Experience from the voice of this year's Youth Advocate

In late October, I was thrilled to learn that I had been selected as Washington State's Youth Advocate. From that point on, I attended monthly meetings with the 53 Youth Advocates nationwide, where I learned more about the YMCA's impact on our communities by attending events and talking with Association leaders. After a few months of learning, I began meeting with the Washington State YMCA Alliance to compare community needs and discuss statewide priorities.

Then it was off to DC! It was exciting to finally meet all 53 Youth Advocates whom I had previously interacted with online. The week was filled with opportunities and excitement. We went on a walking tour of DC, during which youth advocates shared inspiring thoughts along the way. We also participated in sessions focused on networking, media literacy, bridge-building, and my favorite part—meeting Y-USA CEO Suzzanne McCormick, who shared her insights on being a thoughtful leader. I was overjoyed and surprised when my favorite podcast hosts, from NPR’s "Left, Right, and Center," made an appearance at the general YMCA National Advocacy Days conference, which was attended by over 350 YMCA state CEOs and staff members. We also networked with DC professionals and teens interested in advocacy.

Hill Day! I left bright and early with my state alliance, which consisted of six incredible Washington State YMCA employees. Together, we met with seven Washington state legislators and their offices, where we advocated for the continued support of early childhood education block grants (fun fact: the YMCA is the nation's largest nonprofit childcare provider), chronic disease prevention, and tax credits. Our day was incredibly successful! We are so grateful for the support from offices like Senator Patty Murray's and Representative Pramila Jayapal's.

Whether you participate in the Y or not, I cannot recommend this program highly enough if you are a teen. Honestly, I'm sad that I won't be able to return next year, but I'm excited for someone else to have this opportunity. If this program even sounds a little interesting to you, I urge you to apply. I certainly didn’t think I would be selected for this program, but here I am! The worst that could happen is that you don't get in. Here’s a little secret: the more teens who apply, the more spots open up. I was the only representative from Washington this year, but there were two advocates last year, and many states had two this year.

By Emma Shampain, Bellevue Youth & Gov Delegate and 2025 Youth Advocate