1) Apply to your local Youth Corps or a Red Cross Club

Select your Youth Corp/Red Cross club below and create your Volunteer Connection login. Once you submit an application, you will receive an email with a link to activate your Volunteer Connection account and view your remaining prospective volunteer steps.

2) Get consent from your parent or guardian

Parent or guardian consent is mandatory for all Red Cross Youth Corps and Red Cross Club members aged 13-17. Once you have submitted an application, an email will be sent to your parent or guardian to consent to your participation and to accept terms and conditions for Red Cross volunteering.

3) Start registering and attending youth events!

Once your application is approved, you can log into your Volunteer Connection account and begin registering for youth events, District General Meetings, and other happenings in the Los Angeles Region. You can view all available events on the Youth Services Calendar.

Youth Corps Membership is open to all youth aged 13-18 – if there is a participating Red Cross Club at your High School, please apply directly with the school Red Cross Club. If your school isn’t listed, please apply directly with the Youth Corps.

Don’t see your school linked above and would like to start a club? To get started, join your local Youth Corps, connect with your Club Liaison Officer, and register your club! Contacts can be found below.

Volunteer Connection is the management system that the American Red Cross uses. With a VCN account you are able to:

• Log and track hours
• Register for events
• Access EDGE trainings and courses

To learn your way around VCN, how to log hours, and how to sign up for events, check out our Volunteer Connection Guide.

For any VCN issues, questions, or other inquires, contact your regions Youth Coordinator.

Kaden Espino, Youth Coordinator | Kaden.espino@redcross.org

Angelique Torres - arleneangelique.torr@redcross.org
Matthew Martinez - matthew.martinez@redcross.org

The Youth Executive Board of the American Red Cross is the highest local volunteer leadership opportunity for Red Cross youth in the Los Angeles Region. Executive Officers plan and implement projects and programs that serve the needs of their community through service, education, and leadership. Officers inspire youth volunteerism in the local Red Cross and surrounding schools and communities.

Each Youth Corps is led by an Executive Board, consisting of eight officers. E-Boarders are elected annually, for a one-year appointment. Applications are open to all Club and Youth Corps Members. Interviews are held in April and appointments for the following school year are made in May.

Shadowee Program

Your local Youth Corps may offer a shadowee program between February/March, right before applications open, where you can learn the ins and out of being an e-boarder. Gain leadership skills and experience through planning and executing different types of events all under the mentorship of the current board.

“After being inspired by other Red Crossers at my school, I decided to apply to e-board to improve my skills in leadership and public speaking. However, now having been on e-board for half a year, I have earned invaluable professional and life-long skills that I hope to incorporate into my career even beyond the Red Cross. Simply with the support of my Youth Advisor, I've grown my abilities to become an active listener and effective communicator while improving my time-management capabilities. I highly encourage all other Red Cross members to apply to e-board to undergo a transformational experience that will make you a stronger leader.”

- Lindsey Lee, MSELA, FY23 Vice President

“If you're interested in helping others and working with people who are equally as passionate as you, working on the E-Board is an amazing opportunity. It's rare that youth get a voice and are put in professional positions, but the Red Cross listens to us and treats us as equals. It's a great opportunity I couldn't recommend more!”

- Charlie Kapinos, WLA, FY23 Club Liaison

The National Youth Council consists of 13 youth and young adult volunteers from around the country, primarily high school, college, and young professional volunteers, as well as 2 adult unit paid or volunteer staff members who serve as Council advisors. The Council is supported by and works closely with the Youth and Young Adults team of Volunteer Services at National Headquarters.

The National Youth Council will be looking for youth volunteers between the ages of 16 – 24 to represent Red Cross youth at the national level. Candidates who have had at least two years of experience with the Red Cross and are passionate about furthering the Red Cross mission both locally and at the national level are encouraged to apply. This two-year commitment provides an extraordinary leadership experience and also allows youth to engage and grow youth involvement throughout the organization, all by leading national youth programs and initiatives that aim to integrate youth within the mission of the American Red Cross.

The National Youth Council also has adult youth supporters who serve advisors for the NYC. Advisors are often experienced field youth coordinators, Red Cross Unit Executives, and skilled volunteers / employees in a specific line of service delivery, with a commitment to advance youth involvement. During this two-year term, advisors facilitate leadership building for all NYC members and provide guidance and recommendations on all Council projects.

Members of the NYC lead national youth programs and initiatives that aim to integrate youth within the mission of the American Red Cross.

National Youth Council Instagram

@americanredcrossyouth

You can tag the account so that we can repost your pictures of your Red Cross involvement. 

Biomedical Opportunities

Blood Donor Ambassador:

Volunteers serving as Blood Donor Ambassadors provide excellent and enthusiastic customer service to enhance the blood donor experience

Requirements

Time Commitment: One 6-hour shift per month for 6 months. You may participate in more than one shift per month if you wish. Please note that we currently need volunteers with weekday availability, as weekend shifts are already staffed.

Required Training: 1-hour training is required prior to the first shift, currently all training is virtual.

Other Requirements
 

• Minimum 16 years of age
• Reliable transportation
•  Ability to communicate effectively and provide customer service care

To Register click on the link that best corresponds to where you live.
 

• South Bay, Long Beach, South Los Angeles, Torrance
• West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, DTLA, East LA, Glendale
• San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
• San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Burbank

Disaster Preparedness Opportunities

READYteens:

The READYteens Program is committed to providing youth volunteers the opportunity to gain leadership experience, enhance their personal and professional expertise, and be actively involved and productive in serving as volunteers for the Red Cross.

Please keep watch for the 2023 READYteens Summer Program application.

If you have questions or concerns about the READYteens Program, feel free to email us at arcreadyteens@gmail.com.