From Washington to Florida: Youth Action Fuels Lasting Civic Engagement

Expanding Civic Engagement Through Youth-Led Initiatives

The Alliance for Youth Action is a national network of state-based youth organizations that aims to increase civic engagement among young people. By focusing on local and state-level efforts, the alliance works to empower young residents and encourage their participation in the political process.

Founded in the early 2010s by state-based organizations such as New Era Colorado, Forward Montana, the Washington Bus, and Next Up Action Fund (formerly The Bus Project), the Alliance for Youth Action was created with a shared vision: to "reinvent" politics for young people and break down barriers that prevent them from accessing political power. According to Nicole Hensel, the Chief of Staff at the Alliance, these founding groups were united by a desire to get more young people involved in the democratic process.

Over time, the alliance has grown to include 13 additional state organizations. While each organization continues to operate at the state level, they collaborate on national initiatives. Hensel explained that this collective effort strengthens their impact. "They decided the more together, the better," she said.

Hensel emphasized that local power is built through state-based organizations and that these groups are essential in leading society out of its current challenges. She believes they can help rebuild faith in democracy by making it more accessible and relevant to younger generations.

Understanding Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is defined broadly by the Alliance for Youth Action as any action that allows individuals to make their voices heard in the democratic process. While voting is a key component, Hensel noted that civic engagement also includes connecting with others in the community and taking action on issues that matter locally.

To support this, the Alliance for Youth Action launched the #VoteReady initiative on its national website. This platform helps users check their voter registration status, request absentee or mail-in ballots, and find polling locations. However, Hensel stressed that the alliance's main focus is ensuring that the needs of its state organizations are met.

Each state affiliate has an executive director who plays a role in the governance of the Alliance for Youth Action. Hensel explained that the national staff is ultimately accountable to these state affiliates. Additionally, the national team strives to be present in the states as much as possible to understand the work being done on the ground.

State Affiliates Making an Impact

One of the founding members of the Alliance for Youth Action is New Era Colorado, led by Executive Director Christina Soliz. Over the past 19 years, the organization realized that simply registering voters was not enough. They began advocating for increased access to the ballot box, working in coalition to pass policies such as mail-in voting, same-day voter registration, online and pre-registration, and expanded access to polling centers on college campuses.

In 2024, New Era Colorado reached over 1 million young voters through various outreach methods, including calling, texting, and door-to-door canvassing. The organization also offers a pre-registration program for high school students through its Colorado Democracy Challenge. In addition, New Era Colorado uses its action fund to advocate for its youth agenda, which includes climate justice, democracy reform, and making post-secondary education more affordable.

"We talk to our community about the issues that are most important to them and how they can advocate for those issues alongside us," Soliz said.

Another state affiliate is MOVE Texas, founded in 2013 by University of Texas at San Antonio students. Initially focused on electing a city council member aligned with student values, the organization has since expanded to cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston. MOVE Texas Communications Manager Tori Falcon described their mission as primarily registering young voters, but they also focus on leadership development for youth.

Like New Era Colorado, MOVE Texas has a youth agenda that aligns with progressive policies such as democracy reform and climate justice. Falcon noted that while the organization is nonpartisan, their work often supports these policies.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, Hensel expressed the Alliance for Youth Action’s goal to expand to more states and ensure every state has a strong engagement infrastructure for its young people. The alliance aims to fund the "biggest and best" youth work across the country, with a focus on creating impactful programs that lead to tangible results in elections, state legislatures, and city councils.

"When young people see progress on the issues that matter to them, that then reignites their faith in democracy as a system that can work for them," Hensel said.

About the Author

Maggie Rhoads is a student journalist attending George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. At The Fulcrum, she covers how legislation and policy affect communities. Maggie was a cohort member in Common Ground USA's Journalism program, where Hugo Balta served as an instructor. Balta is the executive editor of The Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network.

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