Happy Tuesday, John!

This month, we’re celebrating the power of young people who are reshaping democracy, community by community—from on-the-ground voter registration to building long-term organizing strategies. In the face of rising threats of violence, we’re reminded why safety matters: every young person deserves to organize, speak out, and connect with others without fear. When they do, they make our communities safer, our movements stronger, and our democracy more vibrant.

That’s why the Alliance exists: to ensure youth-led organizations have the resources, strategies, and support they need to keep leading powerfully in this moment. Earlier this month, we convened our Affiliates in Atlanta for three days of strategy and planning ahead of 2026. Together, we set priorities and shaped campus and field organizing tactics, mapped digital outreach and narrative strategies, and built connections across the youth-organizing ecosystem to strengthen coordination and collective impact.

From these convenings to action in the field, the Alliance is driving impact across the Network. To further meet the moment, the Alliance for Youth Organizing launched the Generation Hope Project, a $1.5 million initiative to resource youth-led organizing that defends democracy and equips young leaders to shape the narratives and strategies that will define our collective future.

Read on to see this work in action.

National Voter Registration Day

This National Voter Registration Day, Alliance Network organizations celebrated by mobilizing young people to register, check their voter status, and spread the word about the importance of being vote-ready.

Across the country, Network partners dedicated the week to hosting lively events and tabling on college campuses. MOVE Texas, Loud Light, and Mississippi Votes took voter registration directly into high schools and colleges in their communities. In Nevada, One APIA Nevada and the Asian Community Development Council teamed up with Pawsitive Difference Las Vegas, the Clark County Commissioner, and other local partners to host a community event that combined voter registration with puppy adoptions and boba tea.

In Montana, Forward Montana organized ten events across four cities, making sure no one was left out of the NVRD celebrations. Alongside updating their refreshed or new registration, attendees left with bagels, gift cards, and even tiny succulents to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, North Carolina Asian Americans Together hosted 16 events across the Triangle, guiding participants step by step through the voting process, providing candidate education, and sharing key election dates. Abi Ranganathan, NCAAT’s Voter Engagement Director, emphasized the importance of accessibility, saying: "We want to make sure our voices are heard and we're building power as well. A lot of our issues stem from in-language access and kind of not having that cultural background of registering to vote or going out to vote.”

The dedication of these organizations is a powerful reminder that there are no off years in a democracy. While federal elections dominate the headlines, state and local races (where decisions most directly impact daily life) often suffer from low turnout. In 2025 alone, more than 100,000 state, local, and special elections will take place across the country. The Alliance Network is working to ensure that no eligible voter misses the chance to make their voice heard.

Learn more about the Alliance Network.

Youth Power in Georgia

The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition (GYJC) is a “powerhouse for historic change,” as highlighted in a new story by Lindsey Shelton for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Born out of the national uprisings and pivotal elections of 2020, GYJC has grown into a statewide force in just five years. Today, the coalition has more than 10,000 members across 123 of Georgia’s 159 counties, a youth-driven policy platform, strategic partnerships with organizations like SPLC, and a track record of real wins—from restoring school funding to mobilizing record-breaking numbers of young voters.

Yana Batra, who joined GYJC at 16 and now serves as Chief of Staff while finishing her senior year at Georgia Tech, reflected on why their work matters: “We knew that young people’s voices, especially young people of color, are often silenced during the redistricting process. Our voice and our vote are not valued by the people in power much of the time.” But she also emphasized how their work has uplifted the power of youth leadership: “It was a moment of realizing how, in some ways, easy it is to shake things up when you’re a young person. Just your presence is impactful and powerful.”

Their story is a powerful, but common tale: when young people are trusted to lead, they transform the world for all of us.

👉 Read more about GYJC’s journey, victories, and vision in this powerful piece from the Southern Poverty Law Center: Full Story Here

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 September:

In The Illusion of Progress, Dakota seeks to examine the current paradox plaguing the progressive movement, where “authoritarian regimes, personalities, and movements have not only arisen but gained momentum in the very era when progressive nonprofits have been more abundantly resourced than ever before”. His piece presents questions that every progressive nonprofit must answer, and concludes that fundamental change in the search for power is the only answer left.
In Generation Hope, Dakota announces the Alliance for Youth Organizing’s Generation Hope Project, a bold new effort to resource youth organizing that defends democracy against authoritarian threats while building a future rooted in justice, care, and shared power. Through two flagship funds—the Organizing Futures Fund and the Campus Futures Fund—we’re investing $1.5 million in organizations to build durable organizing structures, expand leadership pipelines, and shape narratives that broaden what’s possible for the future. To apply for funding, please visit www.allianceforyouthorganizing.org/generation-hope-project.