People For the American Way Foundation Director of Youth Leadership Programs Andrew Gillum announced today that Rebecca Thompson has joined the organization as Director of Young People For (YP4) in the Washington, D.C. national headquarters.

Before coming to People For, Thompson served as the Program Manager of the District of Columbia Youth Advisory Council, where she provided policy, leadership, and professional development opportunities to the youth council. She was formerly the Legislative Director for the United States Student Association, where she organized and mobilized college students across the country to become advocates for change in their community. Additionally, Thompson has mentored students within the College Bound program in Washington, DC, as well as current YP4 Fellows. She comes to YP4 with extensive leadership training, including the Women’s Campaign School at Yale and the Center for Progressive Leadership’s Michigan Political Leaders Fellowship, among others.

“Rebecca brings extraordinary talents and expertise to this position, having already invested so much of herself to building up and training our next generation of progressive leaders,” said Gillum. “She understands the value in engaging young people, and her leadership will be valuable as we expand our outreach in the progressive community more deeply in cities and states around the country.”

People For the American Way Foundation President Michael B. Keegan applauded Thompson’s selection to lead YP4. “We are excited by Rebecca’s passion for progressive values and extensive experience in developing young leaders. It’s clear that she has a strong commitment to providing young adults with the critical opportunities necessary to become powerful advocates for change in their communities. I look forward to working with her in the months and years ahead.”

YP4 is a strategic long-term leadership development program that identifies, engages and empowers the newest generation of progressive leaders to create lasting change in their communities. YP4’s yearlong core fellowship program provides intensive skills and issue training for the college students who participate, as well as organizational and financial support for executing meaningful social justice work

“YP4 is a leader in organizing progressive young people to address new challenges,” said Thompson. “I’m grateful for a chance to work with such a talented group of students who are implementing critical progressive change in their communities and abroad. They are leading critical social justice campaigns, taking on the radical right on their campuses and in their communities, and changing the face of leadership. They are superstars whose work will have an impact on our nation for years to come.”

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