Flight Crew Bring Youth Voice to National Summit on Youth Development

When three members of STEM Next’s Flight Crew took the stage in Washington, D.C. this week in front of a national audience of education leaders, they embodied their core message: the future of youth development must start with youth.

Hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), the Future of Youth Development: Vision to Action Summit brought together leaders across research, philanthropy, and policy to explore how to move from evidence to action in supporting youth development. 

During the opening session, moderator Emilie Smith from Michigan State University reminded the audience, “We’re starting this panel with the voices of youth. We do so much conversation around them, and to me it is so wise for this day to be elevating their voices.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Amanda Okwara, a high school senior who represents Pennsylvania on STEM Next’s Flight Crew, shared how afterschool  STEM programs have shaped who she is today. From summer coding camps to founding a Women in STEM club at her high school, Amanda described afterschool and summer experiences as the place where she found her confidence, leadership, and sense of belonging.

“Out-of-school programs play a crucial role in shaping who I am,” she said. “They give me a chance to learn skills that  traditional classrooms simply cannot.”

Michelle Marfo, a Flight Crew member from Georgia, shared how afterschool and summer programs sparked both her academic curiosity and her sense of purpose. She founded STEM Explorers, a program that helps kids in underserved communities build confidence in STEM fields. “Education doesn’t stop at a personal benefit,” she said. “It impacts communities.” For Michelle, programs that connect learning to real-world challenges, from transportation to medicine, help young people see themselves as problem solvers.

Avery Lee, a Flight Crew member from Delaware, found his passion in robotics. Through his team’s competitions and mentorship, he not only learned technical skills but also developed leadership and communication skills. “These programs teach you how to talk to people, how to collaborate, how to be human,” he said.

Youth-Led, Adult-Supported

When asked how afterschool and summer programs could better include youth voices, all three panelists agreed: give young people real leadership opportunities.

“Adults can’t do the work for us,” Avery said. “Students should drive the programs, and adults should just be there to support.”

Michelle added that programs should bring youth in early, even in the design phase, so they have ownership over what’s created. Amanda emphasized the value of “elevated roles” for students who want to lead, including positions that help them build responsibility and pride.

Building Communities Across Ages

The panelists also shared their experiences of intergenerational learning. Amanda reflected on a coding camp she attended when she was younger that brought together girls ages 13 to 18: “It felt like a real community. I still rely on those older girls for advice today.” Avery described mentoring younger students through robotics outreach: “When they see a robot we built, you get to impact them and you get to inspire them on what they want to do next.”

A Vision for the Future

As the session closed, the young speakers left the adults in the room inspired. The panel set the tone for the Summit’s broader conversations about how to strengthen systems that support equitable access to quality afterschool and summer opportunities. 

The Flight Crew members’ message was clear: when youth are trusted as partners and leaders, afterschool and summer programs become not just enrichment, but empowerment. 

“We’re the next generation,” Amanda said. “We need to be given the chance to explore now, so when we have to do everything on our own, we’re prepared.”

The NASEM Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 14 marked the release of the latest publication, The Future of Youth Development: Building Systems and Strengthening Programs. Read it here.