We’re activating the nation to achieve

50% YOUTH PARTICIPATION BY AMERICA 250

Youth Service America (YSA) believes that youth, communities, and democracy thrive when everyone participates and works together for the common good.

Even though youth participation rates are at or near record-high levels, we’re still leaving 3 of every 4 young people out of actively working together for the common good. Participation rates are even lower among youth from underserved low-income and BIPOC communities.

Beginning in July 2021, YSA’s work is focused on increasing youth participation rates in volunteering and service, voting and civic engagement, and joining and leadership to 50% by America 250 on July 4, 2026, on the way to 100% a decade later so that no one is left out of participating in our democracy.

Youth Participation Goals

Beginning in July 2021, YSA’s work is focused on increasing youth participation rates in volunteering & service, voting & civic engagement, and joining & leadership to 50% by America 250 on July 4, 2026, on the way to 100% a decade later so that no one is left out of participating in our democracy.

50% Volunteering & Service

• 22% of young people ages 15-24 volunteer, and 22% donate to charitable causes.
• 26% of students say they often work on projects with real-world applications in school.

50% Voting &
Civic Engagement

• 23% of eligible first-time voters (18-19 year-olds), and 28% of 18-29 year-olds voted in 2018.
• 23% of students rate proficient on a national civics exam, and 29% are encouraged to get involved.

50% Joining &
Leadership

• 23% of families have a child enrolled in an afterschool program, and 33% have a child in a summer learning program.
• 32% of youth are a part of more than one community group.

Over the next five years, the 50% Youth Participation by America 250 campaign will:

Use field-building collective impact strategies to…
Partner with and build the capacity of all types of institutions serving and engaging youth to…
Influence direct actions to address the barriers to participation for both youth and institutions to…
Increase the number of opportunities and participation rates (including closing equity/opportunity gaps) in all streams of participation (volunteering & service, voting & civic engagement, joining & leadership) to…
Achieve a population-level change (at least 50% of youth ages 5-25 regularly participate in working together for the common good) that helps all young people, communities, and our democracy thrive.