What is the Youth and Young Adult Ambassador Program?
The FY26 Youth and Young Adult Ambassador Program is a National Youth Council (NYC) led initiative designed to empower youth (under 18 years old) and young adults (18–24 years old) within the American Red Cross. This program offers young volunteers the opportunity to collaborate with the National Youth Council, maximizing their impact.
Ambassadors will support regional priorities and actively participate in cohort programming led by NYC Ambassador Program Leads. Ambassadors will gain leadership experience and develop professional skills. The goal of this program is to connect youth volunteers with meaningful opportunities, ensuring their ongoing involvement through different life stages. By fostering a supportive environment, this program aims to nurture the next generation of leaders.
What are the responsibilities of a Youth and Young Adult Ambassador?
Ambassadors will be responsible for supporting regional priorities and national youth campaigns. They will collaborate with the National Youth Council to engage youth volunteers and amplify their stories. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with regional leaders to identify and contribute to local youth engagement initiatives
- Join and actively participate in cohort meetings led by the National Youth Council’s Ambassador Program Leads
- Amplify local and national youth campaigns, stories, and events through regional and personal networks
- Attend professional development sessions hosted by the National Youth Council (Ex. Enhance Your Red Cross Resume, Get Involved in Disaster....)
FY26 Youth & Young Adult Ambassadors
Central and Southern Ohio Region ● Mansi Bansal
National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region ● Ikliv Kaur, Linda Yoonseo Lee
Northern Ohio Region ● Diya Ashly
Illinois Region ● Mattie Spence, Soha Ali
Indiana Region ● Anika Rahman, Shani Momodu
Michigan Region ● Raka Majumdar, Rayyaan Muhammad-Ali
Minnesota and Dakotas Region ● Elenie Yange Mbarga, Josephine Raissa Irakoze
Wisconsin Region ● John Geeleher, Nish Kumar
Connecticut and Rhode Island Region ● Ashika Sharma, Gabby Remiszewski
New Jersey Region ● Libbi-James Boney, Shivangi Behera
Southeastern Pennsylvania Region ● Anika Harris, Harnoor Riar
California Gold Country Region ● Anna Maxwell
Cascades Region ● Ayu Kira, Ginger Pan
Central California Region ● Maximus Beatty, Tiantian Wang
Los Angeles Region ● Eden Yuen
Northern California Coastal Region ● Angela Mayte Arriola Yangali, Karis Tran
Northwest Region ● Cara Elzie, Nooriya Vanak
Southern California Region ● Helen Afshar, Sarah Glauch-Lozano
Alabama and Mississippi Region ● Andera Ye, Ayoung Jeong
Georgia Region ● Raseena Naseem, Sueda Akkaya
North and Central Florida Region ● Leanne Smith, William Moffett
North Carolina Region ● Kriti Peechu, Noreen Majeed
Arizona and New Mexico Region ● Harshadh Balaji, Tanisha Kulshreshtha
Colorado and Wyoming Region ● Freal Sassi
Texas Gulf Coast Region ● McKenzie Myles, Aaryan Arunchander
Utah and Nevada Region ● Emily Ho
Central and South Texas Region ● Alina Ahmad, Nelle Salinas Mantalaba
Louisiana Region ● Kamila Kazmi, Vennela Malireddy
Missouri and Arkansas Region ● Shiv Bansal
Application Timeline
Interested in joining us? Complete the Youth and Young Adult Ambassador Application Form on Volunteer Connection! Please note that the program is not offered in all regions. Only youth volunteers in participating regions will be able to access and complete the application form on Volunteer Connection.
- Applications open on August 18, 2025
- Applications close on September 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
- All applicants will be notified of their status by late September
How to Apply
Step One: Log into Volunteer Connection
Step Two: Click on the ‘Opportunities’ tab
Step Three: Search for the ‘Youth and Young Adult Ambassador’ position
Step Four: Click ‘Apply’!
Upon applying, you will be contacted by a member of the NHQ screening team within 2-3 business days with the complete application. Please note that the application will require a one-page resume.
Qualification
Below are the required qualifications to apply:
- Reside in a participating region
- Meet the age requirement of 24 years of age or younger
- At least one year of Red Cross volunteer experience
- Experience with Red Cross Clubs or in roles that support youth & young adult engagement
Time Commitment
Time commitment will vary by campaign or initiative. However, general expectations are listed below:
- Approximately 10–15 hours per month
- Biweekly cohort meetings led by the National Youth Council’s Ambassador Program Leads
- Monthly planning calls with program partners
Training
Upon acceptance, the National Youth Council will host onboarding calls for the upcoming Youth and Young Adult Ambassador cohort. During these calls, Ambassadors will learn how to utilize organizational tools (Teams, PowerPoint, etc.) and engage effectively with program partners.
Length of Position
The Youth and Young Adult Ambassador role starts in September 2025 and ends in June 2026.
Development Opportunities
The Youth & Young Adult Ambassador role offers a unique opportuntiy to volunteer with the American Red Cross at both regional and national levels, while providing numerous personal and professional development opportunities, such as:
- Expand Your Network: Connect with a network of youth and young adult volunteers and supporters
- Gain Experience and Build a Resume: Make regional and nationwide impacts through your projects and work
- Opportunity for Personal Growth: Learn and practice professional development skills such as leadership, project and time management, marketing, public speaking, business writing, and networking
- Just to name a few!