Lessons to the #YouthVote from a community and political organizer

1. Power in numbers. People-power is the most important political currency. Regardless of how much money an initiative (or candidate) is funneled — money can’t vote. Movements backed by people carry votes. Never forget this.
2. Use social media and call them out by name (and face). Elected officials thrive on busy constituents forgetting who they are. Think about it — Can you name your mayor? State Rep? State Senator? If you struggled here it's not completely your fault. There’s an array of reasons for this, but most importantly, when we are…

Send this to a friend who doesn’t vote

Think of this as an intervention. Your friend sent you here because they love you. They want the best for you. And unfortunately, what is best for you — and the world — is for you to click this link and register yourself to vote.

Being apolitical is easy — you may avoid the occasional uncomfortable conversation with the new co-worker, a roommate, or sibling. Still, the stakes of not being involved are so much higher. I know this because I use to feel this way. I use not to care —…

Learn more about the Youth Vote here.

Young people are an inexhaustible source of energy and passion for social change. They have the electoral force and enthusiasm to swing any election, but due to logistical and structural barriers, young people face a tougher time turning out the vote. These barriers disproportionately affect youths of color and youths with less education. Which prevents the voices that are most needed in our democratic process from being heard, and deepens the effects of systemic racism. Campaigns must acknowledge their role in creating a culture of youth disenfranchisement by not prioritizing youth organizing into…

Letter from a former Biden Campus Organizer

1. Every campaign must include a campus team, or at minimum, a youth-focused organizer. This sends a clear message to young people that they matter and helps give the unique support and tools that young voters need. What I heard from voters on campus was much different than what I heard from voters in the community. This is also how you can create a strong culture within your volunteer team, and hyper-focused outreach. Say it with me: Outreach tactics that work for the 65-year-old Janice, will not work for the 20-year-old Marcus. …

“Relational Organizing” is just a fancy way of saying organizing your friends, according to Jen O’Malley Dillion, former Campaign Manager to Joe Biden.

How do you organize young people to vote in a must-win, battleground state of Michigan, during a global pandemic, in the most consequential election of our lives? Great question. The answer is what we call relational organizing. From the wise words of Jen O’Malley Dillion, Joe Biden’s Former Campaign Manager, Relational Organizing is just a fancy way of saying “organizing your friends’’. Regardless if you are using the ‘Vote Joe’ app, Snapchat, Facetime, DM, or text to…