Youth Ambassadors

A group of five young people who participated in the Youth Ambassador program.  They are out on a city sidewalk, with a bus behind them.

2025 Youth Ambassador Application is OPEN! 

Are you between the ages of 15-18 and want to learn more about how SDOT creates programs? Don’t miss your chance to apply for the 2025 Youth Ambassador program! This is a paid learning opportunity beginning August 5, 2025

Applications are due June 18.

About the Program 

Program Details 

  • Dates: August 5 – August 28
  • Schedule: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 10am-3pm
  • Location: Seattle Municipal Tower – 700 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Who can participate: Applicants ages 15-18 who live or study in Seattle
  • Stipend: Participants will receive $600 at the end of the program 

What will I do as a Youth Ambassador?  

  • Go on weekly field trips: Visit SDOT facilities, meet industry experts, and learn from transit professionals
  • Gain valuable skills: Discover how transportation projects are planned and executed, from ideas to reality
  • Job shadow experts: Explore careers in Transportation planning, engineering, communications, and more 

Program Goals: 

  • Provide community-centered education and engagement for Seattle youth 
    Work with youth to help them understand the intersections of climate justice, transportation access and transportation equity
  • Support a cohort of youth to become climate and transportation ambassadors in their community
  • Support youth to co-create and lead real projects implemented in Seattle
  • Provide youth pre-employment soft skills workshop led by industry experts.
  • Provide an opportunity for SDOT to further learn about youth's experiences and challenges with transportation. 

Background and History

In 2019, we launched the Youth Transportation Ambassadors Program. This program is funded by the Seattle Transit Measure. Through this program, we partnered with two community-based organizations (CBOs) to teach youth leaders about public transit options, and to help youth become transit ambassadors in their community.  

In 2022, we partnered with the Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to launch the Youth Ambassador Program as part of SYEP’s Learn and Earn: Career Pathways track.

In 2023, we decided to reevaluate the structure of the Youth Ambassador program and paused it for 2024.

Transportation

Adiam Emery, Interim Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 3800, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34996, Seattle, WA, 98124-4996
Phone: (206) 684-7623
684-Road@seattle.gov

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is on a mission to deliver a transportation system that provides safe and affordable access to places and opportunities for everyone as we work to achieve our vision of Seattle as a thriving, equitable community powered by dependable transportation.