Did you know that young people make up nearly one fifth of the American electorate? That’s about 50 million people. Despite this, only 40% say they feel well-qualified to participate in politics.
YVote is one organization focused on increasing the number of young people who feel confident about engaging with social change. A youth-led organization that has in turn spearheaded a youth-led civic movement, YVote works to empower youth in numerous ways. Around two years ago, the Office of the New York City Public Advocate began to meet with YVote to discuss partnership opportunities. As our partnership with YVote has developed, we hope to amplify their extensive resources for youth.
In April of this year, YVote, along with New Voters, the NYC Youth Agenda, and the NYC Civic Coalition, launched the Youth Civic Hub! The Youth Civic Hub is a digital tool that provides resources to help young people register to vote and become further acquainted with their elected officials and local civic organizations. Through their work on the NYC Power Map, the Hub highlights how to get in contact with your elected officials and where they stand on key issues.
The Hub also aims to make civic engagement less intimidating. As Sonja Aibel,Youth Civic Engagement Lead at the Youth Civic Hub, explains:
It isn’t just about huge national issues—it’s also about small, seemingly-minute local issues. If there aren’t enough trees planted on your block, or there isn't a subway station or grocery store nearby, those are political issues that civic action can help address. By starting small and familiar, political involvement can feel less scary!
Fostering Civic Engagement for All Young People
Beyond the Youth Civic Hub, YVote offers programs such as the Changemakers Institute and Democracy Camp. Both of these initiatives allow high school students to strengthen their civic skills. The Changemakers Institute offers a series of peer-led sessions which explore topics related to voting, advocacy, media literacy, and more. Youth facilitators (aged 16-24) lead the program and create the curriculum.
Democracy Camp is a week-long summer intensive that aims to inspire young people towards a lifetime of civic engagement. Campers analyze the history and current state of democracy, investigate ways they can get involved, and formulate proposals to help tackle the challenges to their communities.
Sonja herself first became involved with YVote through participating in Democracy Camp in 2022. Sonja’s journey with YVote, like many others, has inspired her to help young people harness their power through civic engagement.
Sonja shares, “Through my work in YVote, I hope to make information about elections, politics, and voting accessible to as many teenagers in New York City as possible. I hope, one day, all New York City youth will feel capable of and excited about engaging with civic issues.”
Find more resources on youth advocacy and organizations.
By Summer Intern Education & Opportunity Nicole Klokiw, Community Organizer, Education & Opportunity Lupe Hernandez, Deputy Public Advocate, Education & Opportunity Elizabeth Kennedy
Image1: 2024 NYC Youth Agenda Policy Party where Public Advocate Williams delivered remarks. Courtesy of Katie Bates, YVote’s Interim Executive Director.
Image 2: 2023 Youth Agenda Policy Breakfast, where Council Member Althea Stevens and Public Advocate Williams delivered addresses, and young people proposed policy ideas to improve their communities. Image by Caroll Andrewsk for Office of the NYC Public Advocate.
Image 3: Two Changemakers Institute participants. Courtesy of Katie Bates.
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