YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

Minerva BC greatly values the wisdom and leadership of young people and is committed to amplifying the profile and impact of young leaders across BC. There is an upcoming generation of young women who have the ambition, optimism and desire to change the world and our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) allows Learning to Lead™ alumnae to put their leadership into action.

Participation on the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) provides an opportunity for Learning to Lead™ alumnae to advance on their leadership journey.

We are deeply grateful to Aritzia for the continued support for the YAC program and championing of youth leadership.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the YAC is to engage a group of Learning to Lead™ alumni committed to putting their leadership into meaningful action as well as to advance Minerva’s mission to uplift young leaders across the province. This is a space for young leaders to build community, share ideas with one another, and develop crucial leadership skills for the future.

OBJECTIVES

Community

Connecting with a network of leaders is one of the most important aspects of the YAC. Participation in the YAC offers many opportunities to build community, mentor, and be mentored.

Leadership Development

Being part of the YAC after the Learning to Lead™ experience is an opportunity for youth to continue their leadership development within a supportive group of peers and strengthen important skills for their next educational and career steps.

Resilience

Cultivating resilience as healthy leaders is a key area of focus for this group. YAC members deepen their ability to take healthy risks and grow their confidence by taking action on the issues they care about.

STRUCTURE + GOVERNANCE

All participants are members of the broader Council as well as a member of a sub-committee focused on Mentorship or Communication.

The YAC is led by two youth Co-Chairs with guidance and support from the Youth Programs Manager. The Co-Chairs serve as leaders and mentors to the YAC, working in partnership with Minerva to engage, advance, and develop young leaders.

Each Committee also has two youth Co-Chairs supported by the Chairs and members of the Minerva team. In addition to the learning offered through our regular YAC activities, these members also learn additional valuable leadership skills such as team building, how to lead a meeting, and project management.

2022 ACTIVITIES

The YAC is a year-long program with members meeting formally and informally each month. Some of the exciting activities planned for 2022 include:

A career readiness workshop with a senior leader from Aritzia
Facilitation coaching and workshop delivery
'Mindful Moments' podcast highlighting youth voices on leadership
Launching a YAC TikTok account
Developing and executing social media campaigns
Creating and launching a University Survival Guide

"This has been a year of transitions for me, with the completion of my first year of
university, return to in person learning and entering into my second year of
classes. Therefore, having the Minerva Youth Advisory Council as a community
and opportunity for growth has been essential.

The sense of community I feel within that group is very strong, and being able to connect with peers, mentors, and other inspirational women has given me a source of support, inspiration, and has continued to develop my growth mindset and encouraged me to take risks and advocate for myself within my education, career, and extra-curricular communities.”

- 2021 YAC Member

SPONSOR

CONTACT

To learn more about the YAC, please contact Ashley Milbury, Youth Program Manager by email at ashleym@minervabc.ca or by phone at 778-873-8843.

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Minerva BC is a Vancouver-based charity that is
dedicated to advancing the leadership of women and girls.

Our office is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.