Ready to engage? Here’s how to get your civics on

By Claire Chu

Newsroom by the Bay Now team leader

DANVILLE, California — Young people are growing up and growing loud: The Nov. 3 election saw Gen Z posting the highest youth voter turnout in American electoral history. Much of that happened through initiatives such as Poll Hero (see “Making Voting Safe Again, page X”) that launched a new wave of civic engagement. 

Still eager for your chance to make change? Here are a few ways you can get involved: 

1. Advocate for a lower voting age: Vote 16 USA is a national campaign supporting efforts to lower the voting age to 16 years of age in local races and push for young voices at the national level. With teens facing peer pressure, bullying in schools, gun violence, climate change and more, it’s important to give them a voice in policy-making decisions.

Do now: Become a supporter for a lower voting age by signing up for Vote 16 USA’s newsletter. You can also take action by donating (via Generation Citizen, write “Vote16USA” in the notes) to equip youth with civic opportunities, finding a campaign near your hometown, or launching a movement in your community.

2. Create a healthier planet: Organized by teens, the Sunrise Movement aims to stop climate change, stand up for the wellbeing of all people and educate youth across America about the climate crisis. Sunrise has sponsored President-elect Joe Biden’s climate mandate; Sunrise organizer and Michigan high school senior Naina Agrawal-Hardin is on the board of K12 Climate Action, a new initiative aimed at expanding climate education in schools.

Do now: Sign Sunrise’s petition calling for a new presidential cabinet without corporate lobbyists or ties to fossil fuels. The Sunrise School offers online training sessions and resources to become a leader in its movement.

3. Support civic education: A national cross-partisan project, CivXNow focuses on improving civic instruction in academic institutions throughout the United States. Unfortunately, not all states require civic education, so CivXNow is working to fuel knowledge, skills and behaviors in youth to raise active and informed participants of democracy.
Do now: Sign up for CivXNow’s newsletter to receive monthly updates and learn how you can support the next generation’s civics smarts. Help develop curricula by donating to iCivics, the organization that oversees CivXNow.