Isabella Haddad’s Story
The first time I ever heard of politics and advocacy was in my debate class. It was my first year of high school, and I had no interest in politics. In fact, I planned to be a dance choreographer! By the time the class was over, I had been exposed to the harsh realities internationally and the lack of bipartisanship in the United States. Seeing all of the political violence fueled by polarization across the world, I sought out a way to make change where I lived. I had discovered a problem I would work to solve for the next years ahead: lack of community engagement.
Finding a real-world problem and solving it in my community was difficult because I didn’t know where to start searching. However, the issue was right in front of me all along. I first realized it on my school campus, where many programs were rapidly declining. Throughout my city, small businesses were shutting down, and the library where I worked had less engagement in some of their programs. The issue of low levels of community engagement, especially in law and politics, is known to hurt civic responsibility, reduce community effectiveness, and cause a lack of public trust. This can be directly applied to election seasons, civic education, and voter loyalty among political leaders. Now that I knew what I needed to solve, I had to figure out a real solution.
I started working on my advocacy organization, Advocating Together, in April 2025. The website launched in May 2025, and I expanded our mission through social media, building connections and partnerships with hundreds of other organizations. As executive director, I encouraged my team to add internships to our program. We opened applications for educational internships in journalism, research, and podcasting, and had over 50 applicants. Once we selected our interns, we focused on giving them the ins and outs of politics and setting them up to make change in their communities. We helped them publish political writing, speak their minds on our podcast, and thoroughly learn and research legislation. Aside from our interns, I knew we needed to make a real impact through representation.
I contacted my state representatives and proposed multiple bills that strengthened community engagement. I worked on campaigns with senators and representatives and became an intern at the United Nations Association, San Diego. Building up my personal network and experience gave me the opportunity to create legislation and understand legislative language. Our bills are currently in review, and we are waiting to hear back.
My story consists of learning everything from scratch, building partnerships and my organization from nothing, but most of all being inspired by the people around me. That debate class exposed me to other students who have taken their own initiative in politics as young leaders. Their influence gave me the confidence to share my voice and advocate worldwide.
For more information about Isabella's organization, Advocating Together, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/advocatingtogether
Italia Ramos's Story
Immigrant parents, neighbors, and friends built the world around me with their sweat, but their voices rarely shaped it. From an early age, I watched hardworking people give everything they had, yet often be overlooked or pushed aside. This injustice planted a quiet conviction deep inside me: everyone deserves a voice, the power to be heard, and the ability to shape their future.
For years, I didn't know how to turn that conviction into change. It wasn't until high school that I realized the power of politics as a tool young people can use to rewrite the future.
My first real step into advocacy came through an internship focused on civic engagement. There, I learned the fundamentals of grassroots organizing and the mechanics of voter registration. I saw how communities, when mobilized, could raise their voices and demand change. It was eye-opening to witness how much can be accomplished when everyday people unite behind a shared cause. This experience sparked in me a desire to do more and to lead and amplify those voices in my community.
Soon after, I was selected for a highly competitive national leadership program designed for students interested in political leadership and policy work. The program pushed me beyond my comfort zone and introduced me to the complexities of democratic institutions, leadership during times of crisis, and the vital role truth and transparency play in governance. It deepened my understanding of how policies are created, shaped, and challenged. Most importantly, it showed me how citizens can hold those in power accountable.
At the same time, I was honored to be elected to my city's Youth Commission. This role gave me the opportunity to represent young people in policy discussions and city planning meetings, spaces where youth perspectives are too often missing. Being part of the Youth Commission taught me firsthand that age does not limit impact. Whether working on youth programs, advocating for equitable resources, or collaborating with city officials, I learned how meaningful change starts with showing up and speaking up.
Looking back, the common thread in my journey has been a fierce belief in equity. Equal opportunity is not optional but a right. Advocacy and policy work have shown me that even as a teenager, I can help build systems where equity isn't just an idea, but a reality.
My hope is that other students reading this will recognize their power. Your story, your perspective, and your ideas matter. Change doesn't wait until you're older or more experienced. The moment you decide to use your voice and get involved, you've already started making a difference.
Emily Martinova's Story
I’ve often felt misheard. Growing up as a middle child, I carried that sense of being overlooked I was a quiet presence in rooms where decisions were being made. That feeling only deepened as I got older, when I saw how often important conversations about policy moved forward without input from the very people most affected.
That’s what first drew me toward advocacy. I knew what it was like to have my experiences dismissed, and I wanted to make sure other students wouldn’t feel the same. I joined different advocacy clubs including PIVOTs education department and began working alongside people who believed what I believed: that change is possible when the right voices come together.
For a while, I stayed silent out of fear , afraid that my words wouldn’t matter, or that I wasn’t ready. But I’ve since learned that silence has never created change. What gave me courage was realizing that no one is born with influence; they earn it. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Abraham Lincoln were once students too, and everyone has the potential to change and be heard.
Earlier this year, I nearly let self-doubt hold me back again. I was convinced my lack of experience meant I didn’t belong. Instead of giving in to that silence, I began building my voice through research, joining youth policy groups, and connecting with leaders who inspired me. Step by step, I grew into someone who isn’t afraid to ask hard questions, make phone calls, or sit at the table where change begins.
My goal in advocacy is not only to be heard but to amplify the voices of others who still feel invisible. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, and I also know the power of what happens when someone finally listens. Every young person deserves a seat at the table where decisions are made.
This opportunity with PIVOT is more than just the next step in my journey , it’s a chance to show others that their voices matter. Advocacy is not about waiting until you feel ready or powerful but rather about speaking up, even when it feels scary, because change only happens when we use our voices together.
Ritika Kulkarni's Story
Imagine making a mistake. You’re punished for it. You serve your time. But when you’re finally free, the world still refuses to let you move on. Every job application, every housing form, every sideways glance reminds you that in society’s eyes, you are only your worst decision. You are a monster.
This is the reality faced by many formerly incarcerated individuals. The process of reentry, leaving prison and coming back to society, is full of struggles from finding a job to dealing with mental health. The silence behind these stories is what inspired me to create Inside Voices.
My name is Ritika Kulkarni, and Inside Voices is a storytelling platform I founded to share interviews and stories of people who have been to jail. This is through first hand, real accounts. Society tends to pin people who have been to jail as incapable of change, or as monsters; but this is not true. These stories are rarely heard on the outside, and I wanted to give these people the opportunity to tell their inner truths. What does reentry look like? What was their biggest struggle? How do you repair trust with loved ones? Statistics and policies cannot capture these, but lived experiences can. I like letting people guide their own narratives, because who says the media knows them better than they do themselves? A conversation may begin with the daily realities of release, like finding housing, but they often expand into deeper reflections of their resilience and identity.
I’ve always been drawn to the issues of inequality and justice, and Inside Voices allows me to make an impact. I post articles of stories on Substack, and real videos from the interviews on social media. The people behind these issues, from mass incarceration to reentry, are all human. They deserve a second chance. They deserve to be heard. Storytelling is powerful not just for audiences, but also for the storytellers themselves. Many participants told me that being heard without judgment is just as important as the story itself. In a world that immediately assigns them to terms like “felons” and “ex-cons,” offering a space where they can be their authentic space is important.
I like that this project allows me to contribute meaningfully by doing what I love most: listening, writing, and building connections. No issue, from mental health to criminal justice, ever has to exist in isolation. We can all come together as a community, and real change starts with understanding. Incarceration does not define a persons worth. Inside Voices challenges readers to see past labels and confront truths about how society treats those who have served their time and are trying to rebuild.
All in all, my goal is simple: To build empathy and share stories. If even one reader walks away with more empathy, or one storyteller feels seen, the project is worth it. I hope that those who read or share their stories feel empowered and changed. You can read Inside Voices on Substack and subscribe fully for free at this link: https://substack.com/@insidevoicesofficial. You can also watch videos on Tiktok: Insidevoicesofficial or Instagram: Insidevoices_official.
