On Wednesday, July 30th, Every Child NC hosted a Youth Advocacy Day at the NC General Assembly. This was a powerful event at which about 140 public school students and their adult supporters gathered to share their experiences on the issues that impact them most. The event began with an opening orientation and trainings by partners at Casa Azul de Wilson and Black & Belonging. Superintendent Mo Green engaged the group and fielded questions from students before they headed to a youth-led press conference outside the NC General Assembly.
At the press conference, students of all ages spoke strongly about school safety, mental health, immigration justice, issues around DEI, and more. Later, students had the opportunity to have meetings directly with state representatives. Thanks to Reps Cervania and R. Pierce, they also toured the House Chamber and observed representatives from the gallery. The day wrapped with lunch, a debrief, and time to celebrate their voices and efforts. A huge thank you to all of those who made this day possible and to the students who shared their powerful perspectives.