This spring, WA-SEN had the opportunity to connect with two unique yet equally inspiring audiences through our participation in the 2025 Charting Our Future Conference hosted by the Foundation for Tacoma Students and the Civic Leadership Conference hosted by the WA State TRIO Association. While one event brought together campus faculty and community leaders and the other focused on high school students preparing for higher education, both served as powerful reminders of the impact youth advocacy can have in shaping educational equity across Washington.
At Charting Our Future, WA-SEN Advisors Kayla Hoy and Becca Tibbets were joined by Sheila Steiner, Senior Director of Policy and Community Engagement for Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW), to present a session titled Building Effective Youth Advocacy â On the Case Study of WA-SEN. Centered around the theme of Collective Impact, the session introduced our newly launched Use Your Voice to Shape the Future seriesâa practical guide to political civic engagement for students. Speaking to a room filled with higher education staff and leaders from community-based organizations, our team led a thoughtful discussion on how institutions can work together to support student voice in policymaking spaces.
Through guided questions and collaborative dialogue, we explored ways to foster inclusive, student-led advocacy efforts across the state. We also shared WA-SENâs impact to date, including 492 students and 149+ legislators engaged since 2021, and our continued momentum in the 2024â2025 academic year, with 54+ legislative appointments, four hosted events featuring elected officials, and 152 attendees across 50+ partner campuses.
Just a few days later, WA-SEN shifted gears to connect with a different group of changemakersâhigh school studentsâat the Civic Leadership Conference, themed Together, We Rise! Leveraging Civic Engagement for Social Change. WA-SEN Advisor Kayla Hoy facilitated an interactive workshop from the same Use Your Voice series, this time tailored to younger students beginning to explore advocacy and leadership. Using relatable examples, personal stories, and student-centered questions like âDo you want to be at the table or on the menu?â, Kayla helped students reflect on why their voices matterâand how to make them heard.
The workshop focused on tangible strategies for participating in the legislative process, from signing in pro or con on a bill, to submitting written testimony, to testifying at a hearingâeither virtually or in person. It was an empowering session that left students energized and ready to take their first steps into advocacy.
In addition to the workshop, Becca Tibbets represented WA-SEN on a panel with local youth leadership icons McKenna Egger (WashPIRG) and Tai-Yang Abreu (Washington Bus). The panel explored meaningful questions around barriers to civic engagement, representation, and the future of youth leadership in an increasingly polarized world. Their insights sparked meaningful conversations about identity, education, and the power of grassroots movements.
Whether speaking to higher ed professionals, education advocates, or emerging student leaders, WA-SENâs message remained clear: young people are not just the leaders of tomorrowâtheyâre powerful changemakers today. Advocacy is not just for adults in positions of powerâit belongs to students, too. Weâre proud to help young people across Washington find their voice and step into leadership. The future is not only ahead of usâitâs already in motion, led by the next generation.