Youth Leadership Institute Highlights
Meet local and state leaders like State Senator Jay Chaudhuri and learn about various paths to leadership.
See examples of workshops and speakers by looking at past YLI program booklets:
YLI 2018: Visible not Divisible
YLI 2021: Bending Towards Justice – Mastering the Elements of Change
YLI 2022: Rising Phoenix – Finding Light in Darkness
Experience interactive workshops to learn about what it takes to be leaders in our communities.
July 9-11, 2025
Dates: Wednesday, 7/9 to Friday, 7/11, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. (Check-in starts at 8:30 AM.)
Locations: July 9–10: Stone Center, UNC-Chapel Hill
July 11: NCAAT Office at the Junior League of Raleigh
Eligibility: Asian American youth ages 14–18 currently in high school
Application deadline: Sunday, June 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
We are excited to announce the return of our annual Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) – one of our biggest high school youth events of the year – taking place from Wednesday, July 9 to Friday, July 11, 2025.
YLI is a 3-day program for Asian American youths of 14-18 ages that empowers participants to explore their own identities, learn about Asian American history and advocacy, and strengthen their leadership and civic engagement skills. Throughout the conference, students will have the opportunity to participate in educational workshops, panels, discussions, and interactive activities about Asian American identity, history, and topics not often covered in traditional K-12 curriculum. They will get to cultivate their leadership and political advocacy knowledge/skills while building community with other like-minded Asian American students and community leaders.
The first two days of the conference (July 9–10) will be held at the Stone Center on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus, offering students the opportunity to experience a college environment. On the final day (July 11), the program will continue at NCAAT’s office in the Junior League of Raleigh, followed by an exclusive walking tour of the NC Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh.
If you have any questions, please contact our Youth Team at youth@ncaatogether.org.
*Note: you do not have to currently be enrolled in high school to attend, but must be of high school age 14-18
FAQ
Participants will attend educational and interactive workshops and learn from elected officials and community leaders through panels and small group discussions. While connecting with like-minded students, participants will gain new skills for college and beyond and learn about ways to get involved with their community and with NCAAT and its partner nonprofits.
Here are some examples of past YLI program schedules:
This program is for high-school-aged young people ages 14-18.
*note* you do not have to currently be enrolled in high school to attend, but must be of high school age 14-18