Few things are more inspiring than watching student leaders work together towards a brighter, stronger future. In February, the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) held its first Educational Advocacy Summit on the grounds of the Olympia Capitol.
The event was co-founded by Gavin Cruz. Cruz, a high school speaker at the South Sound YMCA’s 2024 Breakfast for Belonging, is now studying public policy at the University of Washington. He helped develop this Summit as a way to celebrate student leaders while also giving them a chance to see our citizen legislature in action.
Civics in Action as Youth Leaders Attend Education Advocacy Summit at Capitol Campus
For Cruz, creating this event was a matter of equity, opportunity and possibility. “I founded this Summit after personally experiencing how inaccessible civic experiences are for high school students,” he explains. “Often tied with a competitive application cycle or even a high program fee, an experience like this should not have a price tag for any student. That is why I partnered with James Layman, director for the Association of Washington Student Leaders, and Roz Thompson, the government director from the Association of Washington State Principals, to provide a Summit for high schoolers to experience the Capitol.”
“This is part of bridging the connections between the elected officials, policymakers and current advocates for the future changemakers in the room eager to take action in their local community,” Cruz continues. “By promoting accessible opportunities like these, students can feel inspired and build trust in shaping a government that works for all.”
High School Students Taking the Lead in Government, Changemaking and Development
Dior Trinh, a senior at River Ridge High School, and Donovan Jojola, a junior at Capital High School, both attended February’s Summit.
Jojola believes that youth advocacy is vital “because youth are affected every single day by decisions that policy makers at every level make, from education cuts, to safety decisions and decisions impacting college affordability. Yet most youth have no say in the people who are making these decisions that impact them so heavily, which is why advocating for youth needs is so important. I believe youth advocacy can truly bring about meaningful, tangible change in both our systems and ways of thinking. When students step up and make their voices heard, they can have a massive impact on how policy makers think.”
For Jojola, there were many favorites over the course of the session, but he especially enjoyed meeting peers from across the state and being able to network for future advocacy. He hopes to not only participate in future summits but take on additional leadership responsibilities as well.
Likewise, Trinh believes that “youth perspectives are often overlooked, even in situations where their ideas and opinions are needed most. Youth advocacy can lead to effective solutions that directly reflect the real experiences and challenges faced in our demographic. When youth have the opportunity to speak up, it significantly affects the decisions, shapes programs and influences policies in ways that will ensure support and change are made within our generation.”
She hopes to gain new perspectives through further networking, connecting with legislators, build conversations and engagement as well as spreading the word about the Summit to those who might attend in the future.
Community Leaders Provide Guidance to Students as They Forge Their Path Ahead
Helping from the sidelines, but by no means sidelined from the action, were plenty of supportive adults and community leaders. Alisha Blain-Warner is director of Leadership Thurston County, a program of the Thurston Chamber Foundation. Their organization was a founding sponsor and she says the event provided an exciting, vibrant spark of hope.
“We need our community members to be engaged and educated on policies and issues,” says Blain-Warner. “We have to ask questions. We have to be informed. That is how change is made. The group of young adults who participated did just that.”
Attending the Summit was a way to meet and mingle with the future, and she’s grateful to the Association of Washington Student Leaders for their part. “The AWSL has been providing high quality opportunities for students for decades,” says Blain-Warner. “The Advocacy Summit is another outstanding program that was student organized and implemented that I believe will only grow for years to come. I am so proud to have been a small part of the first year’s event and look forward to supporting this program as it grows.”
You can read more about the 2026 event or follow the Association of Washington Student Leaders on Instagram for future updates. Spread the word with high school students in your community and consider becoming an event sponsor, speaker or supporter. Watch the future unfold, one student leader at a time.
