Our Founding
From high school students to national youth advocacy leaders
YPA was founded by Sam Hiner and Mick Tobin when they were still in high school.
Their advocacy began with drafting state legislation to stop political power grabs — and quickly grew into working on issues like ending child marriage and protecting teen drivers.
The Problem They Discovered
But they kept running into the same problem: policies impacting young people were being written without young people.
This lack of youth voice isn't just unfair — it's dangerous.
When a generation feels shut out, civic engagement drops, trust erodes, and our democracy weakens.
Sam and Mick launched the Young People's Alliance to change that.
Today, YPA is redefining what youth power looks like: elevating student voices, shaping policy from the ground up, and creating pathways for lifelong civic engagement.
Our Impact Today
50 Campuses
We've built a presence on 50 college campuses nationwide, with student chapters organizing locally on issues like housing affordability, student debt, and career access. Our campus network mobilizes thousands of young people to take action.
Legislative Advocacy
YPA has testified before state legislatures, met with congressional offices, and drafted policy proposals on youth economic opportunity, AI regulation, and civic education. We bring youth perspectives directly to policymakers.
Bipartisan Coalitions
We've partnered with organizations across the political spectrum to advance solutions on affordable housing, workforce development, and community safety. Youth issues shouldn't be partisan — and we prove it.
Civic Engagement
Through voter registration drives, civic education programs, and leadership training, we're building a generation of engaged citizens. We've trained hundreds of young advocates and connected thousands more to civic opportunities.