Youth, Trust, and Civic Engagement: How Young People See America Today

November 18, 2025

Youth, Trust, and Civic Engagement: How Young People See America Today

Findings from the 2025 UNICEF USA/Harris Poll

From economic uncertainty to social division, young people across the United States are paying close attention to the issues shaping their future and remain optimistic about their power to create change. Yet, too often, youth feel excluded from the decisions that impact them most.

Drawing from UNICEF USA’s National Youth Poll, conducted with The Harris Poll, this webinar explored how 14- to 22-year-olds view civic participation, the issues they prioritize, and their trust in leadership. The findings reveal a generation eager to engage but uncertain whether institutions value their perspectives. Feelings of optimism and disconnection also differ across race, ethnicity, and gender identity, underscoring the need for inclusive, youth-centered approaches to civic engagement.

This intergenerational dialogue brought together youth leaders, educators, academics, and local officials to examine how communities can bridge the gap between youth interest and institutional opportunity. Participants gained practical strategies for amplifying youth voices, strengthening civic trust, and reimagining public participation to be more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the next generation. The conversation challenged the narrative of an anxious generation and highlighted how youth are redefining leadership, not as the future of democracy, but as its present force for change.

This event is co-hosted by the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and UNICEF USA.

Photo provided by UNICEF USA.

Participants

Sylvie Bissell (moderator)

Sylvie Bissell (H’26, G’27) is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying global health in the Georgetown University School of Health, originally from Portland, Oregon. She is also currently pursuing an accelerated Master of Science in Global Health. Bissell is the former president and current vice president of the Georgetown UNICEF club.

Eleanor J.B. Daugherty

Eleanor J.B. Daugherty, an advocate for student well-being and equity with 25 years of experience in higher education, serves as the vice president of student affairs at Georgetown University. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring Georgetown provides a nurturing and developmental experience for all students. Daugherty previously served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Connecticut and in a variety of roles at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and the University of Michigan. She holds Doctor and Master of Education degrees from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Skylar Goldstein (moderator)

Skylar Goldstein (SFS‘28) is a sophomore at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She is majoring in international politics and minoring in French. She is the advocacy chair of the Georgetown UNICEF Club.

Sarah Roy

Sarah Roy is the inaugural director of the Salem Children’s Alliance for the City of Salem, Massachusetts, where she leads cross-sector initiatives designed to align community resources and support student success from cradle to career. Roy also leads the City of Salem’s partnership with UNICEF USA’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative, a global effort to ensure that local policies, programs, and systems uphold the rights and well-being of every child. With more than two decades of experience in social work and youth advocacy, Roy has devoted her career to breaking cycles of oppression and advancing equitable pathways for marginalized communities.

Elmar Navarrete Salvador

Elmar Navarrete Salvador serves on the National Youth Council at UNICEF USA and studies political science at the University of Southern California. Inspired by UNICEF’s global impact, he strives to empower underrepresented voices and promote youth advocacy. He also serves as a youth advocate with Brady Team Enough, an executive team member for New Voters, and a member of Voters of Tomorrow.

Sarah Sladen

Sarah Sladen is a senior fellow at the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, where she is leading a focus on global youth development in a changing landscape of foreign assistance, funding, and partnerships. Her areas of expertise include positive youth development (PYD), youth engagement and leadership, economic inclusion and mobility, and sports-based youth development (SBYD).