America's Luminary Pathway: YVote Empowering Students to Resolve Community Concerns Commendably
In the heart of New York City, a unique initiative called YVote is empowering high school students to make a difference in their communities. This program, which has received support from various founding contributors, aims to provide politically interested young minds an opportunity to express their voices and influence change.
The U.S., with its world-leading economy and powerful military presence in 178 countries, has often been at the forefront of global influence. However, recent polls indicate that nearly 8 in 10 Americans believe that the U.S. faces a threat to democracy. Among these concerns are feelings of political alienation, the impact of social media and misinformation, and a perceived lack of immediate impact and engagement.
Young Americans, particularly those aged 18 to 29, often feel disconnected from mainstream political parties. Some perceive Democrats as less inclusive or attentive to their concerns, contributing to political disengagement or shifting support towards alternative candidates like former President Donald Trump[1][4]. Growing up with social media as a primary information source raises worries about media literacy and the ability to navigate misinformation, which complicates making informed voting decisions[2]. Many young people may also feel their participation is futile due to age or perceived lack of influence, which can dampen enthusiasm for political involvement[2].
Programs like YVote provide structured opportunities for youth to overcome these barriers. By encouraging youth engagement through community dialogues and local politics before they reach voting age, offering activities like Youth in Government and Model United Nations to build foundational knowledge of democracy and governance, and strengthening youth voices to influence candidates and policies, YVote aims to increase political efficacy and trust in democratic institutions[3].
One such student, Ono, emphasizes the importance of understanding the extent to which legislation and laws affect people for political activism and getting youth to interact with the political sphere. YVote has received support from various founding contributors, including Andrea Gabor, Ann Weiner, Marilyn Kleinberg Naimak, Andy Snyder, Elizabeth Stein Gray, Jade Nicolette Harriell Arrindell, Stephen Pacheco, Gordon Skinner, Justin Cohen, Melody Benitez, and Michelle Fine[6].
The Democracy Camp within YVote allows students to research and implement solutions to society's issues, with a focus on building civic engagement, increasing media literacy, and strengthening democracy. Chris-Ann Barnett, co-director and facilitator of YVote, encourages young people who don't have a platform like YVote to understand that there are opportunities for civic engagement[5].
While only a small fraction of New York City public high school students are in YVote, many students are involved in political and civic engagement in their own ways. Ono believes that understanding the extent to which legislation and laws affect people is crucial for political activism and getting youth to interact with the political sphere.
In 2021, thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capital to overthrow the results of the 2020 election, an event attributed to propaganda promoted by then-president Donald Trump. This incident underscores the need for programs like YVote that foster early civic responsibility and trust in the political system.
References:
- [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/11/young-voters-are-less-likely-to-support-democrats-than-older-ones-but-are-more-likely-to-support-joe-biden/
- [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/18/us/politics/young-voters-are-disillusioned-with-both-parties.html
- [3] https://www.brookings.edu/research/youth-voice-in-democracy-how-to-engage-and-empower-young-people-to-participate-in-elections-and-democracy/
- [4] https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/08/25/a-closer-look-at-the-2020-youth-vote-and-what-it-means-for-the-future/
- [5] https://www.yvotenyc.org/
- [6] https://www.yvotenyc.org/about/
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- The unique initiative, YVote, seeks to highlight the role of education-and-self-development in politics by providing opportunities for high school students to express their opinions and influence change.
- Amidst concerns about the threat to democracy in the U.S., programs like YVote spotlight the importance of media literacy, civic engagement, and investing in the voices of young people to strengthen democracy.
- YVote's focus on features like the Democracy Camp, which encourages students to research and implement solutions to society's issues, underscores the program's commitment to fostering informed and active citizens in general-news.
- As politically interested young minds navigate their way through the complexities of the current political landscape filled with misinformation, YVote's culture of supportive learning and community dialogue serves to empower them in their pursuit of positive change.
- By creating a platform where youth can engage in political discussions, participation, and civic awareness, programs like YVote contribute to a more informed, and active participant base in politics and news.
