This moment wasn't just about being present-it was about belonging. Our youth are not waiting their turn. They are stepping into leadership now.

Seated in Our House: Youth at the Capitol

There’s something powerful about being seated—not as visitors, not as guests—but as people who belong.

Inside the Minnesota State Capitol, our youth weren’t just standing for a photo.

They were seated. Grounded. Present.

In our house.

Alongside Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, President of the Senate Bobby Joe Champion and in partnership with the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage, this moment carried weight far beyond the image.

This Is What Belonging Looks Like

For many young people—especially from African and immigrant communities—spaces like the Capitol can feel distant.

Not made for them.

Not built with them in mind.

But this moment challenged that.

Because when our youth sat in those seats, they weren’t asking for permission.

They were stepping into position.

Learning.

Listening.

Engaging.

Understanding that decisions made in that building shape their everyday lives.

From Presence to Power

Being seated is not passive.

It’s preparation.

It’s where confidence grows.

Where curiosity turns into questions.

Where exposure becomes vision.

And in that space, something clicked:

“I can be here. I can lead here. I belong here.”

Bridging the Gap, For Real

This is the work.

Through our partnership with the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage, we are not just creating access—we are redefining it.

We are:

• Bringing youth into civic spaces early
• Connecting culture, identity, and leadership
• Building confidence through real exposure

This is how we bridge the gap—

not just by talking about it, but by placing our youth directly in the room.

In Our House—and We’re Not Leaving

The Capitol is not out of reach.

It is not reserved.

It is ours.

And our youth being seated there is only the beginning.

Because the goal isn’t just for them to sit in those seats—

it’s for them to one day hold them.

Seated. Present. Ready.

In our house.

Onward,

Ngone