Future Voters of America seeks to improve the lives of youth around the city, by listening closely to the concerns of kids and teenagers and empowering them to take up their own fight. I go to their weekly meetings and find their work and perspective truly unique. Their annual youth congress, which will be held this year on April 24th, brings hundreds of high school students together to discuss and pass resolutions on issues critical to their lives, through four sub-committees on school issues, environmental issues, teen issues and youth in politics. Each sub-committee comes up with two resolutions.
At the end of each congress, students defend their resolutions and get to vote on two final resolutions chosen from the eight presented. Future Voters then works to advance the resolutions with members of the U.S. Congress; they're currently working on lowering the voting age in municipal elections to 16 - a resolution voted on in a past congress- and are organizing a series of campaigns to do so. Their method is impressive, because it shows a true dedication to the desires of youth and students. Rather than work for the things that the adults who facililiate the nonprofit feel are important, the focus is on what kids are really asking for. The FVA annual congress is a cornerstone of democracy and youth empowerment.
This week, I attended their forum on environmental issues, meant to prepare congress leaders for this year. My dad Kenny Bruno, of Corporate Ethics International, sat on the panel. “I’m impressed by the engagement of the students from Future Voters that I met today," he said. We spent an hour and a half discussing environmental issues and how schools and student life can be part of the solution. There were about 20 kids there from as many as 10 high schools. Some of the students were appropriately skeptical of claims by companies that they have “turned green.” Another point of high interest was green jobs. The students were intrigued by the possibility of powering schools with solar panels or other renewable energy sources. Eventually, the environmental committee of Future Voters will choose two of these topics and craft two resolutions. I’m very curious to see what they choose to focus on.”
The congress is being held on April 24, and all high school students are welcome; contact FVA for details on location and timing. It is a full-day event, and qualifies as a legal school trip day. Community service hours are given for all students who attend. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard through a student-led, democratic process.
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