Elevating youth voice and leadership is at the heart of our work at The Bridge. Through our Youth Advisory Board (YAB), youth up to the age of 24 who have been program participants at The Bridge use their voices to influence change within the organization. YAB members make recommendations on programming, practices, and policies at The Bridge, and take part in staff interview panels, with their voices being weighted as the strongest in hiring. They plan annual events and gatherings for youth in community, such as The Bridge’s first youth pride in October 2025. Also in 2025, YAB was instrumental in creating a youth-led social media team, contributing their insights, experiences, and resources to other youth via BFY social media platforms and blogs.
Many YAB youth, along with youth currently in housing programs, are also members of an advocacy team. In collaboration with staff and board members, youth have been regular participants at Homeless Day on the Hill every March — a day of educating and advocating at the Minnesota Capitol for the needs of youth experiencing homelessness. Youth have been invited to use their voice to speak directly with key lawmakers at hearings and meetings about their own experiences and the importance of stable housing and supportive services.
This April, one youth currently in Rita’s House transitional living program, and a YAB member who is a graduate of Marlene’s Place, were specifically invited by a committee chairperson to testify at a Capital Investment Committee hearing after the chairperson recalled their stories from Day on the Hill. Both youth reflected that they felt validated and honored by this opportunity to advocate on behalf of The Bridge.
(Picture: Taty standing center along with BFY staff and board at the State Capitol).
Recently, we’ve taken significant steps in our commitment to honoring youth voices, creating a pathway for YAB members to join The Bridge’s Board of Directors.
In late 2025, six graduates of YAB were selected to join the Youth Voice Leadership Initiative (YVLI), an intentional path to join the Board of Directors, prioritizing youth wisdom through intersectional organizational governance. In April 2026, youth and adult members of the BFY Board of Directors gathered with the support of consultants for their first full day retreat focused on trust and relationship building, decolonized leadership, collective values, and shared agreements.
“The Bridge deeply values youth input and youth voice along with following through on growth without losing their vision, identity or intent,” reflected Anya, an emerging Board Member. “This is so important due to the to the often very delicate nature of supports needed at the various programs within the Bridge.”
“Being part of YAB has helped me create things amongst peers that also helped other youth,” added Jania (pictured on the right), another emerging Board Member. “Having this safe space where I can share my ideas to create something meaningful is what co-creation is about.”
For youth like Anya and Jania joining our Board of Directors, this is a full-circle moment that has taken years of building upon leadership and advocacy as YAB members. As members of The Board of Directors, youth voices will come first in board meetings as we honor their wisdom and lived-experience. We’re excited to continue telling this story as we grow in our commitment to honoring youth voice.
