For the past 15 years, Children’s Advocacy Day has grown from a small group of committed advocates with a big idea, to a huge group of advocates—and state leaders—with even bigger commitments to Kentucky kids. This week nearly 900 advocates, including more than 200 youth, came to Frankfort to ask their legislators to make kids the commonwealth’s top priority. Some of those advocates made long drives or brought newborn babies or courageously met with their legislator for the first time. To all of those advocates: Please know that our decision-makers were listening to you.

While it can be tough to find things that Kentuckians—both leaders and advocates alike—can agree upon in Frankfort, one theme that kept coming up at Children’s Advocacy Day was the idea of common ground. The nearly 900 adults and youth at the Capitol on Wednesday were united in a vision for a brighter future for Kentucky kids.

Advocates created additional Children’s Advocacy Day buzz on social media. See what advocates and elected officials were saying on Twitter here. For video recaps of the day, you can view Governor Matt Bevin’s video here, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services video here, KET’s coverage here, and the full rally video here. You can also view photos from Children’s Advocacy Day in the slideshow below.

Throughout the day advocates spoke with their leaders about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priorities that would help to create that common ground, common good future for Kentucky kids. Check out the bill tracker to stay up-to-date on Blueprint legislative priorities and other bills that are good for kids.

Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children partners presented a number of awards to advocates and state leaders throughout the day. For a full list of those awardees, along with a list of the state leaders who spoke at the Rally for Kentucky Kids and met with youth, check out the Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol news release. Thank you to all of those decision-makers who participated in Children’s Advocacy Day.

Thank you to the Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol Presenting Sponsor, UnitedHealthcare, and the Kentucky KIDS COUNT sponsors, Passport Health Plan, Kosair Charities®, and Delta Dental of Kentucky. And thank you to Metro United Way for supporting the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children. Your investment in Kentucky kids made this day possible.

And finally, thank you, advocates—especially the many young leaders who are such strong voices for kids across the commonwealth—for your commitment to kids on Children’s Advocacy Day and throughout the legislative session. As 17-year-old Kaleb Syra, the Children’s Advocacy Day opening speaker, said, “Kentucky kids need all of us!”

View more photos from the biggest advocacy event in Frankfort for kids on our Facebook page.