Youth In Action's mission is to empower youth to strengthen and build communities. YIA has received national recognition for its ability to create young leaders who make positive and effective change. A group of 20 multicultural youth (age 14-21) control the Board of Directors, and teens implement all of their community service programs. More than 320 youth have gained advanced leadership skills through running the non-profit organization, writing grants, supervising their peers, meeting with City and State officials, fundraising, and strategic planning. The Board of Mentors, which consists of high-level, experienced adult leaders, partners with our youth-dominated Board of Directors to lead YIA.

Youth In Action's programs are completely run and controlled by youth, who have reached more than 6,500 people through their programs. There are three teams: Youth Educating About Health (YEAH); the Community Action Team (CAT); and the Multi-Cultural Arts Team (MCAT). Each team is headed by two youth Co-coordinators, who hire, supervise, train, and evaluate their own youth staff. Youth meet at YIA every weekday after school.