Brushing elbows with elected officials on Capitol Hill, discussing school safety with a founding member of the Sandy Hook Promise organization, and advocating for nationwide violence prevention legislation, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School junior Quwiyya Folaji spent time in Washington, DC, this summer as one of just 12 Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board members.  

The National Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a select group of high school students drawn from SAVE Promise Clubs across the United States. Members are chosen through a competitive application process. Students are chosen for their deep commitment to preventing violence and self-harm in their schools and communities. They serve as the national voice of Sandy Hook Promise’s SAVE Promise Clubs, alongside their club advisors.

To help make everyone feel included, welcome, and inspired to get involved in school, Folaji joined Stagg’s SAVE club, where she first learned about the National Youth Advisory Board. Folaji said, “I hope, as a board member, that I can inspire others to become involved and possibly encourage the creation of SAVE programs in middle schools and elementary schools that feed into D230. I also aspire to educate others on the organization's story and programs because it truly speaks deeply to me, and I am grateful that Stagg implements Say Something constantly, which makes me feel safer as a student, and I’m sure others, too.”

Beyond SAVE, Folaji serves on Student Council, the Superintendent and Principal Advisory groups, and volunteers with Stagg Ambassadors.

Over the summer, Folaji and SAVE advisor Erin Wendt joined fellow board members in Washington for a week filled with training, team-building, and advocacy. Students led workshops, shared the impact of their local clubs, and helped plan national programming, including brainstorming the upcoming Virtual Summit and designing materials for Sandy Hook Promise.

Wendt says, “Quwiyya, one of my standout students, has been an active and dedicated member of our SAVE Promise Club over the past year. Recognizing her strong leadership skills and passion for creating positive change, I encouraged her to apply for the Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board. Her exceptional character and commitment make her an invaluable asset not only to Stagg High School but also to the broader mission of Sandy Hook Promise.”

Together, they also met Nicole Hockley, the CEO and Co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, who lost her son Dylan in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy and felt motivated to start Sandy Hook Promise to prevent other tragedies. 

One of the most impactful moments was Hill Day, when board members met with congressional staff to advocate for the STOP School Violence Grant—a bipartisan effort to fund school safety programs, staff training, and anonymous tip lines. Folaji spoke with staff from Representative Sean Casten’s office as well as Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin’s teams, even receiving a private tour of the Capitol.

She also had the chance to hear directly from Senator Cory Booker, who reminded the students of the importance of youth voices in shaping the future.

Reflecting on the experience, Folaji said, “Every staffer was incredibly supportive and excited to see a high school student in D.C. advocating for safer schools. It made me realize how much of a difference students can make when we speak up.”