đź’Ş Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Advocacy Day 2025
On Monday, March 24th, NJSACC: New Jersey’s Statewide Network for Afterschool Communities hosted its 2nd Annual Youth Advocacy Day at the New Jersey State House. It was an inspiring day filled with passionate youth voices, meaningful conversations with legislators, and first hand exposure to the policymaking process.
Youth in Action: By the Numbers
🚌 47 youth advocates and 8 chaperones from Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton participated.
🗣️ 12 legislative visits took place, allowing youth to share their experiences and advocate for increased investment in out-of-school time (OST) programs.
đź‘Ą Youth engaged with the following legislators and representatives:
- Senator Vin Gopal (LD-11)
- Senator Owen Henry (LD-12)
- Senator McKnight (LD-
- Assemblywoman Carmen Morales (LD-34)
- Assemblyman Michael Venezia (LD-34)
- Assemblywoman Shama Haider (LD-37)
- Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (LD-8)
- Senator Benjie Wimberly (LD-35)
- Assemblywoman Ellen Park (LD-37)
- Shadaya Bennett representing Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (LD-29)
- Senator Teresa Ruiz (LD-29)
- Assemblywoman Rosaura Bagolie (LD-27)
- Assemblyman Balvir Singh (LD-7)
An Unforgettable Experience
The day was filled with powerful moments that brought policy to life.
âś… Youth observed a live Senate and Assembly voting session, gaining insight into the legislative process in action.
🏛️ They toured the State House and Governor’s office, getting a behind-the-scenes look at where laws are shaped.
📸 The highlight of the day? A huge photo op with Governor Phil Murphy, capturing a moment of unity and empowerment.
💬 Additionally, youth engaged with key representatives from the Governor’s Office, including:
- Emy Quispe, Director of Constituent Relations
- Aaron Williams, Senior Policy Advisor
- Kenneth Clayton
Why It Matters and How To Get Featured
Youth Advocacy Day is more than a field trip—it’s a platform for young people to make their voices heard. They shared their personal stories about how afterschool and summer programs have impacted their lives, highlighting the need for greater investment in OST programs to support working families and expand opportunities for youth development.
These young leaders demonstrated that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the advocates of today.
đź’ˇ Get Featured During Youth Voice Week!
Keep the momentum going by participating in Youth Voice Week! This is an exciting opportunity to get featured on the Afterschool Alliance’s website and share your advocacy experiences.
📢 Each day during Youth Voice Week, Afterschool Alliance will publish a guest blog submitted by a program or youth. This is your chance to showcase the powerful voices and stories that emerged from Youth Advocacy Day—or share any existing piece that highlights the importance of OST programs.