Gathering in Washington, D.C., high school students (ages 15-18) from across the United States will participate in an immersive learning experience for the next generation of social justice advocates.
Here, you will engage directly with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and civil liberties that are critical to a free and open society. Through classroom sessions, lectures, site visits, and policy discussions, you will explore the complex nature of issue advocacy, legal strategy, and real-world political decision making in Washington, D.C. as well as return home with advocacy tools to make change in your community. In addition to the important knowledge you will gain, you will form life-long bonds with fellow advocates and find your community.
Whether you are coming into the National Advocacy Institute with no advocacy experience or years of it, your time spent in Washington D.C. will be invaluable.
Throughout the week, you will partake in:
- Issue Electives covering the ACLU’s wide array of issue areas, taught by communications experts, organizers, lawyers, policy advocates, and other professional staff from the ACLU and partner organizations;
- Daily homeroom sessions in small groups to discuss the most pressing issues of today and the impact on young people;
- Keynote sessions and seminars from some of the most prominent ACLU staff and partner organizations;
- Day of Action where you’ll participate in a collective advocacy to move the needle on one or more pressing civil liberties issues before legislators at that very moment! In the past we’ve conducted lobby visits with members of Congress, held rallies at the Capitol, conducted phone/text banking, and participated in Letter to the Editor (LTE) writing campaigns (some students were published in major publications!), etc. This collective action could cover topics like immigration, systemic equality and anti-racism, ending censorship in education, regulating facial recognition technology, the protection of trans rights, and much more. This is not an exercise but a real opportunity to make your voices heard!
- Social events aimed to foster life-long connections and support structures with other youth activists from across the country.
What you’ll learn and gain:
- Boost your political knowledge and campaign abilities;
- Learn more about mobilizing issue-based advocacy campaigns and growing a team;
- Identify strategies for engaging with policymakers and maximizing impact for the issues that drive you.
Location(s)
- American University, Washington, D.C.
Schedule
- July 20 - July 29, 2026
Cost/Compensation
- $3,500
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students ages 15-18
Deadline
- Early Decision: March 2, 2026
- Regular Decision: April 13, 2026
Application or Entry Requirements
- Completed online application
- Short and long essays
- Letter of recommendation
Notifications of Decisions
- Admissions decisions will be released within three weeks from the deadline
- Admissions decisions will be released within three weeks from the deadline
Financial Aid Details
- The ACLU is committed to providing scholarship opportunities for students who qualify based on family income. A limited supply of full and partial scholarships are available. Financial aid awards are based on need.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 and dedicated to defending and preserving individual rights and liberties enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. With a long history of advocacy and litigation, the ACLU works to protect civil liberties across a wide spectrum of issues, including freedom of speech, religious freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform. Through its legal actions, lobbying efforts, and public education campaigns, the ACLU has played a pivotal role in landmark cases and legislative changes that protect civil rights.
