Want to become a Youth Leader for Change?
Apply Now!
Download the WomenNC Youth Leaders for Change Program Application
Application Deadline: August 20, 2025
Currently accepting applications from all high school students in Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties.
If you have any questions, concerns, or issues accessing this application, please email info@womennc.org.
About the Program:
WomenNC is launching a bold new initiative to cultivate the next generation of community leaders through the Youth Leaders for Change Training Program, a nine-month, hands-on experience for high school juniors and seniors in Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties. Designed to close the opportunity gap in civic leadership, the program empowers young people—particularly girls and gender-diverse youth—with the skills, confidence, and mentorship they need to become changemakers in their communities.
Through workshops, mentorship, and participation in WomenNC’s operational committees, students will explore advocacy, public speaking, financial empowerment, and nonprofit leadership. They’ll also take part in WomenNC’s signature events—the October Kickoff Gala and Local to Global Forum—gaining firsthand experience in public dialogue, coalition-building, and civic action.
Participants will work alongside college students from Duke, NC State, and NCCU, while receiving guidance from mentors at the Durham and Chapel Hill NOW chapters, and board members from Pro-Choice NC, the ERA-NC Alliance, and other local advocacy organizations. This multi-generational mentorship enriches their leadership development and expands their networks.
Two outstanding students will be selected to attend a fully funded national Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. To ensure equity, preference will be given to students with strong interest and leadership potential who may lack financial means. This initiative is a strategic investment in youth leadership across the Triangle and North Carolina, building a long-term pipeline of empowered, justice-oriented leaders prepared to create lasting social change.