Dear Mockingbird Supporter,

It's been an exciting start to the year here at Mockingbird! Read below for a recap of Youth Advocacy Day, the latest updates from Legislative Session, and more.

On January 28, over 130 young people, allies, and community partners from across the state gathered for our annual Youth Advocacy Day in Olympia, WA. At least 46 lived experience experts attended Youth Advocacy Day.

At our Youth Advocacy Day morning program, we had the joy of hearing from several young people (pictured above), including Lexx (top left), Nathan and Rika (top right, with Sierra, our Director of Youth Programs, in the middle), Brian (bottom left) and Jonas (bottom right). 

Yvonne-Monique Aviva, Mockingbird's incoming Executive Director, also spoke during the morning program-- this was her first official event with The Mockingbird Society!

After the morning program, young people from Mockingbird Chapters met with 24 different legislators and their staff. In these meetings, they shared about SB 5940/ HB 2455 (our primary legislative agenda item, which would create a housing voucher pilot program for young people in Extended Foster Care), gave key input as to why this bill is so crucial, and urged legislators to move this bill forward.

To conclude Youth Advocacy Day, young people and community supporters attended a public hearing for our bill in the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee, and gave testimony in support of the bill, which you can watch below! BIG shoutout to Jonas, Corrina, Nathan, Rocket, and Courtney, our Mockingbird Chapter Members who testified in support of HB 2455. 

We also want to offer a special thank you to those who watched the hearing remotely, as well as: Larry Jefferson, who shared inspiring words with us in the afternoon; The Bridge Music Project, who performed their original music and gave incredible dance performances; and Courtney, a member of the Tacoma Chapter who shared a poem with the group.

Youth Advocacy Day was a truly powerful and inspiring moment for the entire Mockingbird community. 

📣Legislative Session Updates📣

We are currently waiting for SB 5940 to be scheduled for a hearing in Senate Ways & Means. Similarly, we're waiting for our companion bill, HB 2455 to be scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations. 

Here are a few ways you-- yes, YOU--can advocate for SB 5940/ HB 2455:

Thank you for your support, advocacy, and intentional action during Youth Advocacy Day and Legislative Session!

In Community,

The Mockingbird Society

💜 Learn More & Support 💜

Have questions or want to get in touch with us? Reply to this message or email laurenmorelli@mockingbirdsociety.org.