About The YACU

The Young Americans Coalition for Unity (YACU) is empowering young people across America to engage in politics and make a difference. As the US's only youth-led non-partisan & bipartisan organization focused on youth political engagement, the YACU seeks to give everyone -- no matter their party, ideology, or background -- a chance to make change. We're hosting special events, creating a nationwide network of local chapters, and fostering bipartisan discussions daily.

At the YACU, you can volunteer, lead, make new friends, and pursue opportunities only our coalition can provide. Whatever you believe, wherever you are, and why ever you're here: the YACU welcomes you.

Our Mission

The Young Americans Coalition for Unity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging youth in politics and promoting unity and bipartisanship. We work to empower both high school and college students to engage in bipartisan discussion and become politically involved in their local community and national politics.

Our Board

The Board of the YACU is comprised of leaders of major teams at the YACU. Board members are either founders of the organization or carefully selected and elected to their position by the other board members to fulfill a vacancy. The Board works to lead each of their respective teams, as well as drive the organization as a whole, making decisions that affect the social structure.

Andrew (Political Director)

Andrew Juan is a political activist, organizer and policy researcher, dedicated to making the voices of young Americans heard in our modern political process. A high school senior based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Andrew has worked with a variety of political organizations. He served as the National Youth Director for a presidential campaign, creating the campaign's official youth organizing group. In addition, he has been on the Board of Directors of several environmental and local nonprofits.

Michael (Organizing Director)

Michael Li is a political and community organizer who has been involved with the political scene since 2016. Delegating organizing efforts on local and national platforms, he believes that keeping a community active and engaged about fixing the problems they face is important in bringing change. Passionate about giving those without a voice a platform, Michael has worked with the socioeconomically disadvantaged, youth, and AAPI community to make their voices heard in the political scene.

Carlos Bindert

Carlos is an incoming student at RIT, majoring in Industrial Engineering. His work in high school as the robotics club founder, tech crew lead for drama club productions, and IT assistant led to a profound interest in aggregating technology for a better and more efficient world. Carlos has also taken an interest in politics following the 2016 election and is registered as a local Election Judge. When he's not busy, you can find him playing Factorio or teaching other peers about personal finance.

Alexis (Digital Director)

Alexis is a high school student from NJ who loves to engage in political discussion via social media and volunteer whenever she can. Her dream is to promote bipartisanship via youth political involvement. She is a member of the French National Honors Society, as well as her school’s various activities. She loves to listen to music, and you can often find her with her earbuds in and the volume turned up a little too high. Alexis also enjoys the arts, watching sitcoms, and laughing at memes.

Derek (Tech Manager)

Derek Kaplan is a high school student from Pennsylvania who cares deeply about good governance. He is an experienced computer programmer who has been coding since he was 8 years old. Derek took an interest in politics during the 2018 midterm elections, and he is fascinated with how technology can improve the political arena. In addition to his passions in computer science and politics, he plays drums in his high school marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band.

Harvey (Senior Leadership Representative)

Harvey Dolan is a policy team member volunteer and debate coordinator here at YACU. He loves to debate, write, and volunteer as well to promote political engagement at his high school in Massachusetts. He hopes to continue his political work as he gets older into college and afterward. At school, he has participated in Model UN and debate club and has a passion for learning in history and English. In his spare time he makes music, plays video games, and hangs out with his friends.

Andrew (Political Director)

Andrew Juan is a political activist, organizer and policy researcher, dedicated to making the voices of young Americans heard in our modern political process. A high school senior based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Andrew has worked with a variety of political organizations. He served as the National Youth Director for a presidential campaign, creating the campaign's official youth organizing group. In addition, he has been on the Board of Directors of several environmental and local nonprofits.

Michael (Organizing Director)

Michael Li is a political and community organizer who has been involved with the political scene since 2016. Delegating organizing efforts on local and national platforms, he believes that keeping a community active and engaged about fixing the problems they face is important in bringing change. Passionate about giving those without a voice a platform, Michael has worked with the socioeconomically disadvantaged, youth, and AAPI community to make their voices heard in the political scene.

Carlos Bindert

Carlos is an incoming student at RIT, majoring in Industrial Engineering. His work in high school as the robotics club founder, tech crew lead for drama club productions, and IT assistant led to a profound interest in aggregating technology for a better and more efficient world. Carlos has also taken an interest in politics following the 2016 election and is registered as a local Election Judge. When he's not busy, you can find him playing Factorio or teaching other peers about personal finance.

Alexis (Digital Director)

Alexis is a high school student from NJ who loves to engage in political discussion via social media and volunteer whenever she can. Her dream is to promote bipartisanship via youth political involvement. She is a member of the French National Honors Society, as well as her school’s various activities. She loves to listen to music, and you can often find her with her earbuds in and the volume turned up a little too high. Alexis also enjoys the arts, watching sitcoms, and laughing at memes.

Derek (Tech Manager)

Derek Kaplan is a high school student from Pennsylvania who cares deeply about good governance. He is an experienced computer programmer who has been coding since he was 8 years old. Derek took an interest in politics during the 2018 midterm elections, and he is fascinated with how technology can improve the political arena. In addition to his passions in computer science and politics, he plays drums in his high school marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band.

Harvey (Senior Leadership Representative)

Harvey Dolan is a policy team member volunteer and debate coordinator here at YACU. He loves to debate, write, and volunteer as well to promote political engagement at his high school in Massachusetts. He hopes to continue his political work as he gets older into college and afterward. At school, he has participated in Model UN and debate club and has a passion for learning in history and English. In his spare time he makes music, plays video games, and hangs out with his friends.

Interested in what we do?