Ithaca Youth Council Ambassadors

Teens in Ithaca face many challenges which adults in government may not always see. The Ithaca Youth Council Ambassadors (YCA) are teens from Ithaca and Tompkins County who focus on civic engagement, community outreach, and peer leadership. The Ambassadors strive to raise awareness in the Ithaca community about issues that are unique to teens, and they work together to develop resources and find solutions. YCA meets twice per month at the Ithaca Youth Bureau to address issues facing youth in the Ithaca Community and to learn about local government from local government leaders. 

Mission Statement

​The mission of the Ithaca Youth Council Ambassadors is to listen and speak for the youth of Tompkins County

Main objectives

The Youth Council is teen-run; its members have developed an organizational structure and work to identify and prioritize issues that matter to local youth. Youth Council has 4 main goals:
  1. Develop Future Leaders
    Our youth have the power to shape the future of our city. By being provided opportunities to participate in city governance and have an active role in addressing community issues, members learn important skills, become positive agents for change, and become bonded to the community.
  2. Give Formal Voice To Youth
    The Youth Council provides representation for Ithaca's youth and provides a forum for advocacy. It provides ongoing, 2-way communication with policy-makers, especially Common Council, so as to better address youth and community issues. Youth Council members are expected to develop ways to get regular input from other youth about their ideas and concerns.
  3. Civic Education
    Youth Council members get first-hand experience with how the democratic process works by becoming involved in government in a practical, hands-on way.
  4. Community Contribution
    In addition to representing the needs and interests of youth to policy makers, Youth Council plans and executes projects to improve conditions for teenagers.

Youth Council is a Program of Youth Employment Service. ​
The Ithaca Youth Bureau is a Department of the City of Ithaca.