The Westchester County Youth Bureau, along with local Youth Bureaus from across the County attended the annual Youth Leadership Forum in Albany; a free interactive leadership and educational conference offered to youth (ages 12 and older) throughout New York State by the New York Association of Youth Bureaus (ANYSYB).
The forum focuses on teaching young people effective communication skills to become compelling advocates. It offers over 200 youth opportunities to develop skill sets and learning on relevant topics such as civic engagement, social/racial justice and equity, mental health and substance use disorders
During this two-day event, students convened at the Empire State Plaza to participate in seminars and workshops, and then met individually with their State representatives to advocate for funding for key initiatives in the areas of Youth Development, Afterschool, Youth Employment and Capital Projects. Of the 13 individual programs that are currently funded, 11 programs were slated to have funding maintained or increased in the 2026 Executive Budget. However, students advocated for restoration of $10 million in funding for Youth Team Sports and $1 million for the Safe Harbor program designed to protect youth under 18 who are victims of, or at risk for, commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Taking students to Albany for the annual Youth Leadership Forum provides an exceptional opportunity for our youth across the County to experience government close up and in real time. What better way to teach our young people that good government starts with them, with people bringing their ideas and priorities to those who represent them? By showing the paths to civic engagement and teaching the skills necessary for advocacy, we are preparing them to be our future leaders.”
Westchester County Youth Bureau Executive Director Ernest McFadden said: “The 2026 Youth Leadership Forum is a reminder that young people are not just participants in democracy—they are leaders. By speaking up for education, youth sports and youth mental health, young people are helping to build a society where every young person can thrive. Our goal is to empower, educate and inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change makers.”
