InReach Young Professionals Board Program.

What is the Young Professionals Board?

InReach Young Professionals
Board Statement

The InReach Young Professionals Board is a network of service-minded LGBTQ+ and allied young professionals working together to develop, expand and promote the free InReach App in their local communities.

Our Vision

Our goal is to build a national movement and mobilize thousands of young professionals across the United States to serve as ambassadors in their communities for the world’s first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution or discrimination with safe, verified resources.

Program Success Stories

Slavi Arnaudov

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022 (Co-Chair), 2021 (Co-Chair)

Company

The Blackstone Group 

Successes

Leveraged his professional networks to nominate and pitch InReach for the 2022 Blackstone Gives Back Challenge, unlocking $50,000 in funding that InReach would not otherwise have access to; Elected to the 2023 Governing Board of Directors for his outstanding performance on the Young Professionals Board 

Featured Quote

“As a gay immigrant from Bulgaria going through the U.S. immigration system for the past 10 years, I have experienced first-hand the difficulties of being an LGBTQ+ immigrant in this country. InReach’s tech platform offers vital help many LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution need to be safe.”

Tanushree Khan

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2022 (Co-Chair), 2021  

Company

PwC 

Successes

Played a leading role in organizing the Young Professionals Board’s fundraising events, including the 2022 board’s NYC Drag Queen Bingo event resulting in ~$5k raised; Leveraged company connections to unlock corporate matching opportunities and recruit new Young Professionals Board members; Elected to the 2023 Governing Board of Directors for her outstanding performance on the Young Professionals Board 

Christina Tong

Years Served on Young Professionals Board

2021 

Company

Peloton; ex-Google 

Successes

Tapped networks to fundraise over $10,000 during her first year on the Young Professionals Board; Joined the InReach Ambassador Network after using the free InReach App during her time as a crisis counselor volunteer for LGBTQ+ youth; Elected to the 2022 Governing Board of Directors for her outstanding performance on the Young Professionals Board & elected as the 2023 Board Chair for her continued strong performance and demonstrated investment in the organization 

Featured Quote

“I decided to join because the mission to connect LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution to verified resources is a pressing need that I hear often from youth in crisis in my capacity as a volunteer with The Trevor Project. As a former Product Manager on the team that connects merchants to consumers on Google Maps, I’m also convinced that there’s a real solutions gap here – there’s nobody else doing this kind of tailored, high precision vetting. The Young Professionals Board has been a great way for me to tangibly support this mission, meet a community of like-minded young professionals, and learn more about the nonprofit space.”
The InReach Young Professionals Board has an auxiliary working board format.

The focus of the Young Professionals Board’s activities fit into three categories: 

  1. App Support – members directly contribute to advancing the free InReach App as Local Community Reviewers, translators (via Crowdin), and/or via coding support (*available to engineers). 
  2. Fundraising – members organize in-person and virtual fundraising events, unlock new corporate funding (via leveraging their employers’ matching gifts, volunteer service grants, company ERGs, etc.), and help to power InReach’s mission via fulfilling an annual membership dues requirement.
  3. Professional Development – members will hear from remote guest speakers, develop new skills through participation in committees, and gain access to a nationwide network of young professionals passionate about LGBTQ+ and trans rights, refugee rights and technology for social good.

Young Professionals Board Program

The Young Professionals Board program will use a hybrid model of virtual programming, with in-person regional meet-ups throughout the year.

We are currently accepting applications (*rolling admissions) for the following regional chapters across the United States:
  • Tri-State Area Regional Chapter (launched in January 2023) – open to young professionals living in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania
  • Virtual Chapter (launched in January 2023) – this chapter is open to young professionals living anywhere in North America and offers a 100% remote option
  • Great Lakes Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana or Minnesota
  • San Francisco Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in the San Francisco, California area
  • Los Angeles Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in the Los Angeles, California area
  • National Capital Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, or West Virginia
  • Rocky Mountain Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico
  • South Atlantic Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida
  • Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living in Washington or Oregon
APPLY NOW

Young Professionals Board Program Highlights (2020 - 2022)

See below for highlights from our Young Professionals Board Program. The program began in 2020 in New York City. 

Membership

40+ young professionals across the United States (remote)

Demographics: 

  • LGBTQ+: 88%
  • BIPOC: 53%
  • Immigrants: 33%
  • Women: 33%
Over 40% of 2021 Young Professionals Board members renewed membership for 2022

Sample employers include:

Fundraising

To-date, the Young Professionals Board has raised over $186,000 from:

  • Membership Dues
  • Corporate Giving
  • Fundraisers

Programming

  • Organized virtual “Lunch & Learn” sessions at Adobe, Jones Day, BBR Partners, PwC, Petal and tapped into corporate giving
  • Hired full-time Program Director to oversee 2022 program and the transition to a new regional chapter membership model in 2023
Change the world with us

Who Are We Looking For?

Young Professionals Board
Membership Requirements

  • Open to young professionals ages 21 to 40 years old
  • Currently living in the United States
  • Available to attend remote monthly meetings via Zoom
  • Meet (or exceed) the annual membership dues requirement
  • Passionate about LGBTQ+ and refugee justice & technology for social good

Young Professionals Board
Time Commitment 

  • Our Young Professionals Board members commit ~3-5 hours per month to InReach
  • All Young Professionals Board members attend hybrid general membership meetings (~1 hour per meeting)
  • Young Professionals Board members who choose to join 1-2 special interest committee(s) also attend supplementary committee meetings

Why Should You Join Us?

  1. Build your professional network: Opportunity to join a diverse online coalition of peers located across the United States who are passionate about LGBTQ+ and trans rights, immigrant justice and belonging, and leveraging the power of technology for social good via monthly meetings, special interest committee collaboration, and social events throughout the year.
  2. Accelerate your professional & knowledge development: Gain access to distinguished guest speakers on relevant topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, U.S. immigration law and policy, diversity, equity and inclusion in business, use cases of technology for social justice & more. And hone your professional skills – including fundraising, recruiting/interviewing, coding, event planning and project management.
  3. Receive recognition for your service: Names, job titles and employers, and pictures listed on InReach’s website and Young Professionals Board marketing materials.
  4. Make a meaningful difference: Help attract the financial and in-kind resources necessary to advance the InReach App, the world’s first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution and discrimination with safe, verified resources.
 

Hear From Past Young Professionals
Board Members

Michael Leonetti

Second Year Law Student at NYU Law School

2020 & 2021 member

“I joined the Young Professionals Board because I wanted to fundraise to support InReach’s innovative mission and meet other people passionate about queer asylum and migrant justice. I decided to return because I’ve come to see the YPB as both a wonderful social community and professional network. I believe in InReach’s work and love being able to support it while learning from the other YPB members and our monthly guest speakers.”

Kelly Chan

Technical Program Manager at DoubleVerify

2022 member

“I joined the Young Professionals Board for the opportunity to share my skills and network with a group of passionate people helping our community. Being on the Tech Committee, I’ve learned so much about how the InReach platform works from the backend and am excited to help it grow to serve a wider population.”

Will Sheehan

Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow at Safe Passage Project

2021 Learning & Development Committee Director

“I have gained a lens into the importance of InReach through my work in various internships and now as an attorney working with LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution. There is so much misinformation around immigration, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and there are entities actively preying on vulnerable people, making it critical to provide a platform to connect people to vetted resources. I joined the Young Professionals Board to network with professionals all over the country and to collaborate with them on contributing to InReach’s mission. As the Learning & Development Committee Director, I hope to spread correct information, inspire conversations, and connect Young Professionals Board Members to illustrious professionals who are working hard to support and contribute to the success of various communities.”

Information For Companies/Employers

As an employer, you are encouraged to share the InReach Young Professionals Board Program with young professionals at your company (the program is open to young professionals ages 21-40, located anywhere in the U.S.). Our program offers a unique opportunity for young professionals to engage in meaningful service, grow their professional network, and develop key competencies to help prepare for future career success.

Our Young Professionals Board Program also offers a great way for your company to showcase your employees’ deep commitment to service, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are especially interested in adding new young professionals to our Young Professionals Board Program from the following industries:

  • Tech – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Meta, Google, Adobe, & more
  • Consulting – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from PwC, Accenture, EY-Parthenon, Deloitte, Kearney, & more
  • Financial Services – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Blackstone, Macquarie Group, Petal, Federal Reserve Bank of NY, American Express, Capital One, Novantas, Evercore, & more
  • Corporate Law – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Jones Day, Blank Rome LLP, Levy Konigsberg LLP, & more
  • Media – our Young Professionals Board Program has had young professionals from Dow Jones, Shutterstock, Ipsos, & more

Upcoming Remote Information Sessions

If you are interested in an upcoming remote information session, please fill out the form below:

Become a Young Professionals Board 2024 Sponsor

There are many ways for companies to partner with InReach, including sponsoring the Young Professionals Board program. Financial commitment levels ranging from $5k to $100k+ are available. For more information, see InReach’s 2023 Corporate & Brand/Artist Partnership Guide, or contact Myron Day, InReach Development Director, to schedule a time to discuss options. 

The InReach Young Professionals Application Deadline is rolling. APPLY NOW!

CLICK TO APPLY

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis. Apply now here!

The InReach Young Professionals Board offers hybrid in-person/remote chapters across the country. 
 
We’re currently accepting applications (*rolling admissions) for the following regional chapters across the United States:
  • Tri-State Area Regional Chapter (launched in January 2023) – open to young professionals living in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania
  • Virtual Chapter (launched in January 2023) – this chapter is open to young professionals living anywhere in North America and offers a 100% remote option
  • Great Lakes Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana or Minnesota
  • San Francisco Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in the San Francisco, California area
  • Los Angeles Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in the Los Angeles, California area
  • National Capital Regional Chapter (launched in July 2023) – open to young professionals living in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, or West Virginia
  • Rocky Mountain Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico
  • South Atlantic Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida
  • Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter (launching in 2024) – open to young professionals living in Washington or Oregon

All Young Professionals Board members commit to meeting (or exceeding) an annual membership dues requirement. InReach Young Professionals Board members are asked to choose from payment options in order to fulfill this annual dues requirement. 

For more information, please see our 2024 annual membership dues handout here. 

Making a tax-deductible donation to InReach is easy. Sample donation methods include:

Donate online directly with PayPal Giving Fund 

Donate online directly via InReach’s “Donate” page

Start an online peer-to-peer fundraiser 

  • Use this link to create and personalize a new fundraising page. Then share your page with friends and family, and across social media!

Absolutely! Young Professionals Board members are encouraged to leverage their employer’s matching funds, “dollars for doers” program and/or professional development fund when possible.

No, the Young Professionals Board is distinct from the InReach governing board of directors.

The InReach governing board plays a pivotal role in developing InReach’s strategic direction and providing critical oversight (governance & legal compliance).

In contrast, the InReach Young Professionals Board is an auxiliary working board specifically for U.S.-based young professionals (ages 21-40) who are committed to supporting InReach’s critical work through (1) app support (2) fundraising, and (3) professional development. Young Professionals Board members may be considered for future appointment to the InReach governing board of directors.

The InReach Young Professionals Board currently offers the following special interest committees:

  • App Support: Coding 
  • App Support: Community 
  • App Support: Translation
  • Fundraising
  • Learning & Development 

Yes! in addition to the United States, InReach has expanded eligibility for the Virtual Chapter to folks living in Canada and Mexico. The InReach App is available in Canada and Mexico and this will allow us to respond quickly to forced migration across North America.

Head over to the “Our Team” page and click on the “Young Professionals Board” tab to learn more about our current membership.

Contact us for more information on our Young Professionals Board Program.

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