Young Voters Deliver Message to Washington: We Want Action

March 4, 2010 - PRLog -- (Washington D.C.) Today the Generational Alliance, a collaboration of leading youth groups working to improve the lives and future of young people in underrepresented communities, is releasing their 2010 policy priorities. The Alliance believes that action on these policies is critical to reinvolving their communities—youth of color, low-income youth and LGBTQ youth—in civic engagement. The priorities were delivered in meetings with Congressional leaders and the White House earlier this year. The partner groups gathered this week for a training with organizers from 13 states to kick-off their 2010 organizing efforts.  

“2010 is a critical year for the Generational Alliance’s communities. We face daunting challenges, but together, as the ascendant political force of the 21st Century we have the power to change,” said Oliva Lopez, Director of Leadership Development at Democracia U.S.A.    

Young “surge” voters were a huge factor in both 2006 and 2008. Since 2008, those voters have largely stayed home. In the recent Massachusetts special election, just 15% of young voters went to the polls.  Research shows that first time voters’ next election determines lifetime engagement: Vote in consecutive elections, and that voter becomes a lifetime voter. With millions of “surge” voters, 2010 will determine the health of our democracy for a generation.

“We understand that standard beltway thinking is to not tackle “real issues” during an election year. But the Surge voter is different. Youth voters need to be inspired and motivated by real action on our issues—policy victories that demonstrate the impact of voting,” said Gregory Cendana, President of the United States Student Association Foundation.

The Generational Alliance policy priorities are in four key areas:

•   Education: The Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) will strengthen community colleges and training programs while reducing the deficit. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) would make college accessible and affordable for undocumented students who were raised in and graduated from U.S high schools.
•   Jobs: The American Clean Energy and Security Act will create millions of green jobs while reducing dangerous climate emissions. The Employee Free Choice Act would give workers a fair path to form unions.  
•   Health Care: Youth are our country’s most uninsured and economically vulnerable population.  In the current Health Care reform bills, the Generational Alliance is fighting to increase coverage and affordability to millions of young people. The Responsible Education about Life Act would provide $50 million in grants for states to provide comprehensive sex education that would empower youth with information about healthy relationships and responsible decision making.
•   Safe Communities: The Youth PROMISE Act (Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support and Education) will reduce crime and gang violence by addressing the root sources of those issues and shift the focus from criminalizing young people to engaging youth directly in their communities.

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The Generational Alliance is a collaboration of leading youth groups working to improve the lives and future of young people in underrepresented communities: youth of color, low-income youth and LGBTQ youth. Together we are the ascendant electoral force of the 21st Century political landscape. We’re using that strength to take on the daunting challenges that face our communities by building the long-term collaboration and power necessary to winning policy and civic-engagement victories.