Advocacy is one of those words that gets tossed around a lot, but it’s often misunderstood. Many people picture politics, protests, or debates. In reality, advocacy is much simpler — and much more powerful. Advocacy is using your voice, experiences, and leadership to influence decisions that affect people’s lives. It’s speaking up when something isn’t working, standing alongside others who need support, and helping create better outcomes for your community. Most importantly, advocacy isn’t reserved for experts or elected officials. It’s something everyday people do all the time, often without even realizing it.
For young people, advocacy matters because decisions are being made constantly — in workplaces, schools, nonprofits, and communities — and those decisions shape the opportunities available to us and the people around us. When young people don’t speak up, gaps remain. When they do, real change happens. Advocacy ensures that young voices are heard, valued, and included in shaping the future.
This idea isn’t new, and it’s deeply connected to the mission of JCI USA. For more than a century, JCI USA has focused on developing young leaders and empowering them to create positive change in their communities. Advocacy has always been part of that work. Not partisan politics, but leadership-driven, community-centered action.
History shows how effective advocacy can be when people come together around a cause. Seatbelts, for example, weren’t always standard or widely used. It took years of education, public awareness, and community advocacy to shift attitudes and behaviors. Today, buckling up is second nature for most people, and countless lives have been saved because individuals and organizations kept pushing for safer norms. Similarly, advocacy focused on reducing teen smoking helped change how young people viewed tobacco use. Through education, youth engagement, and community-based efforts, smoking rates among teens dropped significantly over time. These outcomes didn’t happen overnight, and they didn’t rely on one voice alone. Change happened because people cared enough to speak up, show up, and stay involved.
That same spirit of advocacy lives on in JCI USA today. Jaycees across the country have advocated for issues like youth leadership development, mental health awareness, community safety, and economic empowerment. Whether it’s improving local programs, amplifying young voices in decision-making spaces, or supporting initiatives that strengthen communities, JCI members turn leadership into action every day. This aligns directly with the JCI mission to empower young people to create positive change and with the JCI Creed’s belief that service to humanity is the best work of life.
This is why we are excited to be launching a new advocacy program in 2026, kicking things off with a series of introductory trainings. On February 11th, Cassie Van Gompel – Advocacy Taskforce Chair – led a discussion on the power of advocacy and how to get started in your community. If you weren’t able to join, you can check out the recording here on the Young Leader Lab!
JCI USA’s goal for this program is to provide our members with the skills, tools, and support needed to strengthen civic engagement and push for positive change. Training sessions will be every other month on 2nd Wednesdays, 8pm CT/9pm EST, with the next one on April 8th. Future topics will be announced soon, but you can register in advance for all of our trainings using the JCI USA Training Calendar. Save the dates below!
- April 8th
- June 10th
- August 12th
- October 14th
- December 9th
The good news is that advocacy doesn’t have to be big or intimidating. It can start with a conversation, a question, a story shared at the right moment, or a willingness to stand up for someone else. Advocacy is a skill set, and those skills grow with practice. You don’t need a title or years of experience to make an impact. You just need to care and be willing to act.
And in addition to signing up for our training, there is another way you can take action right now! We want to know what issues matter most to our members, gauge interest in future activities and communications, and learn more about what experience our members already have in advocacy work. After completing a quick survey, you will be entered into a drawing where four lucky winners will receive a $25 gift card to the JCI USA store. Click here to share your thoughts.
If you’re not yet part of JCI USA, advocacy is one of the many reasons to get involved. It offers a community, structure, and support system that helps turn passion into real results. And if you’re already a Jaycee, this is your reminder that your voice matters. Joining the Advocacy Taskforce, supporting a local initiative, or championing an issue you care about can deepen your impact and your leadership journey. Advocacy isn’t about being loud — it’s about being intentional. And when young leaders choose to advocate, communities are stronger for it.