Westchester County Junior & Senior Youth Councils
FSW’s Westchester County Youth Council (WCYC) is a youth leadership program that promotes civic engagement among youth of all backgrounds in Westchester County. With a Junior and Senior group, these countywide, youth-led and multi-issue advocacy programs are designed to equip teens and preteens with the critical thinking and leadership skills necessary to become engaged citizens who create positive change in their communities. The Westchester Youth Councils have no religious orientation.
The Junior Council is for middle schoolers (ages 10-14) and the Senior Council for high school students (ages 15-18).
About the Junior Youth Council
The Junior Council program for middle schoolers is structured around four components:
- Community service
- Collaboration with the Senior Youth Council
- Training from Westchester County professionals
- Mission-related research, fact-finding and field trips
About the Senior Youth Council
Our Senior Youth Council program provides training on leadership, peer education and advocacy skills. Members organize projects and events to address the issues that are important to them, becoming an active “voice” and sounding board throughout Westchester County for important issues of county responsibility such as health, mental health and the social services planning process. Program participants develop and promote a countywide youth agenda and serve on committees to implement that agenda.
Youth Action Training
FSW’s Westchester County Youth Councils sponsor an annual Youth Action Training. It is a unique educational conference where teens can deepen their knowledge of important issues, build leadership skills and connect with other young change-makers.
Our past conferences included a wide range of topics including:
- COVID-19 and Public Health
- Climate Action
- Public Speaking
- Sustainable Architecture
- LGBTQ+ Workshop
- Importance of Voting
- Title IX
- Youth/Community Organizing & Effective Activism
- Anti-Racism Workshop
If you or someone you know would like to participate in the WCYC, contact us at (914) 358-5566 or email Chloe.Fernandez@fsw.org.
Please note: a Parental Consent Form, Transportation Permission Form and Photo & Video Release Form are required for either online OR paper registration! Sending ahead via e-mail will speed up registration, but it’s okay to bring consent forms the day of. Download that information below:
Contact Information:
Sheldon Edwards, Youth Councils Co-Director
Sheldon.Edwards@fsw.org
The Youth Councils are funded in part by the Westchester County Youth Bureau, Con Edison, Westchester Community Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.