WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the United States navigates a complex and increasingly fraught political landscape, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is preparing to bring together nation-wide advocates, policy experts, and community leaders for a pivotal gathering. In November 2026, the national youth advocacy organization will convene the American Youth Policy Forum at Howard University in Washington, D.C., focusing on how recent political decisions and systemic policy shifts are impacting the growth, security, and overall well-being of the 73 million children who live across the country.
The upcoming forum, titled “Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children,” is scheduled to take place on November 4 and 5 at the Blackburn University Center. Coming immediately on the heels of the November 3 election cycle, the event is designed to serve as a critical space for reflection, strategic planning, and the charting of a resolute path forward for America’s young people at a moment when organizers say harmful political decisions are actively undermining their fundamental development and future prospects.
According to organizers, the forum will tackle some of the most pressing systemic challenges currently facing the nation’s youth. Keynote addresses and panel discussions will take a deep dive into the current state of public education and public health systems, the systemic weakening of the federal Department of Education, and the mounting attacks on essential safety net programs. Programs such as Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Medicaid have long provided vital support to vulnerable families. However, recent political shifts and policy rollbacks have intensified challenges related to food security, basic health access, and early childhood support systems, making the forum’s discussions more urgent than ever.
A central highlight of the two-day event will be the official release of the newly minted 2026 State of America’s Children Report. This comprehensive publication provides an exhaustive summary of the status of children across a wide spectrum of well-being indicators. The report examines critical metrics including overall child population demographics, child poverty rates, income and wealth inequality, housing stability and homelessness, child hunger and nutritional access, child health outcomes, early childhood development, educational attainment, youth justice, and the pervasive crisis of gun violence affecting young communities.
The forum has drawn a diverse and distinguished group of speakers from across the fields of public policy, social welfare, health policy, and economic research. Among the featured experts scheduled to present and lead discussions are Rev. Leonard Burton, President and CEO of the Center for the Study of Social Policy; Annie Donovan, President and CEO of the Raza Development Fund; Dr. Daniel Eisenburg, Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-author of "Investing in Children’s Mental Health"; and Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children.
Additional featured speakers include Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of the Children’s Defense Fund; Sharon Parrott, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Dr. Ramesh Raghavan, Professor of Social Work at New York University; Dr. Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute; and Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham emphasized that the discussions taking place during the November forum will play a foundational role in guiding future advocacy efforts and shaping policies dedicated to safeguarding children’s well-being nationwide. She noted that while the electoral calendar places significant focus on Election Day itself, the actual work of protecting and nurturing children and youth extends far beyond a single day at the polls.
Together, participants will examine what the 2026 election results truly mean for children and youth, explore the specific policy issues that are actively shaping their health outcomes, educational opportunities, economic mobility, and overall quality of life, and identify concrete, actionable strategies for moving from a state of uncertainty to decisive action.
Nick Vucic, National Director of Public Affairs for the Children’s Defense Fund, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the forum directly addresses the urgent, everyday reality that advocates must navigate a difficult political climate if the nation’s young people are to have a genuine chance to thrive. He stressed that the core mission of CDF is to ensure that every child in the United States is kept safe, supported, and provided with the resources they need to succeed.
Achieving this vision, according to Vucic, requires holding the nation’s political leaders strictly accountable so that their policies and legislative programs genuinely serve young people rather than undermining them. Organizers have made it clear that decades of hard-won progress in child advocacy and social welfare cannot and will not be allowed to be undone without a fight, making this collective gathering in the nation’s capital an essential step in shaping policies that protect children’s futures and meaningfully improve their daily lives.
The event will be hosted at the Blackburn University Center, located at Howard University at 2397 6th St NW in Washington, D.C. Media representatives and members of the public interested in learning more about the agenda, registration details, or the ongoing advocacy work of the organization can contact John Henry, CDF Media Relations Manager, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 708-646-7679.
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund has maintained a steadfast vision of building a nation where marginalized children are empowered to flourish, where leaders consistently prioritize their health and well-being, and where local communities possess the resources and power necessary to ensure they thrive. As the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization operating precisely at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF works tirelessly to advance the interests of America’s most diverse generation—encompassing the 73 million children and youth under the age of 18, as well as 30 million young adults under the age of 25.
Through grassroots organizing movements rooted deeply in marginalized communities, CDF continues to build sustainable political and social power for child-centered public policy. These efforts are continually informed by a commitment to racial equity and the authentic, lived experiences of children and youth themselves. Among its many initiatives, the organization’s renowned CDF Freedom Schools program continues to operate successfully in nearly 100 cities spread across 30 states and territories, providing transformative educational and enrichment experiences for young people nationwide.
