Young People’s Groups in Alcoholics Anonymous began appearing around 1945 in Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and now they can be found all across North America. In 1958, a meeting of young AA’s from across the U.S. and Canada started what is now the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA), and it has met on an annual basis ever since. At the 1960 AA Convention, Bill W. noted that the age of new members was much lower than when he and Dr. Bob founded AA 25 years earlier. In a letter to ICYPAA dated June 15, 1969, Bill wrote “… in recent years I have found nothing for greater inspiration than the knowledge that A.A. of tomorrow will be safe, and certainly magnificent, in the keeping of you who are the younger generation of A.A. today.”
ICYPAA was founded for the purpose of providing a setting for an annual celebration of sobriety among young people in AA. Since its inception, a growing group of people, who at first would not consider themselves as “young people,” has become regular attendees. The number of young people suffering from alcoholism who turn to AA for help is growing, and ICYPAA helps to carry AA’s message of recovery to alcoholics of all ages. This meeting provides an opportunity for young AA’s from all over the world to come together and share their experience, strength, and hope as members of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA members who attend an ICYPAA return home better prepared to receive young people who come to AA looking for a better way of life.
ICYPAA travels from state to state each year through a process of “bidding” where a city, state, or committee bids to bring ICYPAA to their local area.
The 64th ICYPAA Host Committee is a group of alcoholics formed to organize and plan the 64th International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous in Austin, TX. Although we’re hosting ICYPAA in Austin, the committee includes participation from the whole state of Texas. The Host Committee was formed in 2023 when the Austin Bid for ICYAA was awarded ICYPAA at the 63rd ICYPAA in San Francisco.
The committee practices AA’s three legacies: Unity, Service, and Recovery, as well as the 36 principles of AA’s steps, traditions, and concepts. The committee has a primary purpose to carry this message to the still suffering alcoholic and to host the 64th ICYPAA in Austin, Texas. The experience of ICYPAA has been life-changing to many members of this Host Committee and we want to pass on the experience which we have had to still others.
ICYPAA is open to all alcoholics regardless of your age. Although this is a young people’s conference, there are many who come to ICYPAA who are older.
ICYPAA is a conference which relies on contributions from its members in the form of registrations to be able to put the conference on financially. Pre-registration costs vary from the time of year and you can also register on-site at the conference. Registering for the conference ensures that we are practicing our 7th Tradition and being self-supporting. You can pre register by clicking here.
The 64th ICYPAA is going to be held at the JW Marriott in Downtown Austin. The room rate is $189 per night. You can book your room by clicking here.
ICYPAA is an annual celebration of sobriety for young people in Alcoholics Anonymous. There are speakers, panels, workshops, marathon meetings, and entertainment. The primary purpose of the conference is to carry the message of AA and to show young people there is fun in sobriety. Outside of the main activities, lifelong friendships are cultivated. Memories are made. And young people go back to their local areas on fire for Alcoholics Anonymous.
For many of us who got sober young, ICYPAA has been a launchpad into service outside of the group-level as well as learning how to grow up in Alcoholics Anonymous. The experience of identifying with a common problem and sharing a common solution is the powerful cement which binds us in AA. Having a group of people from all over the world you can walk shoulder to shoulder with is one of the main reasons people keep coming back to ICYPAA. Year after year, we celebrate sobriety and join in harmonious action and gratitude.
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