Our Response to the Inauguration Day Speech: A Message From Our Executive Director
To our youth and young adult advocates:
At The Mockingbird Society, we understand that moments of national change bring both profound challenges and opportunities to reimagine what is possible. This year, the convergence of Inauguration Day with Martin Luther King Jr. Day compels us to reflect deeply on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of justice, equity, and transformative action. It serves as a poignant reminder of the progress we’ve made—and the urgent work that still lies ahead.
In his inaugural speech, President Trump outlined initiatives—including efforts to restructure public education, enforce a binary understanding of gender, limit social programs, and impose stricter immigration policies—that threaten to deepen inequities and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. These policies are intertwined with systemic racism, and will only perpetuate existing disparities in housing, education, and justice. Youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth—who are overrepresented in foster care and disproportionately impacted by homelessness—bear an especially heavy burden under these proposals.
Despite these challenges, we firmly believe that transformation is possible. It begins with embracing our shared humanity, nurturing relationships, and taking purposeful action. At The Mockingbird Society, we remain steadfast in our commitment to cultivating systems of care that uplift the diversity, resilience, and creativity of all young people, while centering racial equity in every aspect of our advocacy and actions.
Our commitments to you are unwavering:
- Advocating for inclusive policies that celebrate and affirm every identity, because justice begins with belonging.
- Fighting for equitable access to education, housing, and services, with a focus on addressing the barriers disproportionately faced by youth of color and other marginalized groups.
- Amplifying your voices, knowing that the solutions to the challenges we face already exist within the communities we serve.
Small, intentional actions have the power to create ripples of systemic transformation. In moments like these, it is critical to create spaces of healing, support, and community—places where care, courage, and connection can flourish. These spaces form the foundation of meaningful change.
You are seen. You are valued. You are heard. The strength of our community lies in its diversity and the powerful stories, dreams, and contributions of its youth. Together, we will honor Dr. King’s legacy by building a future where every young person—especially those from historically marginalized communities—can thrive authentically, safely, and fully.
Transformation begins with each of us. By centering racial equity, belonging, and justice, we can—and will—create a world where dignity, opportunity, and hope are not just ideals but lived realities for all youth.
In Community,
Natalie Lente, Executive Director of The Mockingbird Society