An immersive summer program for high school students
Youth Fellows Program (YFP) is a 6-week immersive, cohort-based summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors. This program is designed to foster the next generation of Southern California leaders, educating them not just about public life and institutions, but also how they can be more effective advocates and ambassadors for their communities. Participants leave the program with an understanding of how Los Angeles operates, stronger communication and analytical skills, more confidence, and a network of Coro alumni eager to support their career development.
Program Components
Through Coro’s Youth Fellows Program, high school students learn to become active citizens in their schools and communities by using the county as a classroom. Coro selects a cohort of fifteen high school students from across the Southern California region to participate in a rigorous six-week, full-time summer program structured to deepen their leadership skills.
Three weeks of seminar training to build leadership skills and frameworks, informational interviews with community and civic leaders, and site visits for place-based learning
Two-week internship placement with a private, public, nonprofit or labor organization
A one-week group project featuring site visits, interviews, and public speaking opportunities
2024 Program Dates
Week 1: June 24 – June 28
Week 2: July 1 – July 3*
Week 3: July 8 – July 12 (Internship Placements)
Week 4: July 15 – July 19 (Internship Placements)
Week 5: July 22 – July 26
Week 6: July 29 – August 1
Graduation: August 2
* there is no programming July 4 – 5 due to the holiday
Program Outcomes
The Knowledge – Youth Fellows gain deep understandings of different sectors and how they work together to make the city function.
The Network – Participants join a network of over 15,000 Coro alumni across the country, who can help with future academic and career development.
The Skills – Coro training gives Youth Fellows the tools and mindsets to effectively problem-solve.
Youth Fellows graduate with the ability to…
Listen to multiple perspectives around an issue
Ask great questions to identify a problem
Be aware of their own biases
Give and take constructive feedback
Create a career pathway
Confidently lead in their schools, personal life, and communities
Coro values the representation of diverse perspectives, identities, experiences, and world views; as such, YFP cohorts reflect the make-up of the region, representing a wide array of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.
Ideal YFP candidates…
live and/or attend school in the Greater Los Angeles Area
are currently high school sophomores or juniors (rising juniors and seniors during the summer of the program)
aren’t afraid to get out of their comfort zones
want to make a difference in their schools and communities
are eager to learn, grow, and challenge themselves
are available to attend the entire 6-week program from June 24 to August 2, 9:30am-3:30pm Monday through Friday
Leadership Development
Youth Fellows acquire tools, skills, and competencies rooted in Coro’s proprietary curriculum.
Strategy Days
Youth Fellows explore some of the most pressing topics affecting public life, and discover strategies for leveraging resources, collaborative networks, and decision-making power to effectuate positive change.
Issue Exploration
Participants are encouraged to examine multiple perspectives around an issue, while being aware of their own biases and prejudices.
Peer-to-Peer Learning
Through intensive cohort-based training and peer consulting, Youth Fellows form close bonds with their cohort members, who hail from all over LA County.
Networking Opportunities
Youth Fellows will meet mentors and Coro alumni through internships, interviews, site visits, and Coro events.
Application Projects
Immersion projects give Youth Fellows a real-world opportunity to apply the tools they’ve learned, practice individual and group reflection, and analyze systems.
The YFP application must be completed in one sitting. Prior to working on the application, please review the Application Guide.
Applicants will be asked to provide demographic information as well as short answer responses and three essay questions.
Essay Questions
Tell us who you are. You can describe your background, values, significant experiences from your past, and/or special hobbies/interests that have helped to shape your identity, values, and/or aspirations.
What is the most challenging obstacle that you have had to overcome? Discuss the impact it has had on you and what you have learned from the experience.
Upload a 60-second video testimonial answering: What are your reasons for applying to the Coro Youth Fellows Program? How will you apply your leadership training in your school or neighborhood community?
Applicants are also responsible for securing a recommendation from a teacher, coach, supervisor, or mentor (no family or friends) by the application deadline.
Program Cost
Tuition is $5,000 (subsidized thanks to the generous support of our sponsors).
Participant Scholarships
Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Coro is able to provide need-based scholarships. Applicants seeking a scholarship must complete the relevant questions at the time of application. While Coro strives to provide financial support to all accepted candidates demonstrating need, scholarships are not guaranteed. For more information about scholarships, email Callie Spaide at callie@corola.org.
Our 75-year history gives us one of the most diverse alumni networks in the country — 15,000 graduates and growing — spanning sectors, perspectives, and geography. At Coro, the learning doesn’t stop when your program ends. Coro alumni status gives you access to:
The Resources – Coro alumni have access to AlumniFire, Coro’s Job Board (Coro Classifieds), & Coro’s alumni-only LinkedIn page, where they can network, find job opportunities, fill roles at their organizations, and learn from one another.
The Exposure – Coro brings together decision makers across sectors to share perspectives and discuss the future of our region at a number of annual events, many of which are exclusive to Coro alumni. Joining the Coro network ensures that partners stay connected with forward-thinking leaders at all levels and across all sectors, and provides you exposure to key decision makers.
The Credentials – Coro has partnered with Credly by Pearson™ to issue and maintain digital badges. As authenticated, certified, and individually-awarded badges, you’ll be able to showcase your unique professional, management, and leadership development capacity-building in real-time with colleagues, current and future employers, and your network.
The Network – Alumni have powerful networks to ignite change and continuous support for tackling professional challenges through their Coro family. Program participants directly engage with numerous leaders over the duration of their experience. This, coupled with the over 15,000 Coro alumni, creates a unique opportunity for alumni to quickly expand their social capital.
Graduated Youth Fellows have been accepted to prestigious colleges and universities
Amherst College
Boston University
Brown
CSU Fullerton
CSU Long Beach
CSU Los Angeles
CSU Pomona
Dartmouth
Dickinson College
Harvard
Hobart William Smith
Loyola Marymount
New York University
Northeastern
Pepperdine
Stanford
Tulane University
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
UC San Diego
UCLA
University of Pennsylvania
The Stinehart Reed Reserve Fund
- The 2024 application cycle has closed - submit an Interest Form to receive recruitment updates
- Nominate a Candidate
- Meet the Cohort
- Program Benefits Guide
- Questions? Contact
Callie Spaide
Senior Manager, Recruitment & Alumni Relations
callie@corola.org - Connect with Callie