Monday, October 26th, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Senate Hart Office Building, Room 902
Refreshments will be served

“If you had a problem in the Black community, and you brought in a group of White people to discuss how to solve it, almost nobody would take that panel seriously. In fact, there’d probably be a public outcry. It would be the same for women’s issues or gay issues. But every day, in local arenas all the way to the White House, adults sit around and decide what problems youth have and what youth need, without ever consulting us.”
– Jason, 17 years old

Hear directly from youth who are actively engaged in advising decision makers at the state and local level about pressing policy issues that affect young people, including healthcare, education, nutrition, foster care, homelessness, and juvenile justice. A growing number of Governors, State Legislatures, Mayors, City Councils, and County Commissions across the country have demonstrated success in engaging young people through Youth Councils: officially sanctioned groups of young people with a diverse range of life experiences who directly advise policymakers on policies and programs that directly impact youth.

Youth Council panelists will discuss:

• opportunities for incorporating youth voice in policymaking at the federal level;
• how federal policymakers can connect with existing state and local Youth Councils in their district;
• how effective state and local models for youth engagement in policymaking can be supported at the federal level.

This event is organized by America’s Youth Council Network (supported by the Ready by 21 National Partnership), which brings together state and local Youth Councils from across the country to share best practices and promote the growth of the Youth Council movement. Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP by Thursday Oct. 22nd to rsvp@forumfyi.org