12th graders — who complete all the following steps get all the above-mentioned benefits.  YAYP steps/components to complete, in this order:
  1. Complete the RSVP, including your pic + answers to questions that will be featured online on a poster about you to introduce the youth participating in YAYP.
  2. Complete the YAYP pre-survey online.  Those who complete the RSVP will receive the pre-survey.
  3. Set up a free Linkedin profile (including at least a pic of you + your school name), if you don’t already have one, then join the YAYP Linkedin community.  Those who complete the RSVP and pre-survey will be allowed entry to the community.
  4. Participate in YAYP Part 1: Speakers & Discussion on Youth Policymaking on Saturday, September 27, 1-3pm via Zoom.  Those who complete the RSVP and pre-survey and join the Linkedin community will receive the Zoom link via email.
  5. Participate in YAYP Part 2: Youth Assembly on Youth Policymaking on Saturday, October 4, 1:00-3:30pm in person at the 2025 DMV Democracy Festival.  Participants must complete the YAYP post-survey at the Assembly’s end to get community service hours credit + raffle tickets for DemFest prizes including $100 cash.
  6. Optional: Motivated YAYP participants will have the opportunity to develop their public speaking skill by sharing their experience of YAYP at public meetings following YAYP.
Teachers and student leaders interested in learning more and connecting with the wider DLC should RSVP to attend one of Learning Life’s upcoming three Democracy Dinners before DemFest, on Saturdays May 3, June 28, or August 23, 6-9pm in DC.  Dinner details come to those who RSVP.
Schools that wish to reserve 5 up to 10 YAYP seats for their students should contribute $1,000 to the cost of YAYP.  Individuals and schools can also choose to join Learning Life’s wider Democracy & Diplomacy Community (DDC) to access more benefits.  If interested, please contact Paul Lachelier at paul@learninglife.info to discuss details.