Rural Youth Action Board
Youth from Scammon Bay, Bethel, Savoonga, Ketchikan and communities across rural Alaska are coming together to share their voices, strengthen their communities and create real change for young people.
by youth. for youth. representing youth.
by youth. for youth. representing youth.
What is YAB?
Youth Action Boards are groups of young people who use their voices, ideas and lived experience to create change.
YAB members help communities understand what young people actually need, what systems are missing and how programs can do better.
This isn’t about adults speaking for youth.
This is about youth leading the conversation.
Why join?
Because your experience matters.
Whether you have experienced housing instability, homelessness, foster care, couch surfing, disconnection from school or work, or just know what young people in your community are going through, your voice can help shape better support for youth across Alaska.
YAB is a space to be heard, build skills and make an impact.
Who can join?
YAB is for young people ages 16–24 in Alaska who want to make a difference in their community.
If you have lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, foster care, couch surfing, system involvement or other challenges impacting youth, your voice matters here.
YAB members help shape programs, influence decisions and create real change for young people across Alaska while building leadership skills, community connections and paid experience along the way.
Paid opportunity
Youth-led
Regional boards across Alaska
Real impact in your community
You do not need to have everything figured out to join.
You just need your perspective, your voice and a willingness to show up.
Ready to help shape the future for youth in Alaska?
Our Mission
YABs organize to ensure that young people with lived expertise are valued as leaders and that their voices are heard.
They create pathways for young people to obtain accessible resources and affordable housing, and advocate for Alaskan communities, youth homelessness services, and safe, stable, and equitable housing for youth.
YABs are composed of folks from all backgrounds and of all identities, including Indigenous, Black, and Queer folks, most of whom have lived expertise of homelessness and housing instability.
Each member has an array of hobbies, expertise, outlooks, and perspectives that are valued and shared.
How do we help?
YAB members:
Share ideas and lived experience
Give feedback on programs and services
Create youth-led projects
Build leadership and advocacy skills
Help organizations make better decisions
Represent youth voices in their communities
Support Youth-Led Change in Your Community
Youth Action Boards are creating real change across Alaska, and community support helps make that possible. Whether you're a community member, organization, business, funder or sponsor, you can help ensure youth voices are heard, valued and included in decisions that shape the future. Interested in partnering, sponsoring or supporting your local YAB? We'd love to connect.
Interested in partnering, sponsoring or supporting your local YAB?
Contact us to start the conversation →
How you can help:
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Invite YAB members to provide feedback, participate in planning efforts or help inform decisions that impact young people.
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Support stipends, training, travel, meetings and youth-led projects that help young people create change in their communities.
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Help connect more youth, organizations and community members to YAB opportunities.
Rural YAB Members
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Katie George
Scammon Bay
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MaryAnn Wassilie
Bethel
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Thomas Lee
Bethel
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Alazae Waghiyi
Savoonga
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Shania Murphy
Ketchikan
Apply to Join
Are you passionate about improving your community and helping prevent youth homelessness in Alaska? Apply today to become a Youth Action Board (YAB) Member!
This is a paid leadership opportunity for youth ages 16–24 living in Alaska.
Pay: $30.00 per hour
Commitment: Up to 10 hours per week
Location: Statewide (Regional Boards across Alaska)
Youth Action Board members work alongside local partners to strengthen Alaska’s homelessness response system, improve youth services, and elevate youth voice in community decision-making.
This opportunity is part of the Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and managed by the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (AKCH2). Through YHSI, Youth Action Boards ensure that youth with lived experience are central to shaping funding, policy, and system redesign across the state.
Each Regional YAB focuses on:
Local priorities and community advocacy
Developing YAB bylaws and governance structures
Leading youth-led projects and systems mapping
Contributing to statewide data and evaluation
The goal: Build a youth-driven, sustainable system that lasts beyond the grant period.
Stay Connected
Want updates on YAB projects, opportunities, events and ways to get involved?
Sign up for updates and stay connected with youth-led change happening across Alaska.