DemocracyReady NY is a statewide, nonpartisan, multigenerational coalition committed to preparing all students for civic participation. The DemocracyReady NY Coalition values youth leadership and participation across all areas of advocacy. To that end, our youth engagement program is designed to support and amplify the voices of young people from urban, rural, and suburban districts across New York State as they engage in student-led inquiry and advocacy, and as they work alongside coalition members to advocate for New York students’ right to be prepared for civic participation. DemocracyReady NY is a project of the Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia University.

We invite high school and early college students to join the coalition as "youth members." Each year the Center for Educational Equity will support a cohort of 5-10 youth members with stipends. The application process will prioritize students who do not already have an internship or paid civic learning opportunity. These youth members will commit approximately 3-5 hours each month and receive a stipend of $300 for each semester of the 2023-24 school year. They will be expected to join 1-2 multigenerational committees and contribute to research, advocacy, and event planning as needed. They will attend weekly virtual check-ins, monthly committee meetings, and bimonthly general meetings. While the majority of activities will be held via Zoom to accommodate students across the state, we expect to plan 1-2 in-person events for the year in New York City at Teachers College, Columbia University, and/or in Albany.