Policy: Telling Your Story

For the month of May, the Hogg Foundation is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month we’ll be highlighting the theme, “More Good Days Together,” with a focus on the diverse experiences that shape mental health journeys and resilience within Texas communities.

When we think about policy change, we often think about experts, statistics, and long hours at the Capitol. But some of the most powerful tools for change aren’t data points, they’re stories. Today’s conversation looks at how lived experience becomes a catalyst for advocacy. We’ll explore how young people, and really anyone, can use their personal story to shape systems, influence policy, and make their communities stronger.

Our guests are Aurora Harris and Kasey Corpus of Young Invincibles Texas Chapter, a national organization that amplifies young voices to influence policy on health, higher education, and economic opportunity. A former Hogg Foundation Peer Policy Fellow grant recipient and participant in the Policy Academy, Young Invincibles helps young people turn experience into impact by finding their voice and learning the power of advocacy.

The Power of Stories

The Young Invincibles Texas Chapter offers young people a variety of ways to become involved in public policy and advocacy work, including the Young Advocates leadership development program, a Youth Advisory Board, and a Student Advisory Council.

“We’re on college campuses a lot, but we’re also in apartment complexes in Houston, at health fairs in East Texas, and we’re trying to meet young people where they are online,” says Aurora Harris, vice president for state strategy and partnerships. “We’re proud of the work we do and the ways we’re trying to meet young people and meet this moment.”

Helping young people connect their own stories and experiences to policy is the organization’s primary focus.

“The first thing we do is help young people understand storytelling and narrative shift and how it acts as the cornerstone of policy advocacy,” says Aurora. “Individual stories are incredibly powerful right now because we’re living in the ‘story’ of a very powerful group of people. And if we want to rewrite that story, we have to start sharing our own stories.”

Stories as Testimony

While sharing personal stories through public testimony can be a vulnerable experience, the Young Invincibles also view it as an opportunity for empowerment.

“Sometimes sharing stories really works and it’s so powerful. But sometimes it’s not met with the reaction an individual wants. So, we try to empower them to understand that even if policy doesn’t change in this moment, it will probably change someone’s mind,” says Kasey Corpus, policy and advocacy manager. “That’s the community building aspect of it – of knowing that when they tell their story, it might not change the legislator or decision maker in front of them, but it will definitely create some ripple effects in the community or with other people that are testifying.”

Through training and mentorship, the Young Invincibles also provides guidance on how individuals can share their story most strategically.

“Being concise and clear about what your message is and how it connects to the topic at hand is important,” says Kasey. “Going into an opportunity, whether it be an interview or a testimony, you need to know what you want to get out of it and what you would like to share as an advocate.”

Sharing stories with peers in their community also plays an important role in encouraging young people to participate in the policy making process, says Aurora.

“Now more than ever, it’s important to start sharing your story with peers,” she says. “It’s really important that we build a bigger ‘We’ in this moment and get as politically engaged as we possibly can.”

Stories as Context

Whether they’re shared with legislators or with peers, personal stories provide context that offers powerful insight into the impact of policy in everyday life. By helping young people connect and communicate the personal impact that policy decisions have made in their own lives, the Young Invincibles are bringing fresh and powerful voices into the legislative arena. 

“The best part of our work is helping young people tell their story and watching them understand the power that they have,” says Aurora.

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