Messages from Our movement Narrative POwer Summit 2026
The Messages From Our Movement Narrative Power Summit was a 2-day gathering for young people and youth advocates to connect with one another to sharpen skills, strategize, storytell, and build narrative power on August 4th-5th, 2026. In this current political moment, we are the narrators the movement needs to capture the lived experiences of our communities. We must come together to build narrative power; our communities deserve agency over the stories being told about us. Through narrative, we illustrate a world that is possible when we embrace youth as sacred.
This event was co-hosted by the California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice, also known as CAYCJ.
What was built? Our Stories Are Power
Participants gathered in circles, shared stories, asked questions, and reflected on the ways our experiences are shaped by the narratives around us. The room became a space for listening, learning, and imagining together- not just what we wanted to change, but what we wanted to build.
The work does not stop here! Narrative power-building is an ongoing commitment, through the Messages From Our Movement space organizations across the state will continue to convene, collaborate, and say “All Youth Are Sacred”.