During my time in Turks and Caicos, I had the opportunity to sit with Antwon H.F. Walkin, AIAS, President of the Turks & Caicos Islands Society of Young Leaders (TCISYL). What began as a conversation quickly opened into something much larger. It was clear that this was not simply an organization creating space for young people to participate, but a movement positioning youth as active architects of national progress.

Spending time with young leaders showed me how trust and belonging create the conditions for people to find their voice and grow into who they are becoming. This piece reflects on how leadership takes root when youth are seen, supported, and given space to be heard, and how community, care, and affirmation shape confidence, identity, and the ability to imagine a future with possibility.