Young People For was launched in 2004 by People for the American Way Foundation to train and educate young leaders in the progressive movement. Every year, they hold a summit in January in Washington, D.C., with almost two hundred high school and college students from campuses all over to the country, for these young people to learn, network, and feel the energy of the progressive community (and, truth time, have an awesome all-expense paid week in D.C.).

After the summit, these students become fellows of YP4, and they get support from the organization to start a project on their campuses, in their communities, or nationwide; this blog is 2007 Senior Fellow Liz Funk’s project. Other blueprint projects pursued by other fellows include a living wage campaign at Baylor University, a massive voter mobilization initiative at Penn State, and the instating of a highly successful anti-sexual harassment task force at the University of Pennsylvania.

Young People For fellows can also take part in leadership trainings and go to events for progressives in their area (for example, Liz and her friend Maggie got to go to the premiere of Shut Up and Sing and saw the Dixie Chicks in person). YP4 also has an awesome blog and a great web-site that you should totally check out, especially if you are interested in becoming a fellow.