Washington, DC (March 10, 2025)—On Thursday, March 13, the DC Action Youth Advisory Team will visit DC Council offices in the John A. Wilson Building to engage councilmembers in conversations about the most pressing issues facing District of Columbia youth: homelessness, mental health care, housing, out-of-school time opportunities, and economic justice. The advocates, aged 14-24, hope these meetings will ensure their voices are at the center of decision-making during the 2026 budget debate.
Composed of 10 young people united by a commitment to improve life and opportunities for young people in the District, Kwanzaa Billy, Youth Mobilization Manager, said, ”We hope these meetings make a significant impact and help leaders understand that youth are informed and determined to be a part of the change they want to see. The members of the Youth Advisory Team bring an impressive and diverse array of skills and experiences to their advocacy. These young people are already community leaders using this opportunity to enhance their expertise and build their networks. DC Action is excited to learn from them and amplify their voices.”
Background on the Youth Advisory Team
Building on decades of advocacy for the District’s young people, DC Action launched its first Youth Advisory Team last fall. The team meets twice a month to plan campaigns and learn the ins and outs of nonprofit advocacy work, including communications, community engagement, government relations, and organizing. The team also works directly with DC Action staff and partners to discuss academic and career goals and receive mentoring on professional development topics.
After spending several months sharpening their already impressive advocacy skills by creating and sharing a platform of issues important to District youth, the team has discussed youth homelessness on a WPGC (99.5) radio show, participated in the DC Girls Coalition Youth Town Hall and testified at DC Council hearings. Team member Jani Cousins published a DC Line op-ed, and several team members have been quoted in the Washington Informer and on WUSA Channel 9.