YPA Contest 2025 – young people in action

COMING SOON

Introduction

Welcome to the Young People In Action International’s 1st Annual Youth Leadership Contest! Today, we come together to celebrate and spotlight the incredible potential, talent, and leadership of our young people. This contest is more than just a competition, it’s a platform to showcase the brilliance, creativity, and positive energy that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), youth bring to our communities every day.

In a world where negative stories too often dominate the spotlight, this contest is our opportunity to change the narrative and reveal the truth — our youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are doing incredible things right now. While leadership is often associated with speaking out on issues, excelling academically, voting, or public speaking, true leadership goes much deeper. It’s about developing the leader within — cultivating character, resilience, and purpose — and that’s exactly what YPA and this contest are all about. We’re here to show the world that our young people aren’t just rising above challenges; they’re actively shaping a brighter, stronger future today.

Our Strategy

Paving The Road Leadership Contest: Steps to Participation

Step 1: Community Outreach and Student Recruitment

YPA will partner with local schools, faith-based organizations, parents, and community-based institutions to identify, recruit, and empower BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students, ages 13 to 17, throughout the greater Franklin County, Ohio region. Our goal is to engage and inspire young people to step forward and showcase their leadership potential through registering for the contest on our portal answering the question, what is leadership? and answering through the submission of a creative video no more than 3 minutes long and no less than 1 minute long. The contestant must also agree to set on the YPA Leadership Council for at least 1 year after the end of the YPA leadership training week. Furthermore, in the video submission, the youth must explain why they would be a good leader for YPA.,

Online Registration

Once recruited, students will be directed to register online for the Paving The Road Leadership Contest. During registration, they will provide basic contact information and confirm their eligibility to participate.

Step 2

Step 3

Video Submission

Participants will submit a creative video entry answering the central question:

What is leadership?

Students are encouraged to be as creative as they desire — using spoken word, music, visual art, storytelling, or any other positive and appropriate form of expression to define leadership in their own unique way. All video content must be positive, appropriate, and clean in nature.

Content Review and Approval

Each video submission will undergo a content review and approval process by YPA. This step ensures that all videos meet the contest guidelines and align with YPA’s values of positivity, inspiration, and leadership development.
If the video is approved, the participant will receive a confirmation email along with their unique personal voting link.
If the video does not meet the contest guidelines, the participant will be notified and given the opportunity to resubmit.

Step 4

Share and Collect Votes

Once approved, participants will be encouraged to share their personal voting link with family, friends, classmates, and community members to gather support.
Voting Rules: Each person can register online and cast one vote every 24 hours for their favorite video.
Voting will remain open for the entire four-month campaign period, allowing participants ample time to mobilize their networks and gain community support.

Step 5

Leadership Exposure and Growth

Throughout the campaign, YPA will actively engage with participants — providing leadership development content, motivational messages, and community spotlight opportunities — reinforcing the core message that leadership is not just about speaking out on issues, getting good grades, or being in the spotlight. True leadership is about developing the leader within, and that’s exactly what this contest is designed to promote.

Step 6

Step 7

Recognition and Celebration

At the end of the four-month campaign, YPA will host a Leadership Celebration Event to honor all participants and highlight the top-voted submissions. Special recognition will be given to those who demonstrated exceptional creativity, leadership, and community impact through their video entries.

Step 8: Long-Term Engagement – Building a Local YPA Chapter

Beyond the contest, YPA’s commitment to empowering young leaders does not end when the campaign concludes. Our ultimate and long-term objective through this contest is to establish a local YPA Chapter within the greater Franklin County, Ohio region. This chapter will serve as a hub for continued leadership development, community impact, and youth empowerment.

YPA has set an ambitious goal to enroll a total of 20 young leaders (10 males and 10 females) who will step forward to serve as founding members of the local YPA Chapter. These young leaders will serve as catalysts for positive change, helping to drive YPA’s mission forward while building a community of like-minded peers dedicated to leadership, service, and growth.

This chapter will offer :

Ongoing leadership development training

Service-learning opportunities

Leadership networking events

Access to additional resources and mentorship

Opportunities to design and lead community service projects

The YPA Chapter will become a powerful force for youth-led change — demonstrating that leadership is not defined by age, title, or recognition but by a commitment to inspire, empower, and serve others.

This Is Only the Beginning

We firmly believe that leadership is not just about speaking out for or against issues, achieving good grades, voting, or public speaking — it’s about discovering and developing the leader within. That’s what YPA and the Paving The Road Leadership Contest are ultimately about. We are excited to witness how these young leaders will transform their communities through the power of their voice, vision, and leadership.

So, as you step forward and share your story, know that you’re not just competing in a contest — you’re stepping into your role as a changemaker, and this is only the beginning of your leadership journey.

Let’s Celebrate Greatness and Inspire Others

We’re excited to see the incredible ideas, stories, and leadership you’ll bring to the table. Let your voice be heard, share your vision, and show the world that the leaders of tomorrow are already leading today. This is your moment to inspire others, build community, and pave the road for an even brighter future.

Let’s get started — the future is in your hands!