2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference
EmpowerLA proudly presents the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference, a one-day event on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 8:00am-4:00pm designed to engage and inspire youth from across Los Angeles. This year’s event will welcome 100 young people between the ages of 14-17 who will dive into the role the Neighborhood Council system plays in grassroots local democracy, attend learning sessions on ways to be civically engaged in the community, network with like-minded young leaders, engage with City leaders, and so much more.
EmpowerLA seeks to motivate young people to get involved with the Neighborhood Council system and intentionally shape their personal and professional futures. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from City leaders, attend workshops and panel discussions, and participate in a resource fair with over a dozen City departments and trusted community partners. This conference is free to attend, and breakfast and lunch will be provided to all attendees.
Youth interested in attending the 2025 EmpowerLA Conference will be asked to complete a short application. This is a selective opportunity, and not all applicants will be invited to attend the conference. Applications are due no later than 11:59pm on Friday, December 20th.
Please contact Erica G. Doughty or Ava Marinelli, EmpowerLA Youth Conference Co-Chairs, with any questions.
Key Application Dates |
|
|---|---|
| Please find the dates for the 2025 application cycle listed below: | |
Event |
Date |
| Application Opens | Monday, October 28, 2024 |
| Application Closes | Friday, December 20, 2024 |
| Notification of Acceptance | Mid January 2025 |
| Attendance Confirmation Deadline | Late January 2025 |
| Virtual Information Session | Early February 2025 |
| 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference | Saturday, February 22, 2025 |
The 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference is available to any selected youth who is between the ages of 14-17 and has some sort of stakeholder status within the City of Los Angeles. Below are examples of what would constitute you as a stakeholder:
- If you live in Los Angeles
- If you go to school in Los Angeles
- If you volunteer in Los Angeles
- If you work in Los Angeles
- If you are a member of an institution in Los Angeles
Not sure if you live, work, go to school, or volunteer within the City of Los Angeles? Check out our Neighborhood Council map to find out!
Youth interested in participating in the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference must submit an application by Friday, December 20, 2024. Applications will undergo a thorough review process by our staff, who will invite 100 applicants to attend the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference.
In mid-January, every applicant will receive an email notification about the status of their application. If an applicant has been invited to attend the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference, an email response to confirm your attendance is required no later than late January.
If you have questions about the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference, we have answers! Check out the FAQs here.
Help Promote the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference!
To help us spread the word, our office has created an outreach toolkit with sample social media graphics and language, newsletter blurbs, and printable fliers. We would love your help in sharing the information with any high schools, youth organizations, or other partnerships in your community. Thank you in advance for your help in promoting the 2025 EmpowerLA Youth Conference!
2024 EmpowerLA Youth Conference Testimonials
“My biggest takeaway from the event was the abundance of opportunities I have to voice my opinions despite my age.”
“I have more opportunities than I expected to get my voice heard in the community which can reach the city to make a very huge impact.”
“I feel more confident in addressing the challenges in my community and know that sometimes it will be hard, but in the long run it will be worth it. I now know that it’s important to reach out to other people and to be able to take initiative.”
“Before, I didn’t realize how easy or effective it is for me to get involved, but now I know I am able to help.”
“[This conference] helped me realize that even though we are not adults we still have a major impact on our community”
“I’m encouraged to participate in my community and offer insight about my personal experience in my community and how it can be improved by officials.”
“I was able to see that I do not have to wait to turn 18 to have some sort of way of fighting challenges within my community. Now I have new ways as to how to participate in advocating for these solutions.”
“Now that I understand the system of these councils, I can make sure to advocate for the awareness of how people can directly get involved with the city government and I can be a proponent of the youth programs in facilitating these changes.”