We are thrilled to share that House Bill 1815 was signed into law! We're proud to have supported this bill, which addresses the misuse of "Prison Riot" felony charges against incarcerated youth, particularly at the Green Hill facility in Lewis County. The bill vacates related convictions from the past five years and requires DCYF to manage fights internally, like other infractions.
We've worked hard to educate our legislators and communities about the harmful impacts of over-prosecution of young people. We applaud the Seattle Times for recognizing the significance of this issue with this article, which provides a deeper explanation of the bill. We also thank our co-conspirators for helping to make this happen, including but not limited to: Representatives Peterson, Cortes and Goodman, along with other elected officials who supported the bill, Seattle University, the American Justice & Equity Group, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
There is always more work to be done. But today we're celebrating the win. Thank you for helping to make this possible.
We are proud to spotlight Diego Gonzalez and his contributions to the Youth Action Coalition. As one of the founding members, he was a recipient of TeamChild’s Youth IMPACT award!
Diego’s inspiration to join the YAC came from his experiences as a young person witnessing systems that disproportionately harm youth. His engagement in advocacy work stems from
a strong desire to prevent those harms for future generations. While he does not have direct experience with the juvenile incarceration system, his personal relationships with those who have contributed significantly to his advocacy trajectory. Through the YAC and endeavors outside of TeamChild, Diego is dedicated to addressing systemic injustices and improving outcomes for youth across our state.
Diego deeply values community and cherishes moments when he can gather with his peers. A highlight of his time in the YAC was attending a retreat in Spokane, where members from across the state gathered together. This allowed them to connect outside of their advocacy work and simply enjoy each other’s company. Reminiscing on traveling to Olympia and testifying for the first time with his fellow YAC member, Gisella, he shared that this unforgettable moment demonstrated the power of youth voice. Under the guidance of TeamChild’s Policy Manager, Arthur Longworth, Diego noted the importance of mentorship and the duty of those with more wisdom and experience to contribute to the growth of emerging leaders.
Diego encourages youth who are passionate about giving back to their community to get involved and make a positive impact. He emphasized the importance of lived experience, saying, “Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.” Diego wants youth interested in joining to know that the YAC is a space where youth voices are prioritized, valued, and actively uplifted. His final message is that your perspective and your voice matter, and that the YAC is a place where you can learn, contribute, and help drive meaningful change.
We are proud to spotlight Takiyah Ward and her contributions to the Youth Action Coalition. As one of the founding members, she was a recipient of TeamChild’s Youth IMPACT award!
The impetus for Takiyah joining the YAC was to uplift and amplify the experiences of those impacted by the juvenile legal system and institutional failures. Acknowledging that her lived experience was not marked by the same level of trauma and system involvement as her peers, she understands the importance of allyship and making space for those who have encountered troubles with incarceration, homelessness, and the foster care system. For this reason, Takiyah was initially hesitant to join the YAC because she did not want to take space from those whose lived experience was more closely aligned with the issue at hand; however, she was inspired by her mother’s involvement in the community and realized that her presence and participation had value. Understanding her positionality, Takiyah seeks to ensure that the voices of those who have been silenced are heard. Her advocacy is rooted in uplifting those who are not always equipped to do so themselves.
Takiyah’s most fond memories of the YAC are centered on human connection. While advocacy work is important, Takiyah is a firm believer that nurturing relationships with peers is equally important. Advocacy is not always easy and can lead to burnout, and may be emotionally taxing when advocating for issues that can invoke traumatic memories. Takiyah finds that when YAC members socialize and decompress together, they strengthen the team dynamic and make it easier to support one another as their bonds grow.
For youth interested in engaging in advocacy work, Takiyah’s main message is that you do not need direct lived experience to support these efforts. She seeks to encourage all youth to get involved if they are passionate, while being intentional about centering those with lived experiences. Takiyah views her role in the fight for youth justice as a bridge or amplifier, supporting those who too often go unseen.
At the core of our mission, TeamChild not only supports youth who are involved in or at risk of involvement in the juvenile legal system but also centers their voices and encourages them to advocate for justice. In 2022, we launched our Youth Advisory Board, now called the Youth Action Coalition. The YAC is a collective of youth and young adults from around Washington State who use their lived experience and expertise to advocate for impactful change within community and youth-serving systems through storytelling, community education, and policy reform. Our youth are not the generation of tomorrow – they are the leaders of today. Through their lived experience, they are best equipped to communicate the needs of societies’ most marginalized with similar circumstances. TeamChild is honored to provide them with the tools to do so.
This year, at our 30th birthday fundraiser, Forward to the Future, we launched the inaugural Youth IMPACT Award for our young leaders. IMPACT stands for “Igniting Movement through Policy, Advocacy, and Community Transformation.” The award is given to young people whose leadership efforts and actions are helping to bring forth TeamChild’s vision that young people have power and experience unconditional belonging at school, home, and in their communities. This year, YAC members and TeamChild staff chose the founding members of the YAC to be the first recipients of this award. At our 30th birthday celebration, the room was filled with joy as we honored Takiyah Ward, KC Chiu, Diego Gonzalez, and Xander Pearce Brooks. Their contributions to the YAC will forever be cherished as they pass the torch to the next wave of young leaders.
Last week, TeamChild staff attorneys were proud to support the Color of Justice mock trial event in Yakima, where eighth grade students from across the Yakima Valley received hands-on exposure to the justice system and careers in criminal justice. Events like these help create positive, educational experiences with systems that too often fail young people — especially youth of color.
For 30 years, TeamChild has worked to ensure youth have advocacy, support, and opportunities to thrive. As we continue this work, it’s not too late to support our GiveBIG campaign and invest in a more just future for young people across Washington. 💙
We are deeply grateful to Claudia Rowe for joining us at our 30th Birthday celebration and sharing powerful reflections from her book, Wards of the State. Her insights on the experiences of youth in state care closely reflect TeamChild’s values and mission — that youth-serving systems must continue evolving to reduce harm, strengthen safety and care, and prioritize meaningful human connection. Investing in young people through compassion, support, and community is one of the most powerful ways we can help them grow into their fullest potential.
In the last 30 years, TeamChild has supported over 25,000 youth across Washington—standing alongside young people to protect their rights, expand opportunities, and drive real reform.
This GiveBIG, will you help us keep that momentum going? Commit to $30 a month to invest in youth justice and the next 30 years of impact. 💙
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made this celebration so special 💙
A heartfelt thank you to Claudia Rowe for sharing such powerful words as our guest speaker, to our dedicated TeamChild Board for your leadership and commitment, and to every member of the TeamChild community who showed up, celebrated, and continues to stand with us.
Your support fuels this work—here’s to continuing to show up for young people together.
Tomorrow is the BIG DAY 🎉
For 30 years, TeamChild has been standing alongside young people across Washington State—proudly serving over 25,000 youth and counting. Every milestone, every story, every life impacted has led us to this moment.
Join us as we celebrate the past, honor the present, and look ahead to the future we’re building together. There’s still time to be part of it—grab your tickets now! 🎟️ Link in bio
Friday is almost here! TeamChild’s Forward to the Future is just days away. 🚀 Step into the future with a throwback twist... 90s futuristic fashion is the vibe, so bring your boldest, most creative looks. Think metallics and retro-tech energy!
A huge thank you to Alaska Airlines for helping make this night possible through their generous sponsorship.
🎟️ Only 29 tickets left, so don’t wait! Secure your spot now and be part of a night turning momentum into impact for youth justice.
#AlaskaCares
