Origins of YPAA

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What is YPAA?

YPAA (Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous) conferences originated from the yearning 

to provide a space for  younger individuals to connect and share their experiences 

within AA.  Around 1945, young people's groups started forming in places like 

Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Philadelphia.  Bill Wilson even wrote a 

letter with his acceptance of Young People AA Groups. 

In 1958, a gathering of young AA members from across the US and Canada

 led to the creation of ICYPAA (INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF 

ALCHOLICS ANONYMOUS), which is not aligned with any other YPAA conference. 

Over six decades later ICYPAA is a strong tradition.

YPAA conferences general goal is to have a supportive environment for a fellowship of  young people 

and those young in spirit guided by a Power Greater than ourselves. 

Forming connections with others is common at these conferences and events. 

Each conference is self supporting through their own contributions. 

Groups have separate events through out the year leading up to the conference, 

in order to be self-supporting to bankroll the actual conference. They also generally sell merchandise, 

in order to have a prudence reserve to take care of common conference expenses.

Modern day YPAA conferences has a look of a Comic Con meets Recovery. Call backs to speakers in a 

happy, joyous, & free manner is common. 

Generally, every committee gives their own theme & look to their respective conference. People can stay up to wee hours of the morning: taking in a marathon meeting, talking recovery, eating snacks  

(and drinking energy drinks, coffee, water, etc.) playing games, and forming plus reuniting with sober bonds.

In the morning there can be choice of yoga, bid skits, and workshops,  but not exclusive to those events. 

During the day & early evening generally the program consists of AA & Al-non meetings.

RAVEYPAA is a new themed YPAA conference taking place sometime in 2026.