This fall, Communities for Our Colleges has continued deepening its organizing and leadership development work in Western Washington—this time with a powerful new addition: high school students. Through our fall fellowship program, student organizers from Bothell High School, Everett Community College (EvCC), and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) have been working together to strengthen outreach, build leadership, and engage their peers in shaping the future of higher education in our state.
Youth Organizing Takes Root at Bothell High School
At Bothell High School, students took the lead to form a brand-new Communities for Our Colleges club, creating a space where young people can learn about community organizing, education equity, and civic participation. The club made a strong debut at the school’s fall club fair, where more than 36 students signed up to join. Students posed with a whiteboard sharing why they believe in free college for all, sparking campus-wide conversations about affordability and opportunity.
Since then, the club has held weekly after-school meetings focused on core organizing skills: understanding power, sharing personal stories, and learning how to engage with elected officials. Students have also been leading civic education efforts, from sharing voter registration information during morning announcements to creating short videos for the school’s weekly broadcast—reaching an audience of nearly 1,800 students each week.
They’re now planning a ballot party on Election Day and preparing for voter registration drives later this fall, with their eyes set on participating in upcoming Action Days in Olympia. Six students currently make up the club’s core organizing team, supported by two dedicated advisors helping guide their leadership journey.
Strengthening Organizing at EvCC and SPSCC
At Everett Community College and South Puget Sound Community College, C4C fellows have continued their weekly outreach, connecting with peers through campus tabling, classroom presentations, and community events. Students are taking action by writing on whiteboards why they support free college and sharing their experiences with higher education access.
Across both campuses, the fellows have already collected 16 student and community stories, building a foundation for future organizing and educational work. At EvCC, students are also in the early stages of forming a new C4C club, expanding opportunities for ongoing involvement and leadership on campus.
Civic Education and Leadership Development
Through the fellowship, students are not only organizing on their campuses—they’re also learning how education policy connects to their lives. Over the past month, fellows participated in 12 educational meetings with elected officials, where they learned about how state-level decisions impact students and colleges. These engagements are part of C4C’s nonpartisan civic education and leadership development work, which helps students strengthen their confidence in communicating their stories and perspectives with policymakers.
Altogether, 23 students shared their experiences and testimonies—powerful examples of how young leaders are developing the skills and courage to engage in civic life.
