Wendy Schaetzel Lesko is the executive director of the Youth Activism Project

Youth Activism Project

The Youth Activism Project, founded in 1992, is an international non-partisan organization designed "to encourage young people to speak up and pursue lasting solutions to problems they care deeply about." Formerly called Activism 2000 Project, the organization provides a variety of resources,...

. Lesko is an author of several books on youth-led advocacy, especially in the public policy arena, and recognized nationally as a youth voice

Youth voice

Youth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...

 expert.

Biography

During Lesko's last two years at Rollins College

Rollins College

Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....

, she created a recreational program for 100 children of Florida orange pickers about 45 minutes from campus. After graduating, she worked for Cesar Chavez

César Chávez

César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....

’s United Farm Workers

United Farm Workers

The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...

. Her career has included working as the managing editor of the Congressional Monitor, and starting "Today on the Hill," a live daily broadcast focused on action in Congress, for WTOP

WTOP-FM

WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving Metropolitan Washington, DC area. WTOP is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting.WTOP is one of two all-news stations in the Washington, D.C...

 in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

.

Lesko lives in Kensington, Maryland with her husband Matthew Lesko

Matthew Lesko

Matthew Lesko is an American author, self-proclaimed federal grant researcher, and infomercial personality. He has authored over 20 reference books telling people how to get "free" money from the United States government...

 and their two sons, Max and Morgan. Wendy met Matthew in 1982 while she was working at the Congressional Monitor.

Lesko launched the influential Activism 2000 Project in 1992. She is an adult advisor for School Girls Unite in Maryland, and on advisory boards for several organizations, including CommonAction.

Books

• Maximum Youth Involvement: The Complete Gameplan for Community Action (2003) Published by Youth Activism Project. ASIN: B0006SBDI4
• No Kidding Around: Americas Young Activists Are Changing Our World and You Can Too! (1992) Published by Information USA. ISBN 978-1878346100
• Youth! The 26% Solution (1998) with Emanuel Tsourounis. Published by Information USA. ISBN 978-1878346476
• Knock-Your-Socks-Off Training Teens To Be Successful Activists!The Complete Guide For Facilitating A 1-2 Hour Workshop. Published by Youth Activism Project.
• Youth Advocacy Module Published by U.S. Health & Human Service.
• Student Activist Training Action Guide Published by Mothers Against Drunk Driving
  Mothers Against Drunk Driving
  Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
  
   & U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
• Youth Empowerment Question Why Published by North Carolina
  North Carolina
  North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
  
   Department of Health.
• Youth As Equal Partners with Adam Kendall. Published by United Way of America.
• The People Rising: The Campaign Against the Bork Nomination (1989) with Michael Pertschuk. Published by Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 978-0938410898
• The Maternity Sourcebook: 230 Basic Decisions for Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby Care. (1984) Published by Warner Books. ISBN 978-0446375252
• The Maternity Sourcebook. (1985) (Reissue) with Matthew Lesko
  Matthew Lesko
  Matthew Lesko is an American author, self-proclaimed federal grant researcher, and infomercial personality. He has authored over 20 reference books telling people how to get "free" money from the United States government...
  
  . Published by Warner Books. ISBN 978-0446383752

Recognition

Lesko has been recognized by diverse publications from across the nation, such as The Washington Post, and the Houston Chronicle, among others. She also received WETA-TV

WETA-TV

WETA-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service member public televisionstation for the Washington, D.C., area. Its studios are in nearby Arlington, Virginia...

’s "Hometown Heroes" Award in 2004.

External links

• Youth Activism Project