Cal State Monterey Bay student Acucar “Sookie” Ramos writes about her experience at the 2026 Youth & Adult Partnership Summit at Cabrillo College, where youth leaders, educators and community partners explored what it means to build authentic youth-adult partnerships. Reflecting on conversations with fellow participants, Ramos argues that young people should be treated as true collaborators in shaping their communities and that meaningful change happens when adults are willing to listen, adapt and create spaces where youth voices can lead.
