Youth Advocacy Summit: Student Voice Taking Flight

Free Community Youth Advocacy Event!

This is an event for youth, by youth, co-hosted by League of Education Voters (LEV), Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL), and a team of youth partners from across the state. Alongside our youth partners, we invite students, parents, leaders, and members of the community to come listen, learn, and participate in the events that students are putting on. Learn from their experiences with school. See what issues they are passionate about. Listen to and honor their hopes for the future. Whether you are a young person yourself or another member of the community, we invite you to join us as we hear from students, families, and community members.

Watch a short video of the 2025 Youth Advocacy Summit at Gonzaga University

Throughout the event, we will have interactive tables staffed by partner organizations, as well as a LEV table where students can share what they would like to see happen in the 2027 Washington state legislative session. 

Lunch will be provided.

Here is the schedule:

Time	What
9:30 am (10 min)	Introduction and Welcome
9:40 am (15min)	Opening remarks from Washington state Representative Osman Salahuddin (48th Legislative District)
9:55 am (10 min)	Transition
10:05 am (50 min)	Breakout Session #1 A - Know Your Rights B - Financial Literacy 101 (Washington State Treasurer's Office) C - Fixing the Broken Marketplace D - LEV - Important Bills
10:55 am (10 min)	Transition
11:05 am (50 min)	Breakout Session #2 E - Voting (Secretary of State’s Office) F - Bill Writing Workshop G – Environmental Advocacy H - Advocacy Toolkit
11:55 am (5 min)	Transition
12:00 pm (30 min)	Remarks from Representative My-Linh Thai (41st Legislative District)
12:30 pm (60 min)	Lunch
1:30 pm (60 min)   Laser Dome	Student-Led Panel Discussion: Mental Health, AI and Technology in Schools, and Impacts of Social Media Arik Korman (LEV) James Layman (AWSL) Kris Goddard (Schultz Family Foundation) Swarisha Korukonda (student)
2:30 pm (5 min)	Transition
2:35 pm (45 min)	Advocacy in Action Workshop
3:20 pm	Students close the day

The Butterfly House will be open from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

We encourage students to visit!

 

 

ABOUT LEAGUE OF EDUCATION VOTERS (LEV):

Our vision is that every student in Washington state has access to an excellent public education that provides equitable opportunities for success.
 

ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON STUDENT LEADERS (AWSL):

AWSL provides high-quality student leadership development opportunities to students and schools in Washington and is a national leader in leadership programs and curriculum.