Another word for activism is imagination…
being able to envision a world that doesn’t yet exist.
— Eddie Ndopu
Thank You For Submitting Your 2026 Youth Advocate Award Nominations!
The Youth Advocate Award is presented to a young person in Florida (under the age of 18 or a current K-12 student) who has worked diligently over the past year as an advocate, initiating positive change for themselves, their peers, their communities, or statewide. Congratulations again to our 2025 Youth Advocate Award recipient, Christopher Page of Page by Page National Book Drive Program.
- Creating public awareness
- Engaging in creative efforts and activities
- Demonstrating strong youth leadership
- Working collaboratively to improve the lives of others
- Supporting programs and/or policies that have benefited children and families
- Nominees must be Florida residents under 18 years of age or in school (K-12) at the time of their nomination
- Nominees should be actively involved in advocacy at the local or state level that have improved the lives of children, teens, and families across Florida
- Self-nominated candidate
- Candidate nominated by teachers, parents, mentors, students and others
- Youth nominees will have the option to submit a 2-minute video or a 500-word personal statement in addition to their nomination form. These videos and statements will also be shared with the award review committee.
The 2026 recipient will be honored on Monday, February 23, 2026. The public announcement will take place during our annual Children’s Week Florida Advocacy Dinner and Awards Ceremony. The recipient will be invited to take part in various activities and speaking engagements throughout next year’s Children’s Week Florida events in Tallahassee, Florida.
Nominations are reviewed by the Florida After School, Inc. Board of Directors and the Children’s Week Florida Advocacy Awards Committee, which is composed of former award recipients, community partners, and dedicated advocates. All nominations will be pre-screened to ensure eligibility. If a nominee’s qualifications align better with a different award category (Chiles, Impact, or Youth), the nominator will be contacted regarding any recommended changes.
2026 Youth Advocate Award Nominees
