An inaugural address sets the tone and the agenda for the coming term by identifying the administration’s aspirations, goals and priorities. More than one-third of the U.S. population is under the age of 25—that represents a powerful range of ideas and perspectives that should not be ignored in Washington, D.C.

The 2013 Children’s/Youth Inaugural Address features the unscripted voices and experiences of children and youth ages 5 to 25 from across the United States. They shared their ideas for what the nation needs in order to get back on track and ensure every kid in the U.S. grows up healthy, safe and ready to succeed.

The video is a project of the Children’s Leadership Council, the nation’s largest coalition of child and youth organizations, and was produced by SparkAction.