Join the ACLU SoCal Youth Liberty Squad

The ACLU SoCal’s Youth Liberty Squad (YLS) is a youth leadership program that engages high school students, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, as leaders and organizers on civil rights and civil liberties. YLS students explore and take action on issues such as student rights, racial justice, school funding, school based mental health, ending the school to prison/deportation pipeline, and more!



Youth Liberty Squad 2024


You should apply if you are:


  • An incoming 9th, 10th, or 11th, grader in high school.
  • Available to attend all monthly meetings on Saturdays from 10am - 2pm in-person beginning October 2026 through June 2027. These meetings will be held at our office in Downtown Los Angeles.
  • Committed to protecting students’ civil rights and liberties, fighting against the school to prison/deportation pipeline, and advocating for policies that ensure all students have access to accurate, inclusive, and affirming curriculum & school environments.
  • Interested in learning about matters that impact different groups of people and willing to have respectful conversations with others in the group.
  • Are eager to:
    • Strengthen your organizing skills
    • Contribute ideas that center and uplift youth voices
    • Put together events for your peers related to ACLU’s values and campaigns the ACLU of Southern California is currently working on (with a focus on education equity)
    • Provide public comment at school board and other public meetings
    • Attend delegation meetings with school board members and/or other elected officials
    • Create media content to engage your peers through YLS’s social media platforms

ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion. We value people of all races, genders (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientations, disabilities, citizenships, ages, religions, and national origins and who have different family caregiving responsibilities and lived experiences with the criminal justice systems.

We welcome and strongly encourage high school-aged youth from all backgrounds to apply!

Why should I join the Youth Liberty Squad?

If selected to participate in the ACLU of Southern California’s 2026 Youth Liberty Squad, you will:

  • Have opportunities to create and participate in workshops, ACLU sponsored events, and other educational or advocacy activities
  • Meet and build relationships with other students from across Southern California
  • Be eligible to receive community service hours
  • Be eligible to receive letters of recommendation
  • Develop your leadership, advocacy, public speaking, and social media skills
  • Gain knowledge about the law and how it affects young people in schools and in our communities
  • Network with attorneys, community organizers, and other professionals working with the ACLU of Southern California

Complete this application by Sunday, September 13th at 11:59pm. Selected students for our YLS cohort will be informed no later than October 5, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact Irene Rivera at (213) 977-5269 or irivera@aclusocal.org.

* indicates required field

ACLU of Southern California Youth Liberty Squad Application
(for example, she/her, they/them, he/him, etc.)
If you selected "other," please explain here.
You may also answer this question by submitting a 2-minute video instead and adding a link in the text box above. We are interested in hearing how students’ life experiences shape their passion to fight for social justice. We are seeking students who have a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and who hope to challenge themselves, learn new skills, and grow with other student activists! (Word limit: 600 words)
Examples: Flyer, artwork, photography, blog site, YouTube video, social media handle, music, articles, etc. Please ensure that links are publicly accessible so we can view your work without needing additional permissions or access requests.
*This section is OPTIONAL but intended to help us learn about the various identities and backgrounds that make up our YLS applicant pool. Providing us with this information will help us make sure we are more inclusive when recruiting future YLS cohorts and not impact your application.