Youth Council - The Governing Body of YRUU

Who are they?

The Youth Council is the governing body of YRUU. It is made up of one youth delegate from each district of the UUA and region of the CUC , a number of at-large positions, including a Continental Social Action Coordinator, two Transitional Age-Range Representatives (one for ages 12-14 and one for ages 18-20), a Canadian At-Large, the Position on Appraisal, seven at-large adults, a People of Color Caucus, a Trustee from the UUA Board of Trustees, the returning Steering Committee members, and the Youth Office. Here is a detailed description of everyone's role on Youth Council. Click here for contact information for Youth Council Members.

What do they do?

One week each summer the Youth Council meets to decide the goals and priorities of YRUU. The Youth Council decides the annual social action theme, selects the Steering Committee, decides YRUU policy, and makes recommendations and mandates for the Steering Committee, Youth Council Representatives and the Youth Office to fulfill. The decisions of the Youth Council are made through the resolution process. A complete listing of Youth Council Resolutions can be found in the Youth Council Resolution Archive. Here is a resource on how to write a Youth Council Resolution. The Youth Council meets to make policy decisions, pass resolutions, worship, have fun, and decide the direction for the UU Youth Movement for years to come. Members of the YRUU Youth Council work throughout the year to follow through on the resolutions that they have passed and to do groundwork for resolutions to come to the next year's Youth Council.

When do they meet?

The Youth Council meets for one week in the middle of the summer. In 2007, the Youth Council will meet from July 22nd-28th, in the Boston area. More information will be available later in the spring.

Steering Committee - The Executive Body of YRUU

Who are they?

The Steering Committee is elected from Youth Council each year. The Steering Committee is the executive body of YRUU. The committee is made up of five youth and one adult elected from the Youth Council to fulfill a one year term, a three-person People of Color Advisory Council elected by and for the People of Color Caucus at Youth Council, an adult liaison from the UUA Board, the Position on Appraisal, who serves a two year term and is selected by the Youth Office, and the three non-voting members of the Youth Office.

What do they do?

When do they meet?

Steering Committee meets four times a year: once in the fall, winter, and spring in Boston and once at Youth Council in the summer.

The Youth Office at the UUA

Who are they?

The Youth Office consists of five full-time staff. YRUU Programs Specialists (YPSs) and Youth Ministry Associates (YMAs) serve on UUA staff for one year as full-time staff in the Youth Office at the UUA. They are generally youth bridging into young adulthood (16-22). The Youth Programs Director oversees the long-term work of the office. They are all supported by the Youth Office Assistant.

What do they do?

The Youth Office carries out the directives of the YRUU Youth Council and the UUA, create resources, manage the many YRUU-related email lists and the YRUU website, publish Synapse, advocate for youth in the UUA, support the training of LDC, SDC, AT, AAT, CT and AR Trainers, and plan continental events. The YPSs focus on supporting YRUU programs, and collaborate with the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry on justice issues. The Youth Office is also a part of the larger Lifespan Faith Development staff group, and help support the development of curricula and resources for Religious Educators, including the Our Whole Lives sexuality curriculum.

Continental Policies

Decisions made by the YRUU continental bodies apply to events sponsored by the Youth Council, Steering Committee, or UUA Youth Office. YRUU urges local and district groups to decide their own policies, structures, and goals according to their own needs and ideas.

Youth Council Members

Youth Council Role & District
Name of Rep
Email Address
Approximate Starting and Ending Dates of Youth Council Term
Steering Committee Role (if applicable)

If a person's district is in parentheses (e.g. (TJ)) it means that their role in Youth Council is unrelated to their district. If you don't know your district, see below.

If you know of any corrections to this list, please let us know at yruu@uua.org.