The Need For Civic Engagement

We've all heard the typical statements that young people are lazy, apathetic, and don't vote. To an extent, it's true: Since 1972, the year 18 year olds were given the right to vote, young voter turnout at the polls has steadily decreased.

...And then 2004, 2006, and 2008 happened. These elections showed that when young voters are actively courted and encouraged to vote, they will. Among voters under age 25, turnout jumped 11 points, from 36 to 47 percent, from 2000 to 2004. Again in 2006 young voters turned out to the polls at record numbers--a whopping increase of 26% compared to 2002.

And we all know what happened in 2008. We think the 2008 Elections were like a gateway drug. A lot of people tried it for the first time. Now we gotta get them hooked.

The Need for A Volunteer-Driven Movement

According to the recent CIRCLE studies, 40% of people between the age of 15-25 volunteer for something over the course of a year. But only about 3% will volunteer for a political candidate or a political cause. We need to stop treating politics like a taboo subject. It's not sex (although the two often go together it seems), so talk about it at the dinner table damnit!

The Dawn of the Millennials

Born between 1978 and 1996, we are the babies of the baby boomer generation. We are not only the most diverse generation in American history (40% of us are minorities), but we are considered one of the most progressive as well. The Millennial Generation is often considered to be "re-engaged" after the relative political detachment of the previous generation, Generation X. We follow the news, we talk about politics, and we volunteer in our communities at high levels.

Chart Source: Mother Jones Magazine