What is the Youth Advisory Council (YAC)?

We serve the following towns in Caledonia/southern Essex counties:

Lyndonville, Sheffield, Wheelock, Burke (West and East), East Haven, Sutton, Newark, Kirby, St. Johnsbury, Waterford, Danville, Walden, Peacham, Groton, Ryegate, Concord, Lunenburg, Gilman, Guildhall, Victory, Granby.

Our membership is made up of youth members and adult advisors who work together to accomplish the following goals:

• Serve as administrators for a Youth Initiated Grant from the State of Vermont.
• Offer financial backing to projects, events, and activities developed by and for youth.
• Promote substance abuse and violence prevention and intervention throughout Caledonia and southern Essex counties.
• Work on the development of a strong youth voice in our communities through leadership training and by seeking and assuming leadership roles.
• Offer various activities and events which bring youth together from different towns/schools within our catchment area so that they will have the chance to work and play together.
• Promote positive working relationships between youth and adults.

Who can be a member?

Our group is open to any youth grades 6 through 12, or age eligible home schooled or out of school youth. Adult advisors can be any adult who has graduated from high school or is 19 years old or older and who believes in the power of youth to get things done!

How do I become a member?

New members must attend a one-hour orientation, which is held on the second Wednesday of each month just prior to our regular business meeting. Once you have attended the meeting, you will officially be part of our YAC. If you want to learn more about us, call Sue Teske at 1-802-626-5653 (eve) or Lucy Hickey at 1-802-748-8837. These are two of our adult advisors who would be glad to give you information or put you in touch with other YAC members.

How do I apply for the grant money that you have?

You can apply for grant money by calling one of the advisors and having an application sent to you OR you can download your own copy of the application right from this web site. Applications are reviewed once a month at our regular montly meeting, which is held on the second Wednesday of the month. We ask the grant applicant to be present during the meeting to answer any questions that we may have. Applicants may ask for any amount of money but typical grant requests are between $500. to $1,000. Funding is determined by the merit of the proposal based on the criteria listed in our grant application. The YAC reserves the right to fund all, part, or none of a grant request depending on the proposal and our funds availability.

Why would I want to be a YAC?

Because more than anything else - we like to have FUN!!! We come from all walks of life, different backgrounds and interests, unique qualities and despite all of our differences we have come together for the common purpose of helping youth to be heard and supported. Our goal is to impact all youth, including ourselves, to learn to make healthy choices that will last for life. Check us out.

Last updated: January 5, 2006