A Look Back: Connecting with Change-makers at the Carnegie Young Leaders Conference

Hello, voters! Leah McAskill here.

I wanted to take a moment to share a powerful experience I recently had as the Team Lead, representing STEM to the Polls at the Carnegie Young Leaders Program leadership conference in Princeton, New Jersey. It was an inspiring few days that perfectly aligned with our mission: empowering young people to become active participants in our democracy.

The conference brought together 100 young leaders, each part of a team of 5 working on a project to address a real-world challenge in their community. It was incredible to be surrounded by such a diverse group of passionate individuals, all focused on "youth-led civic innovation."

From projects tackling climate change to those focused on civic education and financial literacy for college aged students, every team was committed to creating lasting, positive change. The most valuable part of the experience was realizing that we are all part of a larger network. We shared strategies, learned from each other's successes and challenges, and built connections that will help us all strengthen our respective initiatives.

I left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision for how to better equip you, our voters, with the tools you need. I'm excited to apply the new skills and ideas I gained from this incredible network.

This experience reinforced my belief that when we collaborate across different issues and backgrounds, we can create meaningful change. Thank you for being a part of this movement with us. I'm energized and ready to put what I learned into action!