Youth Leadership Summit brings together young people from Mockingbird’s statewide Youth Network who have lived experience in foster care and/or homelessness. On day one of Summit (August 4th), young people will have the opportunity to be in community together, socialize, engage in various workshop activities, and prepare for day two. On day two (August 5th), each Chapter will deliver presentations (which they will have worked on together and prepared for leading up to Summit) to the Washington Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) Prevention and Protections Programs Advisory Committee, local and city council members from across the state, and other key advocacy and policy advisors.

This annual event is a critical part of Mockingbird’s advocacy cycle and an incredible chance for community partners to hear from young advocates with lived experience in foster care and/or homelessness as they present and refine their advocacy topics for the 2027 Legislative Session.

This year, we are curating an invitation-only group of key community partners to attend Summit in person or online. We will be sharing information about each chapter topic before and after the event. The decision to have a curated group of guests (rather than making this a public event) is for the safety and comfort of the young people participating. Please reach out if you have questions.

• Young People & Chapter Members: contact yp@mockingbirdsociety.org
• Community Members: contact one of the following members of our Public Policy & Advocacy Team:
  • Charles Smith, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy: charles.smith@mockingbirdsociety.org
  • Rachel Khoo, Interim King County Director of Public Policy & Advocacy: rachel.khoo@mockingbirdsociety.org 
  • Susie Zhang, Public Policy & Advocacy Manager: susie@mockingbirdsociety.org
• For other inquiries, please contact our Director of Communications, Lauren Morelli at laurenmorelli@mockingbirdsociety.org