WE ARE WASHINGTON'S ONLY YOUTH-LED ORGANIZATION ORGANIZING TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK FOR US
Washington Youth Alliance (WYA) amplifies the power of youth voices across Washington. We are a network organizing youth under 24 — in high school, trades, or community college — to build youth power in policy and communities statewide.
OUR MISSION
Every decision in Washington impacts young people, yet they hold real power in almost none of them. For too long, we’ve been told our voices don’t have power. We are Washington’s youth-led statewide network organizing to make government work for us.
We build power through our chapters across Washington, where we train primarily high schoolers to become organizers who have influence in the rooms where decisions get made. Our members testify in Olympia, run ballot measures, and sit across from legislators and school board members.
We use campaigns around youth mental health, gun violence prevention, access to a healthier democracy, and other issues that matter to young people to turn what’s always been youth voice into real youth power. Every campaign, every chapter, every action moves the system closer to one that actually works for us.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where Washington is designed to serve the needs of and address problems specific to young people, and where young people are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to shape systems so it continues to address issues that impact young people.
HOW WE WORK
YOUTH-LED ORGANIZING
We develop, connect and support youth-led Local Chapters to do grassroots organizing, influence legislation, and shape policies that matter most to young people.
CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
We partner across sectors with educators, unions, allies, and elected officials to advocate for systemic change and build lasting coalitions.
PROVEN RESULTS
Major legislative wins including HB 1432 for mental health insurance coverage and HB 1163 for permit-to-purchase systems, driven by youth testimony and advocacy.
ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS
We use accessible, empowering, and equity-centered communications to mobilize and educate our peers, making complex policy issues understandable.
OUR VALUES
01
BOLD
We take on big challenges and aren't afraid to push for transformative change. We believe in the power of youth voices to reshape systems.
02
INCLUSIVE
We prioritize voices from high school, trades and community colleges, ensuring our work reaches youth often left out of advocacy spaces.
03
EQUITY-DRIVEN
We prioritize voices from high school, trades and community colleges, ensuring our work reaches youth often left out of advocacy spaces.
04
YOUTH-LED
Young people lead our organization, make our decisions, and drive our strategy. We invest in youth leadership at every level.
READY TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT?
Whether you want to start a chapter, get involved with an existing one, or support our work, there's a place for you in WYA.
