For the past few months, students in the West Slope Youth Voice (WSYV) program have been hard at work preparing for their trip to the Colorado State Capitol. Our interns have met bi-weekly since early January to discuss bills introduced in the state legislature that could impact young people across Colorado. Their goal? To ensure that legislators hear directly from the youth who will be impacted by these policies.

Each meeting has been a deep dive into policy, strategy, and personal storytelling. The students begin by reviewing the bills, breaking down key components, and debating the potential pros and concerns. They don’t approach the legislation with a predetermined position. Instead, they rely on research, discussion, and direct input from their larger peer group. This includes the results of hundreds of surveys collected throughout the school year that represent fellow students’ perspectives on a broad range of issues including education, mental health, community connectedness, and more.

One of their challenges is learning to navigate differences in opinion. Not every student agrees on every bill, but through discussion and debate, they work toward a group consensus that reflects the diverse views of their schools and communities. They understand that policymaking is not black and white — sometimes, a bill that seems beneficial on the surface might have unintended consequences for young people. Their lived experiences within the systems these bills aim to address give them a unique and often overlooked perspective in legislative discussions.

After determining their positions, WSYV students identify key legislative targets who could be persuaded based on committee assignments, past votes, or their influence on a bill’s movement through the process. They strategize who among them should take the lead on different bills, aligning students with issues that connect with their personal experiences and passions.

The final step is crafting their personal stories. While our students aren’t the experts on data and policy analysis, they understand that legislators are often most moved by real-life stories from the people their decisions impact. Whether it’s a student who has experienced food insecurity advocating for school meal access, or someone who has witnessed the challenges of the juvenile justice system pushing for reforms, WSYV students are learning their voices are necessary when laws are being made.

Our students dedicate hours of their time to advocating for youth issues, engaging in a way that few high schoolers get the opportunity to experience. Their efforts ensure that lawmakers don’t make decisions about young people without their direct input and insight.

Wish our students well as they head to the Capitol soon!