When youth advocates shared their personal experiences with homelessness and housing insecurity, mental health, and job opportunities, and struggles their friends and family have faced, DC Councilmembers leaned in to listen. On March 13, seven members of DC Action’s Youth Advisory Team, as well as a young staff member and a program participant from SMYAL (which serves youth who identify as LGBTQIA+) made the rounds at the Wilson Building to educate councilmembers about their priority issues and the needs for improvements to District programs and services.
Conversations centered on improvements needed in the youth homelessness services system, the importance of expanding mental health services for youth, ideas for strengthening career readiness and mentorship opportunities, among other topics. The young people met with Councilmembers Matt Frumin, Anita Bonds, and Janeese Lewis George, and staff members from the offices of Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Councilmembers Christina Henderson, Zachary Parker, and Robert White. “The youth were impressed to see the councilmembers taking notes and engaging them with questions,” said DC Action Youth Mobilization Manager Kawanza Billy, who organizes and advises the Youth Advisory Team. “They did feel heard. Councilmembers asked them to follow up on various issues and keep in touch with the policymakers. The meetings ended with calls to action.”
During a pause between meetings, Youth Advisory Team member MaKaila Eddings spotted Mayor Bowser leaving a different meeting, and stopped her in the hall so she and fellow YAT member Deloris Betty could discuss youth homelessness, mental health care, and career development directly with the mayor.
The following week, the DC Council held a Youth Roundtable to provide an opportunity for young people–who are typically in school when public hearings are held–to offer testimony about their pressing concerns. Nearly 50 youth from across the District participated in the roundtable, where they shared powerful testimony based on firsthand experience with a host of issues including school conditions, gun violence, affordable housing, food justice, mental and sexual health care, and career opportunities.
Coming soon: Youth Advisory Team reports on advocacy day from a youth perspective.