On June 18, the Department of Commerce Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, held the National Youth Summit 2.0 in Washington, DC. Secretary Raimondo, Deputy Secretary Graves, Acting Under Secretary Morrissette, and President and CEO of BGCGW Gabrielle Webster led the event with keynote remarks emphasizing the Administration's commitment to celebrating, empowering, and uplifting our youth from communities nationwide.

They provided an overview of the resources and opportunities from our bureaus and national partnerships and highlighted the range of programs supported by the Biden Administration. Similarly, they expressed their appreciation for the incredible ways Commerce continues to empower our nation's youth, which is essential to America's ability to compete and win globally.

They also emphasized the critical role our youth play in the U.S. economy. They urged faith, business, and community leaders to continue engaging at the state and federal level to streamline access to resources supported by President Biden's Investing in America agenda, which is unlocking new pathways to economic growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation. 

The Youth-Led Panel included young people from high school, college, and apprenticeship programs. They shared their success stories and struggles as trailblazers and trusted voices of the communities' most pressing needs. Panelists highlighted critical topics regarding equity in unrepresented and underserved communities.

During the Mini-Fair, we heard from representatives from various federal agencies: the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the United States Agency for International Development. Our local partners, Ameri-Corp, Build Within, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, shared their capabilities and services with summit attendees.

Interagency partners provided various resources and opportunities that support everything from workforce development and technical assistance to data analysis techniques for climate resilience & business innovation. Several bureaus and offices from the Department of Commerce: CHIPS for America, Economic Development Administration, International Trade Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shared how they partner with our youth in the community.

Our two breakout sessions, each diverse and comprehensive, provided a platform for robust conversation on a wide range of topics. These included business development, entrepreneurship, economic development, alternatives to college education, access to data and innovation, climate resilience, and equity in education. Our youth nominees led the sessions and brought their unique perspectives to the discussions. A critical topic addressed in the discussion was unrepresented and under-served communities regarding access to educational equity. The sessions also featured national community and business leaders and bureau leaders from Ameri-Corp, ITA, PTO, Census, FEMA, NOAA, and ED, who discussed workforce development, business and entrepreneurship, data, innovation, climate resilience, and financial literacy. The sessions also highlighted national youth leaders who discussed their top challenges and opportunities and how they would like to partner effectively with the federal government and business leaders to achieve common goals.

For those who couldn't attend or who want to revisit the insightful discussions, portions of the summit are available via recorded live stream. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their physical presence, can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and inspiration shared at the National Youth Summit 2.0.