In this episode of Elevating DC Youth, student hosts from the Deanwood Radio Broadcast Youth Journalism Program sit down with Izzy Klein, co-founder of a bipartisan public affairs firm and a nationally recognized expert in government relations and communications.

Izzy breaks down what it really means to be a lobbyist, reframing the role as one of education, translation, and advocacy. He shares how growing up working in his father’s hardware store shaped his people-first approach to leadership, why bipartisan collaboration matters, and how removing jargon and communicating clearly can make complex policy accessible to everyone.

Throughout the conversation, Izzy encourages young people to do their homework, stay curious, build trust, and use their voice responsibly to connect people across differences.