Make your voice heard and play a role in exciting opportunities and fun events in your community! Activities will be picked, planned, run, and enjoyed by you and other teens your age. The role of United Way is to mentor and empower you, while bringing your dreams to life! You will:
- Learn new skills
- Get practical experience in the areas that interest you
- Gain volunteer hours for school!
Application Deadline: Monday, September 8, 2025
First council meeting: September 2025 (Details TBD)
United Way of Central Louisiana is seeking teens (13-17 years old) of all backgrounds to participate in our mentoring and empowerment-based events program!
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Teen council members will be expected to:
- Attend weekly council check-ins via phone or video conferencing
- Attend monthly meetings in person
- Participate in events (Pop-Ups with a Purpose & Women’s Panel)
- Make a commitment to set a good example in their relationships, school performance, and community by signing the council agreement
How does it work?
Our teen council members will be given leadership and life skills training on a series of topics over
the first 6 months. During the next phase, they will brainstorm and vote on what events would be the
most relevant for other area teens. Once the final event list is selected, our adult mentors empower
and guide them as they make their ideas come to life. They will learn firsthand how to plan, budget,
obtain resources, promote, and ultimately host their very own widescale events for teens (Pop-Ups
with a Purpose and our yearly Women’s Panel).
What are the perks?
- A reward-based system just for council members where they can earn points by accomplishing
goals in the areas of personal responsibility or initiative, demonstrably consistent and healthy
self-care, school performance, program attendance, taking positive participation/interaction
with their fellow council members, acts of kindness and community service and more!
Incentives will include things like gift cards, electronics, games, subscriptions, memberships or
tickets to experiences/venues, and more!
- Exclusive opportunities to interact closely with role models like inspirational celebrities,
business owners, and local leaders.
- A professional volunteer resume showing all the participation hours completed through the
council, issued by United Way of Central Louisiana at the end of the12 month term. Upon
request, they will also be issued a letter of recommendation that can be used for future
employment or education purposes or to fulfill community service requirements.
- Confidence building and hands-on experience working in their area of interest to engage other
youth, all while being mentored and supported.
- Exposure to a diverse range of people, from a variety of backgrounds, within a respectful and safe
environment.
- Referrals, resources, and connections to help each council member thrive and reach towards
their full potential.
- Preregistration opportunities for other United Way of Central Louisiana offerings that have
limited registration.
Sign up for our Teen Advisory Council today by filling out the application linked below!
If a teen applies, are they automatically accepted?
This phase of the Teen Advisory Council is still in the early stages of what we hope it will one day become. Depending on response volume and the total number of applications, we may hold informal mini-interviews to narrow down the council candidates, with a max number of 16 members.
Selection factors will include the applicant’s personal desire and motivation to participate,
comprehensive representation of the different teens we target across our 8 parishes, and any unique
skills, viewpoints or talents that will complement each other within the team.
Do prior juvenile offenses or school disciplinary actions (such as expulsion/ suspension) disqualify teens from being council members?
No. While teens will be asked to commit to a standardized agreement for conduct during their time on the council, they will not be excluded for any past behaviors and anyone between the ages of 13-17 is encouraged to apply.
Are there any location-based requirements?
In order to be a council member, teens must reside within one of the 8 parishes that we currently serve:
Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, La Salle, Vernon, Winn, or Rapides.
Is the council tied to a specific school system?
No. Public school students, private school students, homeschool students, distance learners, and
alternative school students are all welcome to apply for a seat on the council.
When and where will the meetings and events be held?
After being accepted as an applicant, each teen will be sent an informational quiz asking about their
areas of interest, scheduling availability and preferences for meeting types/locations. Based on the
responses we receive, we will try to find a solution that will be as accessible as possible for each
member. (Right now, the main options under consideration are Friday/Saturday/Sunday evenings or
Saturday during the day. The meeting location is most likely to be our offices in Alexandria, but we will
consider other options, depending on what is workable for the teens involved, as well as their
families.)
Is transportation provided?
At this time, we do not have an organization-owned method of group transportation, so we cannot
offer regular transportation easily. However, if an applicant displays a high level of interest and
commitment, with transportation being the only barrier, we will do our best to arrange for a way for
that individual to be able to participate.
Is the council directly affiliated with any specific political party, ideology, religion or faith?
United Way is not a political or religious organization, although we recognize the important role that
those organizations can play. We partner with a number of groups, organizations, and agencies to
address areas of need, so that everyone can thrive. Looking all the way back in time to 1887, when
the first individuals banded together into the movement that ultimately birthed United Way
Worldwide, the goal has always been to make our communities a better place.