Mobilizing Youth Summit

June 8-11, 2024 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Hosted by Teen Health Mississippi and our partners, the Mobilizing Youth Summit (MYSummit), is a three-day advocacy conference for young people aspiring to create change in their communities. Through inclusive dialogue, skill-building, and collaboration, we aim to amplify the voices of young advocates, inspire bold action in the present moment, and cultivate a future where equity, justice, and sustainability thrive. Together, we envision a world where the power of youth advocacy transforms aspirations into reality, helping to move communities forward.

“When you become an advocate for something you care about, you’re going to be surrounded by people who care about it, too.” —Samantha Fuentes, Parkland School shooting survivor and gun rights activist, speaking at MYSummit 2020

About the 2024 MYSummit

2024 Theme: “Amplifying Our Potential: Youth Advocacy and the Power of Now”

The Mobilizing Youth Summit (MYSummit) is a three-day advocacy conference for young people aspiring to create change in their communities. The summit brings together young people from across the southeastern region to engage with other youth advocates, city leaders, entrepreneurs, policy experts, and social activists. Attendees will participate in immersive workshops, thought-provoking roundtables, and inspiring keynotes, all while building their network of fellow changemakers who are working toward change in their local communities.

Through our conference, we provide a platform for dialogue, skill-building, and collaboration, equipping youth with the tools, resources, and networks they need to advocate effectively for social, environmental, and political change. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and action, where every voice is heard, every idea is valued, and every individual is inspired to seize the present moment to create a brighter future.

The objective of this conference is to inspire and empower young changemakers aged 15-19 to harness the power of the present moment to advocate for positive social, environmental, and political change. By providing a platform for dialogue, skill-building, and collaboration, we aim to equip youth with the tools and resources they need to make a tangible impact in their communities.

We encourage youth who meet the minimum requirements to apply and join the pipeline of future leaders who will impact communities across the state. Students of diverse backgrounds (including, but not limited to, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and income level) are especially encouraged to apply.

Must be a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, or Tennessee.
High school or college student, age 15-19, with a passion for advocacy.
Proven track record of leadership experience and school or community involvement.
The ability to respectfully work with a wide range of groups and individuals, including LGBTQ+ persons; people of different cultural, religious, racial, and political backgrounds; and people with different abilities.
Able to remain on-site for the entire duration of MYSummit, which is scheduled for June 8-11, 2024.

Click here to apply. The application portal will remain open from Friday, March 1, 2024 through Sunday, April 28, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will only be considered for alternate spots if and when they become available.

The event will include:

4 plenary sessions, including a keynote address from an emerging youth advocate
Team-building and networking activities that will boost engagement and forge an unstoppable community of youth advocates
Up to 10 thematic discussions and interactive breakout sessions involving a range of youth and adult partners
An opportunity to work alongside local city leaders, entrepreneurs, policy experts, youth-serving organizations, and social activists to develop a community advocacy project proposal and pitch your idea for funding
Tabling events with numerous representatives from across the state and a wide spectrum of industries

Program Fees/Cost to Participate:

Thanks to philanthropic support from our generous sponsors, there is no cost to attend this event. Teen Health Mississippi will provide all participants with lodging and food.

Teen Health Mississippi may be able to provide travel stipends for any participant unable to attend due to limited funding for travel. Participants needing assistance with travel will need to indicate their needs on the registration form.

If you have any questions about program fees/cost, please reach out to event coordinator Alexis Hicks at alexis2@teenhealthms.org or (601)-487-1228. For more information, check out our FAQs at the button below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Admission to MYSummit is highly selective.

Successful applicants typically demonstrate:

Thoughtful, well-written responses that express interest in the program content.
Recommendations that convey academic performance, community involvement, and potential.
An array of extracurricular activities and/or personal achievements that denote intellectual curiosity, ability to collaborate, initiative and ambition, or diversity of interests and ideas.

Apply Here