Speed Networking and Youth Advocacy Academy

The YMCA Youth Advocacy Academy (YAA) empowers teens with real-world advocacy skills, professional connections, and leadership experience that will benefit them in college applications and beyond. This competitive program selects only 30 students statewide to participate in a blend of virtual sessions, immersive experiences, and hands-on advocacy work from October 2025 through May 2026.

On Tuesday March 17, 30 students from the YAA gathered at the Capitol Ridge Hotel to prepare for the following day, where they would spend the day at the Minnesota State Capitol, meeting with legislators, witnessing government in action and experiencing the real impact of advocacy firsthand. 

But before they got to work, they participated in the first (but definitely not last) CYV Alumni and Friends Speed Networking event.
15 CYV alumni and friends joined the students for an exciting opportunity to connect. Students rotated every 6 minutes, engaging in lively conversation, learning about the alumni’s educational and professional backgrounds, getting advice, gathering business cards, while also sharing their own experiences with CYV programming. 

One student shared, “this was a great connection building event where I learned more about the volunteering events around Minnesota and new internship and job opportunities.”

While one of the volunteers said, “I had a great time talking with the students, sharing my experience, and offering advice! They asked great questions and were enthusiastic.”

Director of Alumni Philanthropy of the YMCA, Natalie King added, “we hope that this is the first of many of these events. In the future, our goal is to offer more specific themes, like legal, business, or even something like ‘out of state college’. We want to give students and young alumni the chance to connect with people who have a specific educational or professional background that matches their future goals. Wouldn’t it be cool to connect someone who is in law school with a whole room full of alumni who work in the legal field?”

Look for more of these events in the future.