Young People to the Front

Redefining Youth Homelessness: Iziaih on Building Systems That Actually Work

Episode Notes

Iziaih Choquette
On Youth Power, Systems Change, and Building a Future Beyond Survival
In this energizing conversation, host Tonny St. James is joined by advocate, consultant, and community leader Iziaih Choquette (they/them) to kick off Season 3 of Young People at the Front (YP2F).

Iziaih shares their journey from navigating youth homelessness in the Midwest to becoming a statewide and national voice for systemic change. With humor, candor, and unapologetic fire, they reflect on what it means to be “booked and blessed,” the struggles of tokenization, and how young people are reshaping advocacy from boardrooms to the White House.

From astrology to activism, this episode highlights Isaiah’s multi-hyphenate path: consultant, organizer, researcher, and relentless truth-teller. Together, Tonny and Iziaih unpack adultism, radical imagination, and the ongoing fight to create systems rooted not in crisis response but in dignity, equity, and care.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Growing up in Nebraska and finding voice through advocacy
Why many young people never envision life past 21—and why that matters
Entering advocacy through housing instability and systemic barriers
Adultism, tokenization, and how young people are leading real change
The importance of redefining youth homelessness and prevention systems
Lessons from Vienna’s social housing model and international approaches
Balancing purpose, mental health, and community in advocacy work
Radical good vs. radical hate: imagining new futures

Connect with Iziaih Choquette: