Saturday, Nov 24, 2012 03:00 PM EST
In order to sustain the momentum of Obama's
re-election, we need to keep young Americans civically engaged
By Monika Johnson,
Next New Deal
(Credit: AP)
Young voters surprised pundits and Republicans again this year as we
turned out in record numbers to vote, joining key constituencies
including African Americans, Hispanics, and women to reelect President
Obama. Composing 19 percent of the electorate, up from 18 percent in
2008 and 12 percent in 2004, young Americans demonstrated their
importance to a growing progressive coalition.
Many question,
however, whether our diverse and unprecedented coalition will be able to
build on this foundation and sustain the power of our ideas and values
throughout our lifetimes. Or, like the Reagan coalition after 1990, are
we fated to fracture as a political force by 2016? Some suggest that the
strong generational power of today’s 18-30-year-olds will become
inconsequential as the hype dies down and we grow up. Our next steps are
critical.
Young progressives are a distinct and large population
that favors pragmatic problem-solving, opportunity for all, justice and
equality, and government’s promotion of such ideals. Identifying more
strongly with values than with a political party, we are a significant
portion of President Obama’s alliance. Yet given the diversity of the
Obama coalition, someone must lead productive grassroots dialogue,
finding a broader progressive voice. As members of the largest and most
diverse generation in American history, young progressives are the best
candidates for the job.
Rather than waiting 30 or 40 years to see
how this pans out, let’s write the story ourselves today. Young people
are powerful influencers of elections, and we’ve built a strong
foundation on which to stand. But it’s up to us to define citizenship
for our generation and maintain a unified commitment to progressive
values to solidify the political shift.
One lacking aspect of
Reagan’s group of committed, conservative supporters was a shared vision
of active citizenship and a space within which to exercise it. When the
candidate went away, they left. With our core values gaining increased
momentum, civic engagement is more important today than ever.
The
renaissance of bold millennial progressivism will not be realized in
the federal offices of Washington, but on America’s sidewalks and street
corners. Generations before us used Kiwanis and Rotary clubs,
consciousness raising groups, and bowling leagues to facilitate civic
infrastructure; today, we must take a critical look at how we support
people and ideas to build a better America for all. Our model is still
being formed, but we need to build an infrastructure that will make the
progressive coalition last beyond the campaign cycle.
With this in
mind, Roosevelt Institute | Pipeline is capitalizing on a unique moment
in history to engage young people in activating progressive ideas
across the nation. Obama for America led a national dialogue throughout
the election on what values shape our nation, but constructive
exchangement must continue in the context of community action. In order
to do this, we need to create spaces to facilitate the exchange of ideas
on the local level, engaging all demographics of the progressive
coalition. By leading conversations on local issues in 15 cities, we are
supporting and empowering individuals to be active citizens and
translate the national dialogue to the community level.
The
Pipeline chapter in New Orleans, LA is holding discussions among young
progressives about public policy issues in its city. The members pick a
new topic every few weeks, build a diverse group of people working in
different fields, and engage in dialogue about potential solutions for
problems facing their neighborhoods. The result is better informed, more
engaged people, a community of progressives, and a platform for
influence.
In San Francisco, CA, the Pipeline chapter convened
tech start-up leaders to create a space to refine ideas for social
entrepreneurship. By creating a local space to support young people
enacting innovative ideas, members are building an infrastructure for
progressives outside of politics. Moreover, they are engaging
individuals from both the public and private sectors.
Creating
progressive infrastructure will ultimately yield decisions that change
our economy and society. For example, I was struck recently when a
relative turned down a lucrative deal because the organization was
enacting anti-gay policies in conducting business. In making this
decision, he took a stand for what he believed in and created a ripple
effect that will influence that business’s chances of success.
Hands-on
opportunities to connect constituencies and build a progressive
community are also sprouting up across the nation. Organizations such as
the Future Project are creating innovative ways to connect young people
with students and inspire brighter futures. At Groundswell, organizers
are helping community members leverage their collective buying power to
bolster the local clean energy sector. Like Pipeline, both of these
organizations are leveraging the power of the diverse progressive
coalition.
To borrow from Roosevelt Institute President Felicia
Wong, who spoke to a group of us young progressives last weekend in Hyde
Park, NY, “Great ideas and great people rise up together.” Before we
begin the next campaign cycle, let’s think critically about how civic
engagement translates progressive values into change. When dozens,
hundreds, thousands of local actions take place and we create a shared
space to support them, we catalyze progress. If the conversation on what
ideas and values shape our nation stagnates, we risk losing the
foundation progressives have built over the last five years.
