The Statewide Youth Council is a youth-led leadership initiative bringing together college students, young adults, high school Bigs, and Littles from across Alabama to strengthen mentoring through advocacy, community engagement, and relationship building.

Representing agencies across the state, council members work collaboratively to elevate youth voice and help shape how mentoring is experienced and understood in schools, colleges, communities, and online spaces. Through statewide collaboration, members will help answer important questions facing mentoring today: How can mentorship become more accessible, engaging, and visible to young people? How can stronger partnerships be built with schools, colleges, community leaders, and underserved communities? And how can youth themselves help position mentoring as something impactful, relevant, and fun?

The council is organized around five focus areas: civic relations, school relations, higher education engagement, community engagement, and communications.

Members will serve as organizers, advocates, and relationship-builders within their own communities while collaborating with peers from across Alabama to support the mission of mentorship statewide. This opportunity is designed for students and young adults ages 16–25 who are passionate about leadership, service, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact through mentoring and community involvement. Participants must have some ongoing or past relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Big, Little, or staff member.

Applications are due by September 30th. Please contact bbbsalyc@gmail.com

Please rank the following questions from 1–5 based on which you are the most interested in helping us answer.

• 1 = Your highest preference
• 5 = Your lowest preference
• Use each number only once.
• Do not assign the same ranking to multiple areas.
• Example: If you rank a question as 1, no other area should receive a 1.

Your rankings will not determine your eligibility but will aide in determining the best fit for your interests, skills, and goals.

Please read the following and confirm your agreement to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Alabama Statewide Youth Council:

- If invited, I can be available for a 20-30 minute interview during October
- I understand that if selected, the commitment begins at the end of 2026 and goes  through December 2027.
- I understand that I will be required to attend an orientation event in Birmingham shortly after acknowledgement of my selection
- I understand that I will be required to attend an advocacy day at the state capitol in Late Spring
- I understand that I may be asked to attend in-person events at my local agency and may be required to cover expenses associated with local events

I have read and understand the information in this application and will honor the responsibilities of a Alabama State Youth Council member upon my selection. I understand that if selected and unwilling to fulfill my responsibilities as a Alabama State Youth Council member, I will forfeit my position. To that effect, my application is complete to the best of my abilities in full disclosure. I understand the failure to complete my application will result in being disqualified for consideration. By typing my name below, I confirm that all the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.