(Washington, DC) — DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson will host a public roundtable on Student Voices on Education in the District, providing a rare opportunity for current and former students to share their experiences directly with city leaders shaping education policy.
The roundtable comes at a critical moment as the Committee of the Whole conducts oversight of education agencies, forms budgets, and passes legislation affecting DC Public Schools, public charter schools, and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Who: Around 180 youth leaders, including those of DC Action Youth Advisory Team (YAT), The Young Women’s Project, The Black Swan Academy, DC Girls Coalition, Critical Exposure, AALEAD Youth Council, Mikva Challenge, Jah Kente International, Inc., and some students unaffiliated with any program. Media trained youth will be available throughout the day for comment and interview.
When: March 19, 2026, 4 – 7 PM
Where: John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW) Room 412 (Track B)
Why: Young people and their adult allies aim to ensure youth needs and perspectives are centered in this year’s budget and policy making process.
“This is a great chance for young people to tell Councilmembers what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change,” said Kawanza Billy, Senior Youth Advocacy & Engagement Manager at DC Action.
Background on DC Action’s Advisory Team
Building on decades of advocacy for the District’s young people, in 2024, DC Action launched its Youth Advisory Team with a cohort of motivated and civic-minded young District residents (ages range from 13-24) to create sustained opportunities for youth leadership in policy advocacy. 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.
The Youth Advisory Team has discussed youth homelessness on a WPGC (99.5) radio show, led youth town halls and youth summits, 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.