ND4Y Mural in Oakland, CA: Our Time is Now!

Nia West-Bey, our Executive Director, is calling on nonprofits across the country to authentically engage youth in leadership and civic participation — not just during election seasons, but year-round. Her powerful new op-ed [[link removed]], published in Ms. Magazine, highlights the importance of making meaningful, lasting investments in youth leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Youth leadership is driving social change: Young people are at the forefront of movements for racial justice, mental health, climate action, and economic equality. They are shaping the future in profound ways, and it’s our shared responsibility to support them. As Nia highlights, voter registration among young people (ages 18–29) has increased by 73.4 percent, with young women reaching 83.7 percent, and young women of color showing the most significant growth.

Civic engagement beyond elections is necessary: While voting is crucial, youth engagement must go beyond the ballot box. Young people are fighting for systemic changes in their communities every day, demanding ongoing involvement in decision-making and policy shaping, and “when we develop our strategy centering on the experiences of young people, we get better outcomes for everyone.”

Nonprofits have a responsibility: It’s important for organizations to go beyond token gestures and truly invest in youth voices. It’s time to equip young leaders with the platforms and resources they need to drive meaningful change. “We need to be incredibly thoughtful about when to step up and when to step back and recognize that it’s okay (and maybe even beneficial) if young people don’t do something exactly the way that we would,” Nia explains.

Young people are playing a crucial role in determining election outcomes: Youth’s growing engagement — driven by issues that directly impact their lives and futures — shows that they are not just voters but also change-makers. They are actively shaping the political landscape and holding elected officials accountable, and we believe that young people will be key to the outcome of the 2024 election and our shared future.

This is an urgent call for nonprofit organizations and community leaders to take action. Nonprofits must harness this momentum by authentically supporting youth voices and leadership year-round, beyond the election cycle.

Read the full op-ed HERE [[link removed]] How You Can Support:

Share the op-ed with your networks — on social media, newsletters, or email lists.

Join the conversation by connecting with us and sharing how your organization is authentically uplifting youth voices.

Forward this email and help inspire more nonprofits and institutions to take meaningful action.

At the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy [[link removed]], we’re working to build a world where young people feel cared for, listened to, and valued, not only for their votes but for their ability to contribute meaningfully to shaping our future. Together, we can stand in solidarity with young people as they lead with their passion, insight, and vision.

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