Vallejo students take civic leadership to the national stage in Washington, D.C.

VALLEJO, Calif. — Six Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) students got a firsthand look at American democracy in action last month, traveling to Washington, D.C., for a national leadership conference and left with renewed purpose.

The students, part of the Vallejo Youth Delegation, attended the National League of Cities conference March 13–17, participating in workshops on leadership, budgeting, and housing. Now in its seventh year, the program has taken 50 students through civic leadership experiences outside the classroom through a partnership between VCUSD and the City of Vallejo.

This year's delegation included Beroj Arbab and Tatara Arbab of Jesse Bethel High School; Zirva Irshad and Verania Cornejo Perez of Vallejo High School; and Jozhius Susbilla and Le'Niyah Dunn of John Finney High School.

“Getting to represent Vallejo and share our community with youth and leaders from across the country was an incredible experience,” Arbab said. “I have a lot of pride in our city, and I want people to see how great our community and the people here truly are.”

The students met with U.S. Rep. John Garamendi at the U.S. Capitol, toured the House Chambers, and observed a congressional subcommittee hearing on the Coast Guard — one that even touched on Mare Island's role in the nation's maritime industrial base.

Tartara Arbab said one lesson that stayed with her came from a conversation with Congressman Garamendi about the importance of education and civic awareness.

“He emphasized that if young people want their voices to be heard, we need a strong foundation in education and knowledge,” Arbab said. “That message really reinforced the importance of staying curious, informed, and open-minded.”

For Zirva Irshad, meeting Garamendi also made an impression.

"Experiencing what a real hearing looks like felt like a wake-up call and made everything feel real," Irshad said. "Politics is something I have been passionate about since I was a kid, so meeting someone who studied at UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School really inspired me."

Irshad felt the entire visit was transformative.

"Before attending this conference, I honestly felt like the world was losing hope when it came to solving issues like homelessness and lack of affordable housing," Irshad said. "Hearing different perspectives shifted my mindset from fixed to growth, and it gave me back the hope I thought I had lost."

Le'Niyah Dunn said the conference helped her find her voice among peers from across the country.

"As someone who isn't always used to speaking up, I felt comfortable talking with others and sharing my thoughts without feeling like I didn't belong," Dunn said. "It meant a lot to connect with other youth and hear about the challenges in their communities, many of which are similar to what we see in Vallejo."

Tatara Arbab said meeting youth leaders from across the country helped strengthen her sense of purpose and community leadership.

“The most memorable part of the experience was realizing there are young people from different communities who all share the same passion for creating change,” Arbab said. “It reminded me that leadership starts within our own communities and that youth voices truly matter.”

Beyond the sessions, students visited the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the national museums. They also toured Howard University, one of the leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), where they connected with VCUSD alumni Jade Bass, Marquis McCleod, and Nia Flood at a student panel.

Irshad said the week sharpened her focus on public service.

"Everything I work toward comes back to serving and giving back to my community," she said. "Youth leadership experiences like this help build confidence, perspective, and a stronger connection to community impact."

Beroj Arbab said the trip also strengthened his commitment to public service and community leadership.

“The opportunity to visit our nation’s capital motivated me to continue finding ways to help people and serve my community,” he said. “It reminded me that even as a youth leader, I can start making a difference today.”