In case you missed it on our Catapult Instagram stories, on May 25th, our Louisiana Youth for Health Justice (LYHJ) Council went to the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge for our very own Advocacy Day 2022! The LYHJ Council is made up of ten passionate youth leaders from across the state who are learning to advocate for reproductive, social, and racial justice, and the visit to the state capitol was one way to help build their knowledge, experience, and skills to advocate for change. One of the goals of the LYHJ is to make sure that youth can participate in the conversations and decisions that impact them the most and mobilize other young people to speak up about issues that affect their lives, such as topics like education, climate justice, and sexual health.

The LYHJ got to experience a unique and curated day from the moment they arrived! They began with a tour of the grounds with their guide, Ms. Joy, who didn’t only show them the sights, she also told them the stories and history of the Capitol. LYHJ youth learned the history of the Capitol building, including some fun and random facts like the story behind a pencil that is embedded in the ceiling of the Senate Chamber that’s been there since 1972. At the end of the tour they were able to go up to the rooftop and take in the impressive views from the Observation Deck.

As budding advocates and activists, it was very impactful for the LYHJ youth to be in this same space as Louisiana’s legislative leaders. They were able to observe in person how laws are discussed and passed (or not!), and at a point during their visit they even witnessed a heated debate on education rights, a topic very important to some of the youth present. They were also able to have conversations with a range of different politicians they met throughout the day, including Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, District 97 State Representative Matthew Willard, New Orleans’ own Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and LA Department of Health Assistant Secretary of Public Health Kimberly L. Hood, JD, MPH.

The most exciting part of the visit was the recognition the LYHJ received for their work as a youth council!

Their work was announced and praised by District 11 State Representative Patrick O. Jefferson in the House of Representatives. They were also presented with a Resolution by both Representative Jefferson and District 98 State Representative Aimee Adotto Freeman highlighting the impact, service, and support of the work of the LYHJ. And if you’re curious about the LYHJ’s work, as an example, one of the issues the council is advocating for is access to free personal hygiene and care products in school bathrooms.

To wrap things up, when we thought the day couldn’t be any more full, at the end we were all able to engage in a surprise chat with the Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, about intentions and goals for the work of the LYHJ. It was beyond a fulfilling day and we are very grateful for the experience — the group walked away feeling influential, impactful, and inspired. It’s safe to say, the 2022 Advocacy Day at the Louisiana State Capitol was an unforgettable experience for the LYHJ youth!

To learn more about our Adolescent Health work, please contact Kaelyn Charbonnet, Program Coordinator.