Seattle Launches Youth Civic Engagement Pilot Program

The City of Seattle is currently accepting applications for a new youth civic engagement pilot program that will teach Seattle high school students about leadership, policy, and advocacy. The program, headed by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, will have a cohort of 20 students from across the city participate in monthly sessions from February to July 2025.

The City says this program was initiated from growing requests from young people for leadership and civic engagement opportunities. In the Youth Civic Engagement Program, participants will learn about local policy and how a bill becomes a law, meet with local elected officials, connect with other young leaders in Seattle, and strengthen their advocacy skills around issues they care about.

"The strength of Seattle's future lies in the passion and potential of our young people,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell in a press release. “With the launch of the Youth Civic Engagement Program, we are not only investing in the leadership of tomorrow but creating opportunities for our students to connect with their peers, understand our local government, and become advocates for the changes they wish to see. … I look forward to hearing more of our young people's ideas, creating space for them to inspire change in our communities, and seeing the impact this program has on their trajectory as people."

To apply, students must be in grades 9–12 and attend a Seattle high school. The program will accept 20 students, and the application deadline is Jan. 16.