This March, Opportunity in Action Day at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge invited advocates, policymakers, community members, and Opportunity Youth like me to experience local legislation firsthand.

I began my morning on a bus provided by LOYAL (Louisiana Opportunity Youth Alliance), packed with other young people ready to learn as much as we could. We were given a page of QR codes inviting us to share our stories, upload images from the trip, and stay connected with the organization. I saw this as a great start—and a sign—that the people coordinating this event wanted to stay involved with us beyond a single day.

Our schedule included guided tours and the opportunity to sit in on committee meetings. I chose to participate in an appropriations meeting focused on the FY 26-27 executive budget for the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the LSU Healthcare Services Division.

I was struck by the level of respect, transparency, and candor in the room. While many representatives came with pressing questions and concerns, those at the testimonial table addressed these concerns by making space for collaboration and follow-up. The quantitative data presented across multiple slides was questioned—and rightfully so—to clarify budgeting decisions, funding shifts across departments, goals, and restrictions.

I especially took note of Rep. Alonzo Knox, as I closely related to the ways in which he imbued his personal New Orleanian experience into the discussion. Not only did he question the potential for productive operations within our healthcare budgets, but he also pulled data from recent experiences in downtown New Orleans to highlight the dire homelessness crisis in our major cities. How do we invest in permanent housing instead of temporary solutions? How do we make sure psychiatric facilities are located where people need them most? How can we increase the number of psychiatric facilities in Louisiana? These were questions I had wondered myself.

It was that day that I learned Louisiana has only two state psychiatric hospitals and not nearly enough mobile crisis units to meet the need. I also came to better understand the challenges local leaders face in implementing initiatives amid ongoing federal budget cuts. I found myself asking, “How can we, as a state, stay committed to improving outcomes when our resources can’t meet the demand of its citizens?”

With longer waitlists for health support, a shortage of physicians, and shifting SNAP benefits in Louisiana, maintaining a healthy population becomes increasingly difficult. This makes it harder for Opportunity Youth, especially, to stay connected to work and school as we navigate financial strain and limited resources.

I shared some of these reflections at lunch when our group had a chance to gather on the lawn of the Capitol. We talked about what we learned from the meetings, what work still needs to be done, and how young people across the state are seeking out programs because of the gaps and barriers they’re experiencing.

Louisiana is a state rich in culture and it deserves to be a state just as rich in opportunity. As I prepare to travel to our nation’s capital as part of the Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison (OYCL) fly-in, where I’ll meet with my representative’s office, I plan to carry what I’ve learned with a broader understanding of systemic impact and to use my story, and the stories of my peers, to speak truth to power.

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Samarah Bentley is a New Orleans-based activist, artist, and Opportunity Youth Congressional Liaison (OYCL) with the Forum for Youth Investment, committed to youth advocacy and developing creative solutions alongside peers to better her community. The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board, 826 New Orleans, Jrnola, Beloved Community, and Girl Scouts have shaped both her personal growth and community awareness. She is the creator of Project Often Reality, a community-driven initiative that addresses the intersectionality of diversity in the media, education, and media literacy. She’s also a self-proclaimed nerd into comics, K-pop, film, anime, fantasy, and horror.