Happy Thursday, John! As we say goodbye to July, we’re taking this time to honor the dedication, resilience, and community care that make our vision for a brighter future possible.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re proud to celebrate Enage Miami and Loud Light as they each mark ten years of powerful grassroots work in their states—growing from record store meetups and one-person operations into pillars of youth organizing and civic engagement. Their stories remind us that transformative action requires bold thought, time, and deep investment. And they prove to us that it’s absolutely worth it.
We’re also highlighting Dakota’s latest Substack pieces on the importance of year-round collective action, how shifting presidential approval ratings reveal new opportunities to connect with young people across the country, and the necessity for justice to counteract the enduring settler colonialism attitudes in the U.S. Read on for more updates, on-the-ground stories, and ways to stay involved! |
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Ten Years of Engage Miami
Engage Miami was born in July 2015 when a group of millennials kept asking themselves, Why isn’t Miami working for us? What started as weekly Thursday night meetups at a local record store quickly evolved into a powerful grassroots movement rooted in youth, power, and community. From hosting packed candidate forums and staging a giant chalk protest to protect public land to knocking on thousands of doors for the 2015 elections, Engage Miami hit the ground running.Â
A decade later, they’ve registered over 50,000 voters, fought to stop destructive developments, demanded fairer elections, and pushed for budgets that actually serve the people. Since 2020, their Young People’s Priorities platform has brought together thousands to shape a shared vision for local change, equipping communities to advocate for justice-centered policies on housing, climate, and democracy. They’ve stayed true to their mission every step of the way: building long-term power with and for young people in South Florida. The work doesn’t stop at the ballot box. It’s about the power built between elections.Â
Rain or shine, Engage is in it with the Miami community for the long haul. We’re honored to be a part of their story and what’s coming next. Learn more about Engage.
Follow Engage Miami |
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Ten Years of Loud Light
What started as a one-person operation in 2015 has grown into one of Kansas’ most dynamic youth organization forces: Loud Light. Over the past decade, they’ve stayed laser-focused on increasing civic participation, especially among young and marginalized communities, while expanding their advocacy to fight for justice across the board. Today, Loud Light is educating, engaging, and empowering underrepresented Kansans to build grassroots power and shape the future of their state. Whether it’s registering voters, breaking down complex legislation through viral videos, testifying at the Capitol, or training the next generation of leaders, their impact is undeniable. In 2024, they celebrated a major victory when the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that a voter suppression law they challenged is likely unconstitutional—a win years in the making that reaffirms the rights of voters across the state.
As VP Anita Alexander puts it, “The impact we've been able to have blows my mind. I tell people that you always feel like getting involved in politics won't make a difference until you get involved in politics, and then you see how everything you do makes a difference.”Â
This year, they’ve been all-in at the Kansas Statehouse, mobilizing communities and pushing for legislative change. And they’re not slowing down—this summer and fall, they’re activating students through paid fellowships and keeping Kansans informed on their rights, their representatives, and the power of their voice. We’re proud to be partners in this work, and we can’t wait to see how Loud Light continues to grow, organize, and transform Kansas.Â
Read their highlight in The Topeka Capital Journal! Learn more about Loud Light
Follow Loud Light |
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The Ground Game: Insights & Analysis Each month, our Executive Director, Dakota Hall, breaks down the latest developments in policy, activism, and social movements with a series of blog posts offering critical analysis of the issues currently shaping our communities. Check out his pieces from July: |
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In The Bank of Justice Isn’t Bankrupt, Dakota draws on Dr. King’s metaphor of a “check marked insufficient funds” to remind readers that justice is still owed, and that collective action is how we cash that check. He makes the case for long-term strategic thinking, thinking that recognizes elections as checkpoints instead of finish lines and encourages action from the lessons we learn in November. The piece is a call to remember our history, stay rooted in community, and keep organizing toward liberation.
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In Big Beautiful Betrayal, Dakota unpacks the sharp decline in Trump’s support among young voters, driven by unmet economic promises, scandals, and contradictions in foreign policy. He highlights how digital media and influencers have reshaped our political consciousness, empowering young people to demand accountability and reject empty rhetoric. Pushing back against the myth of youth apathy, Dakota makes it clear that young people are actively searching for leaders who listen and align values with action. In this piece, he is calling for our movement to take advantage of these realizations and invest in bold, sustained youth organizing to transform this political awakening into lasting power.Â
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In Off the Reservation, Dakota draws from his Black and Indigenous background and examines the enduring legacy of settler colonialism in the U.S—calling for truth, land return, and genuine power-sharing with Indigenous communities. He challenges symbolic gestures like land acknowledgements, urging material reparations and authentic Indigenous leadership instead. The piece also reckons with complex histories to demand a deeper, more honest path to justice.Â
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Your continued support makes the growth and expansion of our Network possible. We’re deeply grateful to have you with us in the fight to build a more just and vibrant future. Â
Selasi Tagbor Morales Communications Coordinator |
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 Alliance for Youth Action
650 Massachusetts Ave NW
Ste 600
Washington, DC 20001
United States |
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