Did you know? Being part of YLAV can change your life. Yes, we are biased. But to prove our point, here are the top 10 reasons why you should consider joining Young Leaders Against Violence (now accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year!).

1. YLAV looks great on a college application.
   
   Let’s be real… it can be hard to stand out in the college application process. But there aren’t a lot of organizations out there like YLAV. You get a chance to hone your leadership skills and work with issues you care about. That’s pretty special, and something many colleges would be impressed by.
2. Change your community.
   
   Have you ever been told you have to wait until you’re older to make a difference? Well, you won’t at YLAV. You can change your community for the better right now. We recognize that youth activism is real, and it’s powerful.
3. Build some skills that you can really use.
   
   Unleash your inner public speaker. Practice persuasive writing. Learn how to plan and organize and event. There are many opportunities in YLAV to tap into your talents and build skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.
4. Meet other people.
   
   YLAV brings together a diverse group of people, with different backgrounds and experiences, but also a common goal to change the world.
5. Meet community leaders.
   
   Okay, so you might not get to hug the Commander in Chief. But you WILL get the opportunity to meet with local leaders – the very people who make a lot of the decisions affecting your school, your neighborhood, your city.
6. Go places and have new experiences.
   
   There’s a lot of world out there outside of the halls of school. YLAVers get to explore more of it.
7. Have a voice.
   
   In YLAV, you will be heard. Being part of it gives you a platform to share your opinions and spread messages that you care about. And on that note…
8. Explore your passions.
   
   What do you care about? What gets you excited? Dive into the issues that interest you at YLAV.
9. Use what you learn in YLAV at school (and vice versa).
   
   This experience outside the classroom could also help you in it. You’ll learn skills and explore topics that will be relevant to your education and build an amazing foundation for your future. And while that’s really important, you’ll also…
10. Have fun!
    
    Seriously! YLAV is super fun. Join us and find out for yourself.

If you have questions about being involved in YLAV, the application process, or how to meet President Obama (okay, we might not be able to help with that one), just shoot the YLAV Mentors an email at stopviolencegrteens@gmail.com,