Young Invincibles

On March 23, our YI Texas advocates held their Statewide Day of Tabling to engage with students across colleges and universities in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Our advocates were able to bring our YI values to life - equity, collaboration, community, young adult power, and bold ideas. Thank you, for those of us who were able to provide your support. 💙

Samer Hassan, Storytelling and Engagement Manager, joined Common Cause advocates before their Hill Day event to discuss the power of storytelling in advocacy. Advocates explored how personal stories can create real impact when speaking with legislators about the issues they care about. Thank you, Common Cause, for the opportunity to connect and empower advocates through storytelling.

Join us on Thursday, April 3rd for our Texas Advocacy Day! This powerful day of action will bring together young leaders from across Texas to advocate for policies that shape our futures. By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of advocacy and how to stay involved in making a difference. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned activist, your voice matters—and we need you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gsEWTnXG

"To decision-makers: Listen to families like mine. See the people behind the numbers. Invest in a system that gives people like Hannah the chance to thrive, not just survive." At 32, Melanie Kesner, Regional Director of YI Rocky Mountains, is a full-time caregiver for her sister, Hannah. Thanks to Medicaid, she can ensure her sister has access to affordable health care. But with health care under threat, Melanie is speaking out to make sure decision-makers listen to families like hers before making harmful cuts. Melanie has been a community organizer, advocate, and political strategist for +8 years. Throughout these roles, Melanie has worked with directly impacted and underserved communities, including young adults, to uplift and center their voices throughout the legislative process on various issues. These issues have included access to healthcare and reproductive justice issues. https://lnkd.in/gsP9ASEG

YI Illinois and The Coalition for Transforming Higher Education (CTHE) hosted Degrees of Change, a higher education advocacy day. With over 100 young adults in attendance, we were able to emphasize to Illinois legislators the need for higher education funding and reform. Thank you to Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz, Rep. Yolonda Morris, and Illinois board of higher education Jenna Rossi for taking the time to speak with our young advocates.

15 years ago, the Affordable Care Act transformed health care - cutting the uninsured rate for young adults in half and ensuring essential coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. Young adults founded Young Invincibles to ensure our voices were included in the health care debate. We fought for health care reform then, and we continue fighting today. https://lnkd.in/ghPiXgds

The Trump administration just took a direct shot at students nationwide. By ordering the closure of the Department of Education, they’re putting Pell Grants, financial aid, and civil rights protections at risk—especially for low-income students, HBCUs, and tribal colleges. Attacking the Department of Education creates chaos for students, educators, and borrowers. A strong education system fuels our economy and our future. This reckless decision shows exactly what priority this administration has, and it’s not students: https://lnkd.in/gAU3ap6u

So much inspiration just when I need it! Spoke on a panel for Young Invincibles Colorado Lobby Day with Senators Iman Jodeh and Julie Gonzales today on the theme “Rooted and Resilient.” Young people are smart- aware- and moving to bring the change we need 💥 Young Invincibles Julie Gonzales Iman Jodeh Melanie Kesner Iliff School of Theology

On Friday, I had the opportunity to lead the Food Justice group during Young Invincibles' Day at the Capitol! The day was filled with meaningful conversations and collaboration as we advocated for the importance of food justice in Colorado. 🍽️🌱 Our group's discussions focused on ensuring that school-aged Coloradans have access to free, healthy meals - a crucial step in promoting equity and wellbeing in our state. We also spoke about reducing food waste through initiatives such as composting and table-sharing, which play a significant role in building a more sustainable food system. A huge thank you to Young Invincibles for the incredible opportunity to take action and drive meaningful change in our communities.

What a beautiful morning for an advocacy day in Springfield. Big props to my team at Young Invincibles and our coalition.