by Zoë Jenkins
Young people are not the future—they are building it right now. At the National Student Leadership Academy, we witnessed this truth in action as Jobs for America’s Graduates students prepared to meet with their congressional representatives, transforming from participants in democracy to active architects of change.
This is precisely why we at Civics Unplugged were thrilled to partner with JAG to help develop students into civic leaders. Led by Patrick, one of our own high school Fellows who successfully passed financial literacy legislation in his home state of Kentucky at just 17 years old, we helped prepare hundreds of students for impactful conversations with their congresspeople about the vital role JAG plays in their lives and communities and how to support them. As a fellow high schooler who had already navigated the legislative process, Patrick was able to show students exactly what is possible when young people step into their power.
Building Agency Through Action
For nearly six years, Civics Unplugged has worked alongside thousands of young people impacting millions of people around the country. We know that young people do not just need to see the agency they have. They also need the tools and support to live out their purpose and strengthen their communities. This kind of civic advocacy training is essential because democracy does not run on autopilot. It requires citizens who know how to identify challenges and use civic innovation to strengthen communities in new ways—which we teach in our programs. These are skills that must be practiced—and this advocacy training was an opportunity for exactly that.
This partnership with JAG exemplified that mission perfectly. What made this experience remarkable was not just preparing students for their congressional meetings. It was watching conversations ignite about what JAG students want to see improved in their schools and communities, and helping them recognize how these meetings could serve as a launchpad for finding and leading solutions.
Witnessing Transformation in Real Time
Throughout the training, we watched students stand before their peers to deliver practice pitches about JAG’s impact—and the growth was amazing. Students who began hesitantly found their voices, growing in confidence and clarity. These were not just rehearsals—they were young people discovering they could command a room, that their stories mattered, and that they had the skills to make decision-makers listen.
Moments That Matter, Skills That Last
While each congressional meeting may last only a few minutes, the impact will reverberate far beyond those brief conversations. These students are not just learning to advocate for JAG—they are developing the foundational skills of citizens that will serve them throughout their lives. They are discovering how to engage decision-makers effectively, articulate community needs, and ideate innovative solutions.
These meetings are just the beginning. The students who participated are now equipped to continue leading engagement between JAG, their communities, and elected officials. They’ve gained skills that extend far beyond a single advocacy effort.
The Journey Continues
The JAG students we worked with at NSLA proved what we have always believed: young people aren’t waiting for permission to create change. They are ready to lead—they just need partners willing to invest in their potential. That is the future being built by young people today.
We are excited to see the partnerships that blossom from these meetings and to help JAG students deepen these capabilities in our Civic Innovators Fellowship and future partnerships.
Zoë Jenkins
Director of Civic Trust and Recruitment
Civics Unplugged
zjenkins@civicsunplugged.org