For the past six years, Youth Service California (YSCal) has sponsored statewide networks of high school leaders to promote youth service at the local, regional, and state level. Project CATALYST is in its second year, and aims specifically at developing youth leadership in the promotion of service-learning.

Project CATALYST pulls together a select team of high-school students from every region of California, provides leadership and public relations training, and seeks to catalyze a youth-led movement to promote service-learning. During their one year ambassadorships, these diverse youth promote service-learning to their peers, communities, and the media.

This year's team met for the first time in October in Sacramento. They participated in leadership and public relations training, and attended the CalServe Institute meeting at the California Department of Education. They connected with the Regional Lead network of adult partners, and strategized methods for promoting service-learning locally.

The CATALYST Ambassadors have now returned to their local communities to write articles; speak at conferences; create public service announcements; photograph and document service-learning projects; host Q&A sessions and receptions; offer interviews; and meet with teachers, students, school administrators, and other community leaders.

If you have events in your local community and would like a CATALYST Ambassador to speak about service-learning, please contact smoua@yscal.org