The Young Women's Project Email Format
Public Policy OfficesDistrict of Columbia, United States11-50 Employees
The Young Women’s Project (YWP) operates as a public policy organization focused on increasing leadership and decision-making power among DC youth. Its work centers on three roles for young people—organizers who mobilize peers and make group decisions, advocates who present to city leaders and influence policy, and system rebuilders who design new peer-led programs and integrate youth voices into governance. The organization serves under-resourced BIPOC youth ages 14–21 from across DC, engaging students from public and charter high schools and sustaining a citywide network of youth advocates. YWP organizes two program tracks, including a Health Educator initiative and a Mental Health Campaign Team, aimed at reducing teen pregnancy and STI rates and expanding access to mental health resources in schools. Based in Washington, DC, YWP was founded in 1994 and emphasizes anti-racist, feminist values rooted in youth development and partnership. The group has historically trained hundreds of youth annually and operates with a mission to transform DC institutions to broaden rights and opportunities for local youth.