Teens Make a Difference Serving on FEMA’s Youth Council

Teens interested in community preparedness who want to make a positive impact on their communities are invited to join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC).

Applications for teens in grades eight through 11 are being accepted for a one-year term that begins in July 2024. The teens, as council members, will work on local and national projects, such as designing a graphic novel to help children understand the effects of climate change, creating support groups to help young people who have experienced disasters and creating a book to help young people understand what goes into making decisions during a disaster.

“The Youth Preparedness Council is a unique opportunity for teens across America to get a sense of what it’s like to be an emergency manager,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement. “It also lets us take a glimpse into the future of our profession — and let me say, the future is bright.”

The new council members will attend the July 2025 Council Summit, where they will be able to meet with some of the top leaders in FEMA, the federal government and national nonprofit organizations. They will be able to attend sessions, workshops and networking events, and will be able to present their project proposals to a panel of emergency management experts.

Interested teens must fill out an application form and include two letters of recommendation. They will be selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts to make a difference in their communities and their potential to continue to make an impact nationwide. Applications and letters must be submitted by March 4.