Advocacy Day
Join School’s Out Washington (SOWA) and the Youth Development Strategy Table (YDST) for our annual Advocacy Day at the State Capitol!
February 16, 2026 | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
United Churches of Olympia
Olympia, WA
Please register by Thursday, February 12 so we can provide the appropriate number of lunches for attendees.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Advocacy Day?
An in-person event hosted by SOWA and the YDST where participants come to Olympia and meet with legislators and their staff to advocate for policies that they care about. The event will take place on February 16 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the United Churches of Olympia.
Who should come to Advocacy Day?
Anyone that is interested in advocating for policies that support youth development, such as SB 5992. Direct service providers, families, young people, community members – all are invited!
Can I bring youth with me?
Yes, please do! It’s important that legislators hear from young people about the importance of investing in youth people. Unfortunately, we cannot offer childcare this Advocacy Day, so young children will have to stay with guardians throughout the day. But we encourage all youth to join these meetings to learn and advocate to the extent to which they feel comfortable.
Do I need to have any advocacy experience or knowledge of how the Washington State Legislature works to attend?
No! The morning of Advocacy Day will consist of breakfast and a training where we’ll share all the necessary information with you, answer questions, pass out summary flyers, and create space to prepare for your meetings. All meetings with legislators and their staff will happen in small groups, so you’ll never have to take a meeting alone.
What will the day look like?
Here’s the schedule for the day:
| 9:00 AM-9:30 AM | Check in and breakfast |
| 9:30 AM-10:30 AM | Advocacy training |
| 10:30 AM-11:30 AM | Small group planning time |
| 11:30 AM-12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 12:00 PM-12:30 PM | Walk to campus and group photo |
| 12:30 PM-3:15 PM | Meetings with legislators and legislative offices |
| 3:15 PM-3:30 PM | Walk back to venue |
| 3:30 PM-4:00 PM | Meeting debriefs and closing |
Who will I be meeting with?
You’ll meet with our state representatives and senators or their staff. Meetings are scheduled ahead of time.
Do you have more questions?
Please reach out to Radu Smintina at rsmintina@schoolsoutwashington.org and Malea Sary at msary@schoolsoutwashington.org