MYA meets weekly, alternating between in-person meetings and online check-ins. Throughout the year, youth advisors get a behind-the-scenes look at the museum, provide feedback & input on MOHAI projects, and plan events, resources, & opportunities for teens at the museum.

• Meet museum and history professionals to learn more about how a museum runs
• Get sneak peeks and provide feedback on ongoing MOHAI projects
• Discuss and think creatively about the role of local history in teens’ lives
• Collaborate with staff, partners, and each other to organize events
• Represent MOHAI in the community and at partner events

This year’s MYA projects included:

• Publishing a Seattle history coloring book
• Running the @mohaiteens Instagram account
• Creating a “This day in Seattle history” google calendar
• Making a map/guide to funky and creative Seattle landmarks
• Filming and editing a video on thrifting history
• Writing and recording bonus episodes for the Rainy Day History podcast

MOHAI Youth Advisors come from neighborhoods and schools across the greater Seattle area, are a mix of returning members and first-time participants, and include students with a variety of interests, skills, ages, and experiences.

MOHAI looks for creative, collaborative, and motivated teens that are passionate about history and community to get involved, connect, and have an impact at the museum. The program lasts from September-June, and applicants must be high school students between the ages of 14-18 at the start of the program.

MOHAI is committed to building a team and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility – we encourage students from marginalized backgrounds to apply!

Regular attendance and active participation in MYA meetings and projects throughout the year (October-June with a September orientation) is required.

In-person meetings are held at the museum twice a month on Thursday evenings, 5-7 pm.

Assignments and projects require an additional, independent time commitment outside of regular meeting hours. These include but are not limited to volunteer shifts, project tasks and check-ins, short reflections, etc. This time commitment depends on your own capacity and schedule and fluctuates throughout the year, but on average MYA participants spend 0-2 hours a week working on projects outside of meeting times.

MYA are also expected to communicate with staff in a timely manner about known absences and catch up on missed work.

Yes. Each participant receives a monthly stipend of $100 per month. Students may alternatively choose to complete the program for community service hours.

MYA applicants are primarily evaluated by their responses to the online application questions, then through a selective phone interview process that takes place during July and August.

Applicants will be able to submit written or verbal responses to most prompts. The online form also provides the option to “save and continue later” if you need to finish the application at a later date.

The deadline to apply for the 2023-24 program has passed! MOHAI staff will reach out to current applicants over the summer. If you have any questions or accommodation needs throughout the application process, contact the MOHAI Education Department.

Applications for MYA open in the spring for the upcoming school year. MYA applicants are primarily evaluated by their responses to the online application questions, then through a selective phone interview process.