On January 19, Voices for Virginia’s Children gathered advocates of all ages, zip codes, and experiences for our annual Intergenerational Advocacy Day. This day of action sought to unite young people, parents, grandparents, organizations, and providers to champion critical issues impacting Virginia’s youth and families, focused on the areas of early care and education, youth mental health, health equity, child welfare, and family economic security. Throughout the day, we heard powerful testimonies and lived experiences from young people, parents, and family service providers. Together, they urged lawmakers to pause, to listen, to learn—and to consider how the decisions made today will shape young people’s lives tomorrow. 

Follow along as we recount the moments of joy and collective power that were captured throughout the day. 

8AM. Red Bird Social. 

If you peeked through the window, you may have wondered what the intergenerational group of community members were up to so early on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You would have seen laughter, heard excited chatter, caught words of encouragement, and overwhelmingly witnessed the power of young people, preparing to share their testimonies and lived experiences with legislators at the General Assembly – many for the first time. 

9:30AM. General Assembly Building 

When you enter an intergenerational advocacy space grounded in equity, you immediately feel that young people are not simply included, they are centered. Prioritizing youth means more than offering them a seat at the table; it means trusting them to help set the agenda, honoring their lived expertise, and ensuring they shape the policies that will define their futures. Youth are not an afterthought or a symbolic presence, they are leaders, decision-makers, and partners. And you’ll see that in practice: young people speaking first in legislative meetings, grounding conversations in their stories, their vision, and their urgency. And you’ll see legislators respond not with performative acknowledgment, but with active engagement by leaning into partnership and co-creating solutions that reflect young people’s priorities. 

On Advocacy Day, this commitment came to life. With young people representing Virginia’s Youth in Action, Henrico’s Too Smart 2 Start Coalition, and elementary, middle and high schools across Virginia, we witnessed joy, leadership, and passion in a way that disrupted the status quo of the General Assembly by bringing the fun and innovation that young people so readily have at their disposal and is often lost in the legislative process. Our young people confidently named harmful legislation, championed policies that uplifted and centered their communities, shared personal stories about the impacts of systems on their lives and built relationships across generations. 

In those moments, we witnessed the power of shared leadership with young people stepping fully into their agency and adults choosing to stand alongside them in meaningful, accountable partnership and dialogue. 

When we amplify youth voices and partner across generations, we strengthen our democracy and move closer to solutions that are responsive, equitable, and rooted in real lived experience. 

Stay tuned for part two in which we recap Voices intergenerational press conference, making young people the agenda to create a brighter, more just, and more joyful future for Virginia’s young people.  

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