One of the bravest things I’ve done is speak my truth in front of a State Representative. I was nervous, I stuttered and stammered, but once I finally stopped trying to fit into the guardrails of being polished and playing it safe, I found a burning passion deep within my heart. I was able to advocate for issues that ate at me for years: how programs misunderstand and tokenize youth, and the generational impacts that can have, only visible to the forgotten voices, struggling families, and backlogged data. Being part of the Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison Winter 2025 Fly-in really helped me recognize who I am and why my voice matters.

I’m usually a recluse. I don’t like getting out often, but when I do, I make it count. This program doesn’t play when it comes to bringing the youth voice to the table. I’m also usually skeptical; I have had over six years of being played by programs that didn’t take my ideas or vision seriously since I was a child. This was different. My own OYCL Cohort and the staff at the Forum for Youth Investment heard me loud and clear; my story, my struggles, my innovation, and most importantly my versatile strength as a mother and a survivor of these systems.

Preparing to meet my State Representative was nerve-wracking for me! I felt so determined, yet so scared. I kept asking myself, “What if I look weird?”, “What if I don’t make sense?”, “How did I even get this far?”. Impostor syndrome kicked in hard, but I kept it to myself. I didn’t want to break under the pressure, but that very unease is what forged my strength to endure through it and try my best. And I did. I was able to immediately connect with everyone in the room about my love for my city, and how communities need to come together to increase access to getting the voice of the people not only heard, but housed and supported. I loved every unsure moment, because in those moments of uncertainty, I knew I would come out wiser. Whether it be a total flop, or a great success, I got to make a difference by trying.

Traveling alone to DC was a huge culture shift for me. I’m used to the Sonoran Desert, the vast mountains and the beautiful night skies. Arizona will always have that alluring ancient beauty, but in DC, I got to feel a different part of history. Seeing the monuments, feeling the stone, and admiring the architecture of our Nation’s capitol made me feel like I made my ancestors proud. I’m used to the dry desert; the moisture and the very land breathes with an ambiance like no other, while in DC, the massive skyscrapers felt like giant trees in a vast asphalt jungle. The bright and crowded cityscape lit my eyes up the moment my flight landed. Seeing the beautiful sakura blossoms with the towering architecture behind it is a unique visual I will never forget.

Getting to meet my Cohort went super unexpected for me. I prefer to be business only, and recluse back into my own space, but the vibe of my group brought me way out of my shell. In each of the workshops we did and in every group I was in, I connected with every single cohort member in unique ways; from sharing stories of struggle and triumph to respectful political banter. It really opened up my mind to how the media creates false narratives around youth, different states, and the real underlying issues beneath. I felt like I could be myself with my cohort andI made lasting friendships.

My next steps in advocacy are clear: I plan to continue to support the youth groups in my community, expand my reach to alternative scenes to find my roots, immerse myself deeper in ethical AI Integration research for youth and family programs to streamline funding and invest in youth tech innovation, as well as pursue my degrees in Computer Science and Business Administration. I will proudly continue to volunteer, innovate, and collaborate when and where I can. I’m a busy mom; but I ensure every waking moment is dedicated not only to my family, but towards improving systems and data that properly supports, adapts, and empowers youth and families just like mine, and even beyond. I’m not sure where I’ll go, but it’s only up from here. 😏

When I got home from my DC trip, It wasn’t like waking up from a dream, I felt like I was actually stepping out into a new reality, built from my dream. Smelling the crisp desert air again had me almost kiss the ground once I stepped outside. My family welcomed me at the door, and I fell to the floor and cried. My kids and my husband all hugged me. I felt like I was finally doing something that would last.

My kids immediately began to raid my luggage, and they found all of my trinkets and merch from my trip, as well as gifts that other cohort members brought from their home states for my kids. The amount of sheer love I felt not only for the work I do, but for my family at home, was felt long after our last meeting together in Washington, DC. It’s honestly so incredible, because it truly takes a village to raise a child, and a community to support a family. I felt that there. I still feel it now.

Other youth-serving organizations, take note. The Forum for Youth Investment is serious about reconnecting youth, empowering them, and selecting the most brilliant minds from around the country to advocate for clear steps to create change in our communities. I wasn’t expecting to be one of those to be selected, and that says a lot about my previous experiences with other programs. Once contracts end, or funding stops, many youth are left on their own to navigate the ever-shifting employment chaos and economy alone.

Many programs do not consider youth comfort; many seek to include the youth voice, fill the grant requirement, pay, then send in the next batch of youth leaders to have their moment in the spotlight. Nah. Youth voice is an investment, a pivotal moment where a young person is sharing their expertise to bring awareness to something. It should always be the bare-minimum to amplify their voice, educate them, invest in them, and connect them to spaces beyond the program. This is where you see the true resilience; not in the trenches of the struggle for survival. The Forum for Youth Investment is doing it right by investing in the OYCL Program because they’re actually bridging the gap between youth voice and change. They challenged our potential, not to tokenize, but to influence actual change with policy by connecting them to workshops, trainings, and professionals with the networks to make things happen. Fast. That’s what more programs should be doing.

I loved every part of my trip. It all started out as taking a risk, submitting a late-night application with sweaty palms and crossed fingers. I slowly got to see my confidence build once I got accepted, working and getting to know the program, its members, and the staff too. The fly-in was unreal, the sights and views felt otherworldly. I got to actually step up my advocacy game by investing in myself first. Programs are everywhere, but our sense of determination comes from within. All is achievable when you believe in yourself. This program helped me get my voice out there,but I would have never seen that potential if I chose to close my laptop, give up, and convince myself that it was too good to be true.

If you’re reading my blog right now, take it from me; just go for it.

So many people live life feeling victimized and minimalized by life, when the biggest barrier to advancement is their own mindset. I have lived behind bus stops, relied on the streets as my family, and now pursuing higher education and communicating with leaders across the nation, all while raising the next generation of leaders. I get to live the life I dreamed of when I was looking up at the cold winter sky back in 2016, contemplating whether to end my life, or have some outlandish idea that would make life worth living. I’m glad I got to be delusional enough to believe in myself so fiercely, that I’m living that dream today. You can too. Find that bus stop in your mind and sit there for a moment in your mind.

 

The struggle is real, yeah, but how would you comfort your younger self in that moment? Sit with that. Start there.

 

Keona Rose is a Tucson-based advocate, peer support specialist, and consultant dedicated to breaking generational curses and transforming the systems that impact youth and families. A survivor of the foster care system and a passionate voice for those who have experienced homelessness and the mental health system, she is committed to moving advocacy from performative gestures to actionable, authentic collaboration. As a mixed-race mother of four, she leverages her lived expertise to bridge the gap between youth and adult-led spaces, specifically focusing on youth employment, child welfare, juvenile justice, and economic justice. Keona strives to ensure that the voices of young people with lived experience are not just heard, but are central to the policy decisions that shape their futures.