Liyang Zhuang ‘27
Sam Liccardo’s Youth Advisory Committee, launched after Liccardo’s election to Congress in 2024, aims to give young students a voice in discussions around issues that matter most to their generation. Young voices are often overlooked in the policymaking process, but this committee allows high school students to drive meaningful conversation, promote awareness, and make real changes in their communities. The program connects high school juniors and seniors in parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties and guides them through a project focused on an important issue in local, state, or national politics.
Livia Valentine ‘26 is one of three members on the committee. Her journey with the program began in May 2024 when she was an intern for Sam Liccardo’s campaign for Congress. According to Valentine, after he was elected, Liccardo “wanted the people who had interned for him and other youth voices to be involved in some way, and that’s a big part of why the committee was created.” So far, they have discussed three main issues in their first meetings: wildfire prevention, protecting Medi-Cal (California’s Medicare), and ethical use of AI. Valentine, part of the wildfire prevention group, is working on a project designed to educate local residents about reducing wildfire risks. The group’s final project could take the form of an in-depth article, a podcast, a proposal for the city council, a public presentation, or any other way to raise awareness about wildfire prevention.
Another student at the Prep, Jackie Lu ‘26, is a part of the program as well. She joined the program “to make an impact on [her] local community with a project that will be beneficial.” The program is also a way for her to connect with politically involved peers. “The program is meant to create a space for students and like-minded individuals to collaborate on important issues and [applying] youth perspectives in government policy,” Lu says. She is part of the Medicare group. Their goal is to “help those who will be directly impacted by the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicare and Medi-Cal funding,” aiming to “figure out how much [people] can receive, and whether they are still eligible,” she says. The group also plans to raise awareness and funding for affected communities. Through these projects, students like Valentine and Lu are proving that young people can play an active role in shaping politics and change within their communities.
Valentine, Jackie, as well as Nik de Silva ‘27, are SHP students getting directly involved in local government. Their contributions, alongside students from all over the district, will ensure youth voices are heard in Liccardo’s policies.