So what is Catalyst?
Catalyst is about action. Catalyst is Minnesota’s statewide youth movement committed to creating positive change around public health issues across the state – especially those in your own school lunch! Catalyst is open to all high school students in Minnesota. 

So what is the Catalyst Youth Board?
The Catalyst Youth Board is leading this movement!  Youth Board members help plan the Catalyst summit, other fun events, and travel the state with Catalyst staff to help present workshops and trainings. Awesome, right?

Bottom line, the Youth Board is a big deal! It’s a great opportunity, but ladies and gentlemen it is also a commitment. We’re not looking for people who are just applying because it sounds fun. This a solid time commitment, and we hold you to it. Here’s an idea of some of the roles and responsibilities – read through, and if it sounds rockin’, APPLY!

• Must be entering into 9-12 grade and go to school in Minnesota. This is a year long commitment and you must be in high school to participate.

In order to be on the Catalyst Youth Board, you must be available to attend the following trainings. Catalyst will provide meals, lodging, etc., all you need to do is get yourself there!

• Youth Board Training #1 - September 16-18, 2011. This training will be held in metro area of MN. This will be the kick off to our 2011-2012 youth board. You’ll meet each other, and set our course for the next school year.
• Youth Board Training #2 - January 20-22, 2012. This is our summit planning weekend. We will be planning all the details of the summit, and getting a recruitment plan together.
• Pre-Summit planning date - Saturday March 26, 2012
• Our annual Summit will be held on April 20-22, 2012. You will be leading sessions, and running the summit

Other responsibilities include:

• Organize and host Catalyst events in your community, as well as taking a leading role in Catalyst’s regional and statewide trainings
• Volunteer to give presentations with Catalyst staff at events across the state
• Post materials on the Catalyst website and maintain an active profile (you can sign up and create a Catalyst profile at www.bethecatalyst.org if you don’t have one already)
• Respond to emails and phone calls from Catalyst staff and other youth board members in a timely manner

The youth board is a competitive application process. We will be looking through each application carefully and scoring them based on previous experience with Catalyst, interests, and leadership abilities. We will be making our final decisions June 15th.