Commonwealth Teen Advocates (CTA) is a unique leadership and advocacy program where high school students from across Kentucky come together in small, community-based groups to explore local issues, learn new skills, and create real change. Through hands-on workshops, guest speakers, and small group collaboration, students build confidence and find their voice as advocates.

Below is a CTA Dictionary to help new students, parents/guardians, and facilitators understand the core components of the program:

• Advocacy Project: Throughout the program, students work in small groups to create a project focused on an issue they care about in their community. This can take many forms—raising awareness, proposing a solution, or calling for change—but it always starts with student voice and passion.
• Capstone Presentation: In the final session, each group shares their completed advocacy project with their fellow students, facilitator, Y-Staff, and invited guest speakers. This is a chance to celebrate their work, explain what they learned, and prepare to share it later in the year at the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) via tri-fold.
• County Director: Each CTA group is led by a trained adult facilitator called a County Director. This person helps guide discussions, support project work, and ensure a positive, safe, and inclusive experience for all students.
• Discussion Time: During each session, students break into conversations to explore big ideas related to advocacy, leadership, and their communities. These discussions help students reflect, connect, and find their voice.
• Guest Speakers: Every week, students hear from a local leader, professional, or advocate who has experience in that week’s topic. These guests help bring real-world insight into the session and often live or work in the same area as the students.
• Local Government Session: Students explore how decisions are made in their community and what power young people have to influence them. This workshop is tailored to each group’s location and often features a speaker from the local government.
• Workshop: The first half of each session is a structured learning experience based on that week’s theme—ranging from public speaking and networking to government systems and research. Workshops include hands-on activities, examples, and space to reflect.
• Project Time: The second half of each session is dedicated to group work. Students apply what they’ve learned in the workshop and take steps toward building their advocacy project. County Directors help guide and support each team.
• Small Group Format: CTA happens in groups of about 10 – 20 students. This format helps students form strong connections, speak up in a more personal setting, and dive deeper into the topics and projects.
• Tri-Fold Display: Each group will create a tri-fold presentation board to showcase their advocacy project. These displays will be presented at their respective Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) conference later that year, giving students a platform to share their work with other youth from across the state.
• Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA): KYA is a statewide conference where students from across Kentucky come together to participate in mock government and civic engagement activities. CTA students will attend and showcase their tri-fold advocacy projects at this event, giving their ideas a broader audience.