“And even though we were starting to get some younger legislators, the world is changing so quickly that every decade younger people experience the world in a dramatically different way than those who came before them. It’s important to find a way to engage youth.”

– Former Senator (SD6) and Representative (HD59) Ellen Roberts – who sponsored HB08-1157 to create COYAC – speaking to The Colorado Sun in 2020 for the article "Voices of Colorado youth, amplified by activism and opportunity, find receptive ears with lawmakers"

“You guys are really on top of it - thank you for really good presentations, thank you for a lot of detail, thank you for being able to answer all the questions. Sometimes when we get presenters, we get that deer-in-the-headlights look, and then they’re like, ‘We’ll get an expert to tell you about that,’ but none of you guys did that. Terrific. Thank you.”

“It is my greatest honor to be able to incorporate your voices here… and to bring you here at the right time [interim committee instead of a spring meeting] is actually the most important change we’ve made probably in the last few years, to have an actual concrete way for your voices to be heard through legislation. I’m delighted you’re here. Thank you for your preparation."

– House Minority Leader Hugh McKean (HD51) – who sponsored HB19-1024 to create the COYAC interim committee – speaking at the 2021 interim committee

“I am honored and privileged to have served a term in the Colorado Youth Advisory Council. COYAC has allowed me to pursue my passion for public policy and demonstrate that palpable change can be made. It is an understatement to say that the individuals within this council are determined. Each and every member has encouraged, supported, and inspired me. My work in the Healthcare committee has given me skills that I will carry on for years to come. Going into a new chapter of my life, I can say with certainty that COYAC is an experience like no other. I have been asked time and time again what I would do if I could change the course of history in my community. Not every individual my age can say that they were able to do so, yet I am proud to say that COYAC has provided me with the tools to do just that. It is astounding to see that we as youth are able to have such a significant impact on our world. COYAC is an opportunity that has and will continue to shape who I am as a changemaker.”

“I vividly remember the day I got accepted into COYAC. I had always yearned to create large-scale change, and it was extremely gratifying to be able to do so. Youth face a lot of issues in any area, but few areas offer the opportunity to allow youth to express their views, and more importantly, be involved in legislative processes to fix those issues. Today, I have the opportunity to work with a team of incredible students from all walks of life across Colorado in efforts to solve problems the youth, and other populations, face. I’ve learned communication skills, collaboration, and most importantly, I’ve further developed genuine empathy and care for the struggles of everyone in our state. I specifically have the chance to work towards overcoming environmental challenges: an issue I’ve been long passionate about. Nowhere else do I get that chance.

“COYAC provides not just undeniable value to its members, but it has also instigated serious change. For example, COYAC policy recommendations were passed as law: providing higher education for foster youth, crisis services to students, preventing substance abuse in secondary schools, and even creating new positions for youth voices in other areas of the government. One bill was the reason that the Safe2Tell hotline number is now printed on student IDs across the state. It’s changes like these that youth specifically have championed and have undoubtedly prevented crises and saved lives.

“COYAC is a program that I truly hope other youth across the state get the chance to experience. It has offered me to create change in an area I truly care about, and be a servant leader. I sincerely believe that COYAC is a special part of Colorado. Continuing to support a huge population and represent youth in a way very few places do should remain a top priority.”

“COYAC has changed my life forever. Young people today feel increasingly disempowered with regard to political participation; peers report feeling that neither their vote nor their voice matters, and I used to agree. COYAC has granted me the knowledge, strategy, and confidence to be an informed citizen and exercise my personal power in legislative systems.

“Working on legislation with COYAC, I realized for the first time my ability to turn adversity into action. Young people experience unique generational challenges that adult legislators often struggle to connect to: in offering space for youth to voice concerns, COYAC helps policy targeted at young people be more effective. In discussions with stakeholders, legislators, and leaders, I learned how to listen to the needs of the community and be a servant leader while also gaining the confidence to voice my own needs and passions. COYAC affects critical change by allowing young people like me to tell their stories to the people who most need to hear them: the adults that create policies affecting our lives.

“COYAC is wonderfully youth-led. Not only does COYAC offer space for youth to work on important policy, but it also demonstrates a fabulous community. I can proudly say many of my closest friends were made through COYAC. By allowing young people to work together on the shared goal of bettering Colorado, COYAC provides a unique opportunity for youth to create spaces of compassionate change. Beyond this, COYAC is the ultimate space for workforce development: learning skills of collaboration and communication, COYAC youth learn to engage in future professional spaces with ease. COYAC cultivates our future leaders today with the skill-building we need to enact a brighter tomorrow.

“With [the 2022] passed legislation, COYAC does not only affect the young people on the council; rather, every single youth statewide is touched by COYAC policy. Helping foster youth reach educational achievement, COYAC changes lives. Providing life-saving crisis information to young people, COYAC saves lives. I cannot wait to see what policies our COYAC youth introduce next: regardless of their subject or scope, they are sure to improve the future of Colorado’s youth.

“I am incredibly grateful to COYAC for inciting my passion for policy and helping me feel purpose in life. Before COYAC, I never felt my voice truly mattered. Now, I cannot wait to run for office one day to help uplift other young leaders. Thank you.”

“COYAC is necessary for making youth voices heard in the Colorado government. Coloradoans under 18 should be represented by their elected officials, but because we can't vote, many legislators do not recognize the issues that are most important to the youth in their districts. COYAC gives us the opportunity to be heard, so it should be continued, not repealed.”

“COYAC is a valuable experience; it provides young people with a space to collectively problem solve with the perspectives of youth from around the state. After moving to a rural community, COYAC has inspired and empowered me to advocate for the needs of my peers. I had the opportunity to learn about Colorado policy and discuss complex issues with experts in the field. I hope that COYAC can continue to grow and present amazing ideas that impact youth in Colorado.”

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council! I’ve learned so much about government and policymaking, but the best part about COYAC is how it gives me hope that I can make positive change in my own community.”

“I’ve talked to dozens of people about my work within COYAC, and I have yet to encounter someone who is not astonished by the potential of youth to enact change that reverberates across CO history. COYAC has enabled me to connect with lawmakers and serve as a pioneer of change for youth. I have refined my research and synthesis abilities while advocating for more equitable health outcomes, creating valuable opportunities for personal growth and productive collaboration. Working with this policy committee over the past year, I've conducted outreach to renowned organizations and health practitioners, lending me a more robust outlook on the social, economic, and political factors affecting health literacy. COYAC has undeniably stimulated my passion for global health and public policy.”

“COYAC is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become civically involved before the age of 18. While we as youth might not be able to vote, we are able to directly influence policy for our generation. I’ve learned lifelong skills in research, outreach, public speaking, media training, etc. COYAC opens the floor for deep debate on issues facing youth and allows members to critically think about problems facing our state. The support network created by COYAC encourages students to think outside the box and constructs a lifelong community. As a member of COYAC, I am able to see problems in my community, bring them to legislators, and work with my committee to reach a beneficial resolution. COYAC gives a voice to all youth wanting to be heard, and teaches youth how to become civic leaders long into the future.”

“Being a Colorado Youth Advisory Council representative has been a life-changing opportunity to learn, grow, connect, and explore my future career. In 2022, I joined COYAC blind to how much I would learn and grow. Over the past two years, I helped pass a bill and a budget amendment and found a love for public health and public policy. COYAC has changed my future to something bright. Joining COYAC was the first time I felt heard, inspired, and hopeful for change. This council has created partnerships between state and local government while giving youth a voice, which is so often stifled. Being in COYAC opens your eyes to a world of lived experience and real-world applications of research, analysis, networking, and presenting. The entire process changed my perspective and is a part of the person I am today.”

“Serving as a part of COYAC has been and will continue to be one of the most influential and significant experiences of my life. COYAC has taken an integral role in allowing the voices of youth around the state to be heard while encouraging us to take an active role in our communities. My participation in COYAC has greatly aided me in developing my communication, networking, and collaborative skills through a legislative and civics lens, helping me grow as an advocate and as a person. Being a representative of COYAC has taught me the value of using my voice and leadership skills to foster positive change in my community and across the state. Through our whole group and committee meetings, we have developed a sense of community that will continue to impact us for a lifetime.”

“My first year serving on COYAC has been more meaningful than I ever expected. This organization provides a unique and unparalleled platform to advocate as a young person. We have the opportunity to bring our lived experiences to changemakers and share authentic youth perspectives. My skills in outreach and networking have also grown immensely through COYAC, and I’ve been able to hear many perspectives not represented in my community. This council is a diverse, supportive, intelligent group of people, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. A sense of community is present in all our committee meetings and events, and I will maintain connections with these people for years to come. COYAC shows what passion and hard work can achieve. I will carry these lessons with me for a lifetime.”

“COYAC has served as a critical vehicle for my understanding of civic engagement and service. This organization truly stands out with its ability to enable such a sense of inclusion like no other from day 1! Through joining COYAC, I have gained invaluable perspectives and knowledge on topics including TABOR and the bill drafting process. However, the impeccable student-led workshops and events on topics including research and outreach have allowed me to gain necessary skills that I can leverage no matter where life takes me. COYAC has truly pushed like-minded individuals and I to get out of our comfort zone to reach out with subject matter experts, legislators, and coalitions. Taking these steps has allowed me to further find my voice and craft policy proposals that represent the youth in my broader community. I am so amazed by the benefits and opportunities that an organization like COYAC can provide and I am extremely excited to help continue shaping its legacy as a member of the Executive Committee this upcoming year.”

“I have served on COYAC for 2 years, and in that time, I learned a lot about the state and how it runs, but also myself and how I run. I joined as a 15-year-old burnt out from doing everything for other people, and COYAC taught me how to create mindful legislation that I believe actually matters and how to take care of myself in the process. I would not be going to college this year with the mindset towards learning new things and experiences if not for my invaluable experience on this council. COYAC taught me that really, not all group projects are bad.”

“I believe COYAC is an extremely valuable and unique opportunity for youth to create change in their community. As members of COYAC, we can take the various issues that we see in our communities and our schools and solve them through legislation to create change on a statewide level. By establishing a framework for youth to work with legislators and other professionals to solve these problems, COYAC aids in the creation of solutions that are both effective and equitable. COYAC has a positive impact on the community because it provides youth the chance to voice their opinion and share their perspectives/solutions to problems. Furthermore, COYAC is an investment for the future. As part of COYAC, I have learned so many valuable skills that I will take with me throughout my life and it has also taught me how to be more civically engaged in my community.”

“Thank you for a wonderful two years! I've found so much strength and acceptance for myself through this program and could not be more grateful.”

“Throughout high school, COYAC was the single most important activity that I took part in. It taught me more about the inner workings of our government more than any class; it gave me the chance to see how lawmakers put policies into action more than any newspaper or commercial advertisement; and most of all, it taught me the importance of political advocacy of underrepresented individuals in our government. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and as often as leaders of municipalities like to brush them off, cultivating their leadership is of the utmost importance. It gives young adults the chance to immerse themselves in a cause greater than themselves and shed light on issues that affect them. I always found it interesting that the leaders that make decisions on behalf of students in primary education are rarely ever seen inside the schools themselves. Most government officials have no idea what is actually affecting the youth, but COYAC gave us the opportunity to share our stories, shed light on the things that were burdening us, and represent other youth that couldn’t be heard otherwise. During my time on COYAC, we worked on the house bill that allowed Native American youth to serve on government vehicles. An entire population of Colorado Youth was cut out of the process to create new policies and without COYAC, there is a chance the matter never would have seen the light of day. At the end of the day, the Colorado Capitol is full of adults representing the adults of Colorado, but who will represent the youth without COYAC?

“COYAC made me realize that I want to do work in advocacy. I started college this last year and have begun to shape my career around public health policies. Without COYAC, I never would have stepped onto this path. COYAC gave me a path in life, a direction to explore. If nothing else, COYAC is a vehicle for epiphanies, a chance for students like myself—who come from schools with such poor funding that they only operate four days a week and never would have had the opportunity to work in advocacy otherwise—a chance to interact with things that matter, with topics that have the potential to set young people on a path for leadership. COYAC must continue. It has to. It symbolizes what youth strive for: the chance to be heard and the opportunity to represent.”