VAYA Goodbyes & Hellos

Opening reflection

A moment that feels like forward motion

The energy right now feels kinetic.

Over four years ago, I had the honor of being part of the creation of Virginia’s Youth in Action as an MSW intern at Voices. And now, having led the 2025–2026 VAYA cohort for the first time feels like a full circle moment.

As this chapter closes, I keep coming back to one idea… forward motion.

Something shifting.

Something continuing.

Something expanding beyond this moment.

Voices from VAYA

There is growth happening in every direction.

For these young people as they step into what’s next.
For Voices as we continue to deepen our work.
And for the relationships that don’t end here, but evolve.

More than anything, this moment feels alive.

Like mycelium, the impact doesn’t stop here. It spreads beneath the surface, connecting people, ideas, and communities in ways we may not always see… but that continue to shape what comes next.

A note to the cohort

To the 2025–2026 Cohort

It has truly been an honor to spend the last year with you all.

I have learned so much from you. From your vision of a future where young people and families are thriving, to the ways you’ve pushed us to grow in our intergenerational work, you’ve shaped this space in real ways.

Keep blooming.

Keep trailblazing.

Keep holding systems and adults accountable.

Keep finding and holding onto joy.

And most importantly, keep going.

You belong in these spaces. You’ve already changed Voices and me for the better.

Keep changing the world with your audacity and your power.

With so much gratitude,

Cat

Growth in motion

What it looked like to grow

Many of us know what it feels like to step into something new.

That nervous but excited energy. The quiet questions we carry with us.
Will I belong? Will I be seen? Will my story matter?

This cohort came into VAYA with that same energy.

We always begin with something we call diversity welcomes, a space where we honor all the parts of who we are and invite others into our stories.

And from the very beginning, this group showed up with personality, individuality, authenticity, and joy.

Nervousness? Not for long.

Over nine months, that energy didn’t fade. It deepened.

Spending one weekend a month with this cohort became one of the most meaningful parts of my year. Hearing their dreams. Teaching storytelling and advocacy. Watching them begin to understand their place in something bigger.

Helping them see that they are already part of a larger network of change.

A network that grows stronger through connection.

The program culminated at our Intergenerational Advocacy Day, where they stepped fully into their leadership, lighting up the halls of the General Assembly with their stories, confidence, and advocacy.

“We went to the General Assembly to talk to legislators, tell our stories, and advocate for issues that matter to us.”

Advocacy in action

This cohort didn’t just learn about advocacy. They practiced it.

Their voices showed up in real spaces:

press conferences,
the General Assembly,
advocacy campaigns,
media,
and day-to-day policy conversations.

They showed up where decisions are made.

“I’ve been able to talk to lawmakers and delegates about issues that matter to me.”

And that matters.

Because when we amplify youth voices and partner across generations, we move closer to solutions rooted in real lived experience.

At Voices, we know when a system fails a young person, it impacts entire families, communities and generations.

And we also know this.

Young people carry a kind of vision for what’s possible that we cannot afford to ignore.

They imagine a Virginia where they can thrive.
Where they can live safely, fully, and with joy.

They don’t just deserve a seat at the table.

They belong there.

They connect insight, experience, and vision in ways that strengthen the whole system.

This is not the end

It’s the next chapter.

What one cohort begins, another continues.

The lessons, the relationships, the momentum, all of it carries forward.

Expanding.

Connecting.

Strengthening what comes next.

And we are just getting started.

Looking ahead

To the next cohort

If you’re reading this and wondering if VAYA is for you… this is your sign.

VAYA is about understanding and using your personal power to create change.

It’s for young people who have a story to tell.

For those who want to make a difference in their communities.

For those who are ready to learn, grow, and step into something bigger than themselves.

And it’s also for the young person who is just curious.

Who wants to understand the systems shaping their everyday life.

Who is trying to figure out where they fit and how they can make an impact.

We don’t define what your path has to look like after VAYA.

Our goal is to give you the tools, the space, and the support to figure that out for yourself.

To help you understand the power of your lived, living, and ancestral experiences.

To build trust across generations.

To use your voice to create real change.

Your voice belongs here.

Voices from VAYA

I didn’t realize how much power my story had, but learning how to use it has been one of the most meaningful parts of this experience.

What happens next

If this resonates with you, apply.

If you know a young person who should be in this space, share this with them.

Encourage the young people in your life to step into this opportunity and become part of a growing network of VAYA alumni committed to creating change across Virginia and beyond.

Applications close April 30, 2026 at noon.

If you have questions or want to learn more, reach out to Cat Atkinson at cat@vakids.org