NAN Youth & College Division

Fighting for generations yet unborn.

The National Action Network has always put youth and young leaders at the forefront of the movement for Civil Rights. We understand as an organization, through our leadership, that it’s critical for any movement that we always include the passionate and visionary voices of our young leaders. Throughout history, young people have been on the frontlines of change, not only in our schools but neighborhoods, cities, states and our country. We must continue to seek new ways to empower our children and young adults to make community engagement and influencing policy the norm, not the exception.

National Action Network builds pipelines, which is essential to the perpetuity of the movement. With 106 chapters across the nation, our youth and college division believes it’s important for that same opportunity and energy to be paralleled with our youth and young leaders through expansion, sustainability and development.

We are not only the voices of tomorrow but the voices of today.

Our Mission

The mission of the National Action Network Youth and College Division shall be to promote the modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality; to seek new ways to empower our children and young adults to make community engagement and influencing policy the norm, not the exception.

Join the other youth leading the movement

Get involved with NAN Youth Huddle

The NAN Youth Huddle is a youth and young adult initiative centered around community service, STEM training, civic engagement, health and wellness, self empowerment, performing arts, and mentorship under the umbrella of Rev. Al Sharpton’s national civil rights organization, The National Action Network.

NAN’s Huddle initiative, founded by Ashley Sharpton after the non indictment of George Zimmerman in 2013, holds meetings every Monday, where the medium is raw and honest conversation.

NAN Huddle youth have been active in the local and national fight for justice helping to lead young people in marches, rallies, social media campaigns, and lie-ins in order to enact meaningful change around racial injustices.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, NAN's Youth Move Huddle is now being held virtually. You can join our livestream every Monday Night at 7 p.m. EST via our Zoom portal.

NAN's Youth Directors

Tylik M. McMillan

National Director of Youth and College

Tylik M. McMillan, a native of Lawrenceville Virginia, by way of Harrisburg Pennsylvania is a recent graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. At 23 years old Tylik McMillan knows how to make a change in the world. Since the age of 13, under the leadership of Rev. Al Sharpton, Tylik has served as the South Eastern Regional Youth Director, current Washington D.C. Bureau Policy Advisor and National Director of Youth and College of the National Action Network which is one of the nation's leading civil rights organizations working in the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to promote the modern civil rights agenda.

Ashley Sharpton

Founder & Director of NAN Youth Huddle

Ashley Sharpton is an activist, community organizer, entertainment and media entrepreneur, podcast host, social media manager, the youngest daughter of Rev. Al Sharpton (international civil rights leader/TV host) and Dr. Kathy Jordan Sharpton, and the younger sibling to Dominique Sharpton-Bright. Ashley graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School in 2005 with credits/honors, later she went to study sociology at the illustrious Hampton University after earning 4 scholarships to Hampton and other leading HBCU’s. Ashley was instrumental in enhancing the National Action Network (NAN)’s, Youth Move’s & Youth Huddle’s digital footprint. Those efforts afforded her the opportunity to serve as a live social media commentator from the White House during President Obama’s 2014, 2015, and 2016 State of The Union addresses.

We are in a historic moment in the country, where the confluence of two pandemics COVID-19 and police brutality have uncovered the gross inequities that continue to persist in our society due to structural racism.

Fortunately, the next generation of civic leaders are here and ready to get to work. Together we can define and promote the next civil rights agenda. Will you join us?

To meet this moment we propose that interested young adults and students get involved with NAN’s Youth Huddle and NAN’s Youth and College Division. We are organizing remotely and locally. To focus on organizing efforts in your area, consider joining your local chapter, or starting your own.

Take Action

Join NAN's Youth Huddle

Get Involved with NAN's Youth & College Division

Join or Start a NAN Chapter