Last week YouthCare’s CEO Degale Cooper, CPIO Emma York-Jones, and Director of Public Policy & External Affairs Jessie Friedmann, headed out to Washington DC for the National Network for Youth 2023 Summit & Hill Day.

The National Network for Youth (NN4Y) was founded in 1974 to bring together community-based service providers with the goal of ending youth homelessness through public policy and community practices.

NN4Y’s National Summit & Hill Day gathers annually to emphasize “thought leadership and best practices by providing attendees with experts on a wide range of current topics while creating unique learning environments to immerse attendees in experiences.” While together, the community shares their “experiences and perspectives on creating systemic change to prevent and end youth homelessness, ranging from immediate interventions to preventative strategies designed to stop homelessness before it begins.”

Alongside advocates from across Washington state, Degale, Emma, and Jessie met with staff members from the offices of Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith. Together, they were able to have inspiring conversations about what the federal government can do to better support young people.

As always, we are so fortunate to have such strong leadership representing our region and such treasured community partners and friends throughout the state. We are already looking forward to future opportunities to work together!