More and more young people are looking to become more involved civically, looking for more control over what their future holds.

“We are the future,” said Lanija Williams, a senior at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School. “Therefore, we should be heard, no matter what.”

Dozens of high schoolers from across the Capital Region are joining forces on a mission to elevate student voices. The group said there are a variety of issues deserving of that voice.

“I think one of the most pressing matters in school is the racism,” said Kylie Slater, a Mohonasen High School senior.

Schoharie High School senior Hailey Funk added, “A lot of students struggle with other students accepting them and having and open mindset.”

“I think it’s really important to focus on mental health in school,” said Lindsay Haverly, a Schoharie High School junior.

Williams said, “With history and English, they should teach us with books that politically help us better understand how our world works.”

Together, they hope to flush out the issues and find solutions via Elevate Student Voices, a program organized by Capital Region BOCES that aims to  brings together students from more than 20 school districts across Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.

“What are things that we can do, what are programs we can start, what would you like us to do, what would you like to see to help you?” Slater said.

Social media is a powerful force older generations lack experience with, but one young person viewed as a double-edge sword.

“It can bring a lot of awareness to certain things, but at the same time, there is a lot of misinformation,” Haverly said. “And people are vulnerable to that.”

The group heard from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado during a youth summit in Schenectady on Wednesday. Delgado also leads the state’s Hate and Bias Prevention Unit and the newly formed Office of Service and Civic Engagement.

“As we try to navigate what I would call very divisive, extreme and often violent times, the skills you are seeking to develop right now, at this point in your life, couldn’t be more important,” he told the students.

This year marks the second youth summit, and organizers are hoping it continues to grow.

“The idea of being part of something where you get to meet people who have different experiences than you do and hear their stories is a great opportunity,” said Eva Jones, an educational consultant.