Friends – Utah Joins Network Leaders in Washington D.C. to Champion Youth and Families

From April 29th through May 1st, executive directors and board chairs from across the 42 locations of Friends of the Children gathered in Washington, D.C. to collaborate, learn, and amplify the voices of youth and families they serve.

“Over the course of three days, Friends of the Children leaders took part in nearly fifty meetings with elected officials in our nation’s capital,” said Terri Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children – National. “We shared how impactful it can be to empower youth who are facing some of the toughest things in life, and how professional mentoring can address some of our country’s most persistent challenges.”

Friends of the Children – Utah Executive Director Kelsey Lewis and Board Chair Stephen Foxley were proud to join this collective effort and meet with Utah’s elected officials to share the impact of our work. One highlight of their trip was a meaningful conversation with Congressman Blake Moore, who expressed strong interest in our model and how intentional, consistent mentorship is transforming lives—not just in Utah, but nationwide. The Friends – Utah leadership team also met with Senator John Curtis and staff from Congressman Burgess Owens’ office.

These conversations are a powerful step forward. We’re hopeful they will lead to increased support for evidence based professional mentoring programs that put children first.

The national network of Friends of Children is rooted in urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities throughout the country, with participating youth facing a variety of long-standing obstacles. Leaders from the network gathered to gain insight from one another on how to best support youth and families, and they participated in learning sessions focused on development and sustainability, storytelling, strategic planning, and more.

The nearly 50 meetings that Friends of the Children leaders held with elected officials focused on a common theme: how much communities could do together by bridging political divides and empowering youth and families through professional mentorship. Friends of the Children shared stories and data from their communities, and offered our professional mentoring model as a solution to address community needs.