What is IYPEP?

IYPEP was a program developed by Lauren, our former Executive Director, while she was on a Skadden Fellowship at an awesome youth organization called The Door. After two sessions, IYPEP’s growth inspired the creation of Atlas: DIY. In fact, our three other founders: Yari, Luthfun, and Martina were all in the inaugural IYPEP program in the summer of 2010! Now, IYPEP trains 15 peer educators to go out into their communities and educate people on their rights. Together, our IYPEPers have reached over 10,000 community members!

If you would like to offer IYPEP at your school, please contact Michelina Ferrara at michelina.ferrara@atlasdiy.org.

Why IYPEP?

IYPEP believes that the best advocates are peers, and that young people connect better (and rightfully so!) hearing someone’s personal story.

How does IYPEP work?

IYPEP has four components:

1. Telling our stories
2. Learning the law
3. Studying who makes a great presenter
4. Becoming an effective advocate for our communities

Students interact in weekly workshops where we identify what stories move us and why, and how to get a message across that will connect with others and cause them to act. At the end of each session we go out and present to schools, libraries and community centers, sharing our life experiences and supporting future change-makers! At the end of each session we travel to Washington DC and meet with lawmakers and study how American democracy truly works and how we can be more involved in the national movement.