New York Survivor Advocate - Speaker

With over 45 years of measured success in working with youth, SADD is widely considered the Nation’s Premier Youth Health and Safety Organization. We are a National team of dedicated professional advocates working to empower, engage, mobilize, and create positive change for students and adult allies through peer-to-peer intervention. Focusing on prevention programs in mobility safety, substance misuse, mental health, and leadership development, SADD students are working to impact their peers through a model of school and community-based chapters. Our chapter network is globally recognized, with members in all 50 states, various territories, and internationally, creating a presence on six continents. 

SADD aims to equip our students with the technical assistance and skills necessary to advocate for their safety effectively. Our motivated team of adult allies is many groups' first point of contact and inspiration. We seek a vibrant and impactful survivor advocate to join this space in a contractual role for the New York SADD Speakers Bureau. 

Position Overview

New York State SADD is seeking dynamic, engaging Survivor Advocates and Speakers to deliver impactful, prevention-focused presentations on mobility safety to middle and high school audiences.

This opportunity is designed for individuals with lived experience related to mobility safety, whether as a survivor of a crash, a survivor advocate impacted by another’s choices, or someone with past harmful driving behaviors who can speak to growth and accountability.

Speakers will educate and connect with young people on critical topics such as:

• Substance-impaired driving
• Distracted driving
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• Pedestrian and bicyclist safety
• Occupant protection

Presentations must go beyond personal storytelling; each session must deliver a clear, proactive message that empowers students to make safer decisions and provides actionable steps to do so. 

What We’re Looking For

We are intentionally expanding our Survivor Advocates Speaker Bureau to include new, diverse voices that better reflect and resonate with today’s youth.

Strong candidates will:

• Connect authentically with teen audiences (“students can see themselves in you”)
• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate presentations within a single class period
• Use positive, prevention-based messaging (not fear-based or “finger-wagging”)
• Avoid traumatic experiences and/or themes, overly gory or unnecessary imaging 
• Focus primarily on mobility safety themes (not general leadership talks with minor safety references)
• Be open to adapting and refining their presentations in collaboration with SADD staff

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging, school-based presentations across New York State
• Share a lived experience story tied to mobility safety with a clear takeaway message
• Align presentations with SADD’s evidence-informed prevention approach
• Incorporate interactive or reflective elements appropriate for classroom settings
• Collaborate with SADD staff on dual-programming opportunities and messaging alignment
• Administer or support post-event student surveys
• Submit required verification forms and feedback documentation with invoices

Contract Expectations & Logistics

• This is a fully contracted, fee-for-service role (not salaried or hourly, no benefits provided)
• Compensation rates are pre-established and negotiated annually
• Fees are inclusive of travel (speakers book and manage their own travel)
• Speakers are responsible for:
  • Conducting outreach and booking engagements
  • Coordinating schedules with schools/organizations
  • Maintaining availability during the school day and academic year to meet the needs of the population, particularly around high-engagement times (back to school, prom, graduation)
• SADD staff will:
  • Provide network support and connections for booking programming
  • Offer guidance, materials, and alignment support
  • Market and promote the bureau Statewide, develop marketing materials
  • Attend/assist with programming as available

Term of Appointment

This internship is designed as a minimum one-semester commitment (approximately 3–4 months). Interns who demonstrate strong performance, consistently meet deliverable expectations, and remain aligned with program goals may be invited to extend for an additional semester based on organizational needs, funding availability, and mutual interest.