Developing Change-Makers During Youth Day at the Capitol 2025

Nearly 500 youth from more than 35 organizations gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol for Youth Day at the Capitol, an event designed to empower young people to advocate for themselves and others. Among them were nine South High School Students from YWCA Minneapolis who participate in our Youth in Action program. 

“It’s cool to make a difference. I’m trying to do something to improve the lives of others.” - George, a sophomore at South High School, capturing the spirit of Youth Day at the Capitol, where nearly 500 young people built advocacy skills to champion the causes that matter to them. 

We believe in the power of young people as change-makers. YWCA Minneapolis Vice President of Girls and Youth Katie Rehani observed the event as a chaperone. “There’s power in the youth voice,” Rehani said. “We are creating a space to show participants they are part of a collective and giving them tools to empower change.”  

The event, facilitated by the Minnesota Youth Council, modeled the civic process through advocacy training, Minnesota History Center exhibits and meetings with elected representatives. 

From Learning to Leading: Strengthening Advocacy Skills 

First-time participants explored the fundamentals of advocacy, using real-world examples of youth-led change. They worked through four key steps: 

• Identified key issues that matter to them 

• Built strong arguments by analyzing impact, fairness and consequences 

• Learned to evaluate sources and recognize bias, misinformation and manipulative imagery 

• Developed position statements to clearly articulate their stance 

By the end of the session, youth felt more confident in their ability to advocate for change. 

Returning participants deepened their understanding of advocacy by exploring values, intersectionality and the power of collective action. A key lesson was recognizing their role within a movement and how issues connect. 

They also analyzed what it takes to create change. For example, at South High, menstrual product access remains a challenge—even though a policy exists. Instead of electoral work, students discussed strategies to enforce existing policies and drive action. 

YWCA Minneapolis Youth in Action Program 

Youth in Action meets biweekly and is open to students in ninth to twelfth grade. Participants identify issues that matter to them, develop advocacy skills and put those skills to use at events like Youth Day on the Capitol.  

This year, Youth in Action is focused on two key issues: youth substance abuse and bathroom access. 

“Youth Day at the Capitol is more than a field trip,” said Syd Corbeil-Wild, program coordinator. “It’s an opportunity to build public speaking skills and normalize the civic process.” 

For some participants, the experience was transformative. 

“Several youth expressed anxiety about the meeting with representatives early in the day,” said Syd Corbeil-Wild. “Events like this give them public speaking experience by speaking up in small group settings and having face-to-face conversations with elected officials.” 

For Syd, seeing the participants grow is the most fulfilling part of facilitating the program.  She noted how working with South High School is a natural fit. “The students have shared issues on a micro level,” Syd said. “We give them tools to enact positive change.” 

To make the program accessible, Youth in Action participants receive a stipend. For students like Emilia, a junior, the support is crucial. 

“I can only participate because of the stipend, otherwise I’d be working,” Emilia said. “Even if it feels like we’re not accomplishing much, I’m learning skills for other areas of my life.” 

Meeting with Representatives 

Youth in Action participants met with two elected officials during the event. To prepare, they practiced extensively and attended a workshop with Cara Luebke from the Child Advocates Ready to Emerge (CARE) Fellowship. 

George, a sophomore in her second year with the program, led the discussion with Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura. She opened by describing the current state of bathroom access at South High, highlighting changes over the past year, and introducing the rest of the group. 

“It’s cool to make a difference,” George said. “I’m trying to do something to improve the lives of others.” 

Each participant introduced themselves and shared a piece of supporting information.  

“I learned how easy it is to talk to elected officials,” Emilia said. “It doesn’t always seem accessible, but they want to hear from us.” 

Representative Sencer-Mura, a former South student, shared updates on Minnesota’s efforts to develop statewide health standards and discussed the trend of families choosing private and charter schools over public options. 

The group also met with Senator Zaynab Mohammed, who took immediate action—within a day, she had scheduled a meeting with school administration. 

One of the goals for the event was to normalize meetings with elected officials. “With our participants, we emphasize that this is their house, their space,” Katie said. “Advocacy takes many forms, and it’s important to show that speaking directly with legislators is one of them. Too often, it feels exclusionary.” 

Empowering Youth at YWCA Minneapolis 

At YWCA Minneapolis, we believe young people have the power to create change. Youth in Action is just one of many Girls and Youth Programs designed to build leadership and advocacy skills.  

In 2024, our programs empowered 920 young people, 89% of whom live in low-income households. Of those youth, 97% reported feeling prepared to advocate for their community.  

Know a young person who wants to make a difference? Learn more about Youth in Action and how they can get involved. Want to support youth empowerment programs? Support YWCA Minneapolis.