At this critical time when the nation’s youth are becoming more politically engaged and vocal, American Youth Policy Forum’s board of directors has reached a strategic agreement to merge its resources into the Children’s Defense Fund to consolidate efforts to amplify young voices. Both national non-profits agree they can better leverage their impact by joining together to benefit the nation’s young people. CDF celebrates AYPF’s 30-year history of successfully educating, informing, and engaging thousands of policymakers at the national, state, and local levels to help them implement more equitable youth-centered policies. AYPF programs fit neatly into CDF, known for its policy advocacy, youth organizing, and leadership development, and its CDF Freedom Schools program, a literacy and leadership development program that reaches more than 16,000 Scholars nationwide.