These storytellers offer more than moments from their lives. They offer a blueprint. Their experiences reveal where our five issue areas intersect, where systems are breaking down, and where real opportunities for change live. In their words, we find both the challenges and the way forward.
Download the storybook
“…consider the whole person. When you’re making these policies and these changes, a lot of these systems work together, and lawmakers could be conscious of supporting the whole person and the whole family.”
Nikieta Lambert, ECE Advocate and Training and Curriculum Specialist
The stories you’ll read here come from Virginians who carry a wealth of experience, courage, and insight. They speak honestly about what is working, what is not, and what must change for children to thrive. Their hopes and dreams are powerful, but so are the obstacles they face, created by policies and systems that have too often deprioritized the well-being of young people at both the local and federal levels.
High School Student and Advocate
OB/GYN
UNISERV Director
College Freshman
Senior Director of Community Outreach and Trauma Informed Care Specialist
Chief Executive Officer
Pediatric Surgeon and Surgery Clerkship Director
Training and Curriculum Specialist
The stories in this book show what children and families are experiencing in real time. They reflect both the promise and the gaps in our systems, and they point directly to where action is needed. If you are ready to take the next step, we invite you to explore our 2026 Policy Agenda. It translates these lived experiences into concrete policy solutions that lawmakers can advance this session. Your advocacy begins with listening, but it grows when you turn insight into action. Continue your journey by learning what changes are needed and how you can help move them forward.
Our 2026 Policy Agenda lays out the priorities needed to improve the well-being of children and families across Virginia. It focuses on five issue areas that shape daily life: Early Care and Education, Child Welfare, Mental Health, Family Economic Security, and Health Equity.
Download the 2026 Policy Agenda
Interested in connecting with the storytellers, collaborating, or learning more about advocacy opportunities like the storybook with Voices for Virginia’s Children? Hit the button to send us a message!
Each gift you give enables the Voices team to further advocate for young people, conduct vital research, and educate the public.
Explore Ways to Give