If you’re a concerned young Christian looking for a way to engage your community in concrete climate action — consider applying for Y.E.C.A.’s Project Leader program. As a Project Leader you will work with experienced Y.E.C.A. staff and partners both to (1) articulate and promote a biblical understanding of the climate crisis, and (2) develop a strategy for implementing specific projects around climate action. The Project Leader program is purposefully flexible so that you can use your individual gifts and abilities to craft a unique and impactful climate action project that is relevant to your community.
The Y.E.C.A. Staff and Steering Committee aim to work alongside Project Leaders to help them implement climate-related activities, community events, or advocacy plans. By participating in this program you receive an organizer kit with Y.E.C.A. materials and connections with a community of like-minded people for encouragement and support.
Whether you’re a young leader within your church, a concerned citizen seeking to engage your community in sustainability, or a leader of a campus environmental club, Y.E.C.A.'s Project Leader Program can help you inspire your community to action. Below is a list of current openings for Y.E.C.A. projects. Apply today!
Opportunities
- Participate in a broader movement of creation care and climate action to impact your church, campus, or community for good.
- Learn more about the theological and scientific support for creation care and climate action.
- Gain valuable skills and experience in organizing/mobilization, community building, leadership development, and more.
- Build meaningful relationships with peers and experts within your community and from around the country.
- Benefit from numerous Y.E.C.A. resources, connections, and ongoing training.
Expectations
- Be an active and committed Christian, and support the mission of Y.E.C.A.
- Participate in training/orientation modules.
- Work with Y.E.C.A. staff and subcommittees to develop a plan for engaging your campus, church, or community around climate action.
- Participate in quarterly conference calls with other Project Leaders
- Share your experiences as a Project Leader with your community and Y.E.C.A. to help empower fellow climate action advocates.
- Be 30 years of age or younger and located in the United States.
Projects
Project Title: Civic Engagement Organizer
Project Description: Y.E.C.A. Civic Engagement Organizers identify a local or state-level climate related issue and work with the young evangelical community to advocate for climate action on the issue. This leader will organize young evangelicals to attend rallies and local representative town halls of policymakers across the political spectrum to explicitly call for climate friendly policies within the context of Christian stewardship. This advocacy could manifest in advocating for policies that encourage public transportation, jurisdictional carbon neutral commitments, or clean energy, among many others. The project leader works with the Y.E.C.A. Civic Engagement Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: 1 year; possibility of extension depending upon project context
Project Title: Civic Engagement Handbook Developer
Project Description: The Y.E.C.A. Civic Engagement Handbook Developer will create a “best practices” resource that highlights Y.E.C.A. civic engagement projects. This visually appealing handbook will act as a critical tool for inspiring the next generation of Y.E.C.A. organizers. We are looking for a young evangelical who is passionate about climate action and has experience with creative writing and graphic design. The project leader works with the Y.E.C.A. Civic Engagement Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: 6 months
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Project Title: Climate and the Church Conversation Facilitator
Project Description: Many young evangelicals care about climate stewardship, yet struggle to find support and fellowship in their church community around this issue. Y.E.C.A. is seeking passionate young evangelicals who would like to facilitate more conversations in their church community about climate stewardship. This project will involve mentorship by members of the Y.E.C.A. Prayer/Evangelical Leader Engagement Subcommittee, and include the development of ‘conversation resources’.
Timeline: 6 months; possibility of extension depending upon project context
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Project Title: Evangelical Leader Letter Campaign Organizer
Project Description: Denominational leaders, especially for those denominations that belong to the National Association of Evangelicals, need to hear from young evangelicals that we strongly support our church communities leading the fight to stop climate change. As a Project Leader, you will spearhead a letter campaign that will enable Y.E.C.A. activists to call on their respective denominational leaders to act on climate change. This includes helping recruit letter writers, providing resources like a template letter and addresses, and following up with denominational leaders after they've received letters. The goal for this project is to generate 50 letters per year from Y.E.C.A. activists. The project leader works with the Y.E.C.A. Prayer/Evangelical Leader Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: 1 year; possibility of extension depending upon project context
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Project Title: Faithful Neighbor Award Administrator
Project Description: The Y.E.C.A. Faithful Neighbor Award celebrates the accomplishments of young evangelicals who have shown remarkable leadership in the realm of climate action. These are the young leaders who are at the forefront of climate action in their respective fields and church communities. The administrator of this award will process award nominations, interview award recipients, and develop written content that highlights the work of these climate action leaders. The project leader works with the Y.E.C.A. Project Leader Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: 1 year
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Project Title: Capturing Climate Testimonies
Project Description: Every evangelical has a different story to tell when it comes to how they developed a passion for climate action. Whether it was from taking a course on climate science, hearing an inspirational climate action sermon, or living in a community directly feeling the impacts of climate change, each person’s story illustrates the diversity among climate stewardship evangelicals. Y.E.C.A. has been recording these stories since our inception in 2012 and is seeking project leaders to record stories from their own communities to add to our library of inspirational testimonies. The project leader works with the Y.E.C.A. Communications Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: 3 months; possibility of extension depending upon project context
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Project Title: Your Own Idea for Action
Project Description: Are you a young evangelical who is passionate about climate action? Are you looking for resources and a support structure to help you in an existing or upcoming climate action initiative? Y.E.C.A. would like to provide you with the mentorship and resources to make your project successful and rewarding! You will work under the mentorship of a Y.E.C.A. Subcommittee to set and accomplish project goals.
Timeline: Depends upon project