Youth Leading the Future of Research

Volunteering, Learning, and Innovating with IMPACT

"You don't have to wait until college to change the world. At the IMPACT Center, youth are already shaping the future of science, health equity, and innovation."

Through hands-on volunteering, research education, and STEM mentorship, we equip youth from historically underserved communities to become the next generation of scientists, health leaders, and community researchers.

Children engaged in STEM learning activities

Why Youth Belong in Research

Too often, young people are left out of research—yet they have some of the most important questions, ideas, and solutions.

At the IMPACT Center, we believe:

High school students should lead community research projects.

Young people's voices matter in designing ethical and inclusive science.

Teens should learn how to code clinical tools, run digital health surveys, and evaluate community health needs.

Volunteering should open doors—not just for service hours, but for careers in medicine, AI, public health, and beyond.

Volunteer Pathways for Youth (Ages 13–24)

"Not just hours—real impact."

We've created multiple volunteer roles so youth can engage in the areas they're most passionate about:

Community Health & Outreach Volunteers

Help host health fairs, vaccine drives, and pop-up wellness events

Lead social media campaigns about mental health, nutrition, or chronic disease
Serve as youth translators or greeters at mobile health clinics
Distribute educational flyers, wearable devices, or digital trial tools in your community

Good for students interested in: public health, communications, education

Youth Research & STEM Interns

Join real-world research teams and learn how to collect and analyze health data

Participate in youth-led research projects on topics like food insecurity, asthma, or digital health access
Conduct surveys in schools and churches, analyze responses, and present findings at the IMPACT Youth Summit
Help co-create wearable tech dashboards, chatbot scripts, or educational games

Good for students interested in: science, engineering, psychology, AI

Creative & Media Fellows

Create videos, art, and TikToks that explain research topics to your peers

Interview community members and build digital storytelling campaigns
Support design of flyers, infographics, and podcast content for clinical trials and research studies
Earn badges and publish your work in our "Youth Voices in Research" gallery

Good for students interested in: media, storytelling, design, advocacy

Learn Research By Doing It

Youth Research Education at IMPACT includes:

Summer STEM Research Academies (Ages 15–18)

Two-week immersive programs in clinical research

Intro to Clinical Research Certificate

Dual-enrollment eligible for LAUSD & Compton students

Near-Peer Mentorship

From college and medical students

Hands-On Research Labs

Wearable tech, digital consent simulations, community data walks

Coming in 2025

Virtual Youth Research Portal

With videos, quizzes, and coding challenges for students everywhere.

Youth Spotlights

I helped build a chatbot for clinical trials in my neighborhood. I didn't think I could do tech and health—but now I want to major in public health!

— Jordan A.

11th Grade , South LA

Who Can Join?

Youth from across Southern California—especially Black, Latino, Native American, immigrant, low-income, and LGBTQ+ students—are encouraged to apply.

No experience required. Just curiosity, commitment, and community spirit.