Youth Collaboratory Application

We’re thrilled you’ve chosen to apply for Citizen University’s Youth Collaboratory in 2025. Use the following form to apply for upcoming cohorts, which will begin with a virtual orientation in November 2024 and May 2025. You will have the opportunity to let us know which start date you prefer.

Priority Deadline: October 18th, 2024
Regular Deadline: November 1st, 2024

Before completing the following application, please read the information on our website including the list of application questions that you can prepare in advance:

Learn about the application process →

*This form won’t save your responses , so if you want to prep your answers before you begin, you can download the questions.

Our team is ready and willing to support you in submitting an excellent application. For questions about your experience or eligibility, the technicalities of the program, the application process, or anything else, please email Program Manager, Davis Endava ([email protected]).

We’re looking forward to reading your responses! We will reach out to applicants in early December to share our decisions.

When you’re ready, start your application here:

"*" indicates required fields

Step 1 of 5

20%

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Nice to meet you!

These questions will give Citizen University some basic info about you. We collect demographic data to help us understand who we are reaching in an effort to be equitable and accessible for all. We strive to bring a wide array of perspectives and experiences into our programs. Please feel welcome to write in “prefer not to say” for any question below. Thanks for sharing.

Phone*

Where do you live?*

City State / Province / Region

Community Area*

Please select which population density best represents your community.

Birthday*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Please share your birthday

Race*

Please share your racial identity. For example: mixed race; White; Native American; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Gender*

Please share your gender identity. For example: female; nonbinary; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Pronouns*

Please share the pronouns you use. For example: he/him; they/them; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Adult Contact

Who should we keep in the loop about your application status?

Family Contact Name*

Relationship*

Family Contact's Email*

Family Contact's Phone*

Your School

We’ll ask you now for some information about your school. We may contact your school to get more information about you, or to let them know about your application status.

School Name*

School Type*

Location*

City State

Tell us what city or town your school is in.

Year in School*

What year in school are you in currently?

Is it okay for us to contact your school about you?

School's Email

Please tell us the email of the main office or counselor.

School's Phone

Please tell us the main phone number for your school.

Reference (optional)

In our review of your application, we may find it helpful to ask some questions of reference to learn a little bit more about you. This could be someone at your school, a teacher, coach, or another adult (besides your parents or guardian) who knows you well.

Reference's Name

Reference's Email

Reference's Relationship

Reference's Phone

Written Prompts

Take some time to respond to the following questions in writing. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to edit your responses, so please proofread your answers thoroughly before submission. You can scroll back and forth between questions, but applications are final once submitted. Suggested word count: 250 words per question.

1. Identity*

Describe a facet of your identity that is particularly meaningful to you — and tell us why. Identity can include things like: age, gender expression, sexual orientation, where your family is from, race, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, ability and/or disability, life experience, economic background, and so much more. We want to know a bit about what makes you, you.

2. Community*

Describe your community, as you see it. Why does your community matter to you — and to this country?

3. Values*

Citizen University operates with seven core values: Responsibility, Equity, Spirit, Purpose, Ingenuity, Collaboration, and Trust. Select one that feels personally meaningful for you and tell us why it’s a value you share as well.

Hidden

4. Civic Power*

What does “Civic Power” mean to you? How has it shaped your life, whether exercised by you or by others?

Creative Prompts

The Youth Collaboratory is a learning environment that celebrates different ways of communicating and expressing ideas. For the next few questions, rather than writing your responses, you may either upload a video of yourself speaking your answer or you may upload a creative response to the prompt — a poem, drawing, song, animation, etc. The creative response should be original, we want to get to know YOU.

Civic Power*

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 31 MB.

What does “Civic Power” mean to you? How has it shaped your life, whether exercised by you or by others? To learn more about how we define Civic Power at CU, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Eutci7ack.

American Identity*

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 31 MB.

At Citizen University we are building a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship across the country — and in our case, America. In our work, we often reflect on both our creed (the promise imagined at America’s founding) and our deeds (the actions Americans have taken–currently, and throughout history– that have aligned with or been counter to that promise). What does being American mean to you? How do you understand your identity as an American?

Time Commitment

The Youth Collaboratory requires a significant time commitment. If selected, you are committing to attending all scheduled Youth Collaboratory meetings, both in person and virtually. We will be launching two cohorts of the Youth Collaboratory in the coming year. Each cohort is a 6 month time commitment which includes online connection, travel, and dedicated work on a power project in your area. Please share your preferences for joining one of these cohorts:

Winter Cohort*

This is my first choice

This is my second choice

This will not work for my schedule.

Starting with a virtual orientation mid-December 2024, traveling in January and April 2025.

Summer Cohort*

This is my first choice

This is my second choice

This will not work for my schedule.

Starting with a virtual orientation mid-May 2025, traveling in July and October 2025.

Travel*

Winter Cohort Trip 1: Seattle, WA (Jan 29 – Feb 1 2025)

Winter Cohort Trip 2: Los Angeles, CA (Apr 2 – 5, 2025)

Summer Cohort Trip 1: Cambridge, MA (Jul 23 – 26, 2025)

Summer Cohort Trip 2: New York (Oct 15-18th, 2025)

I have a question or comment about one or more of these trips

Each Youth Collaboratory Cohort will travel to two in-person gatherings. These gatherings are a required part of the Youth Collaboratory commitment. Please check each box to indicate that you are available to travel on the following dates in 2025:

What’s your question?

Virtual Meetings*

Tuesdays at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern

Wednesdays at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern

Wednesdays at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern

Thursday at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern

Thursday at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern

Fridays at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern

In addition to travel, cohorts of the Youth Collaboratory will meet together several times over zoom to build relationships and extend learning. When would you be available to meet virtually with your cohort a few times per month? Please select ALL the times that you can make work.

Is there anything you want us to know about your weeknight availability?

How busy are you?*

I have a lot of free time

I'm involved in a few extra curricular activities, but I don't feel super busy

I feel busy every week, with lots on my plate

I feel overwhelmed with the amount of activities I am committed to

Other

The Youth Collaboratory is an opportunity to work hard for the things you believe in, and we are looking for people who are excited to lean all the way in. We won’t sugar coat it — it’s a big commitment, but it’s worth it! We want to accept people into this program who have the time and energy to get the most out of the Youth Collaboratory. Tell us…In a given week, how much time is filled up?

What fills up your time?*

What activities fill up your time? What do you put energy into on a daily basis? What are the passions you can’t stop thinking or talking about?

Almost Done!

Just a few more questions.

How did you hear about the Youth Collaboratory?*

Tell us where you heard about it

Which Alumni?*

Which organization?*

Do you want to subscribe to the Citizen University Newsletter?*

Yes please

No thanks

We send out an email once per month.

Anything else you want us to know?

Feel free to put questions, thoughts, or ideas for us here.

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.