“I think that you have to be involved, and with Gen Z, to make a better country, because we've

seen what happened the past four years and how our country has just gone downhill. We need to
make that change and make sure the world is better for us in the future, and then generations
beyond us” - simran

INTRO: Hi! I’m Sophia, I’m Eliana, and I’m Sam.

SOPHIA- Over the past year, ourselves and other members of gen Z stepped into our roles as the
next generation of change-makers. In recent times, we have witnessed horrific injustices in our
communities and government, many of which will affect our futures.

ELIANA- The impact of these events has inspired our generation to become more involved in
political advocacy and social justice efforts. Because of this, we have been motivated to use our
voices to contribute to reform.

SAM- We have begun to take action in the form of creating and joining social activism groups,
writing letters and phone banking for political candidates, and sharing information on social
media platforms. After noticing this change, we wanted to know more and to discover the
reasons behind this increase in youth advocacy.

BODY (INTERVIEW BASED)

SOPHIA- In order to hear about first-hand experiences from young changemakers, we sat down
to talk with some of our peers. From student activists to members of advocacy organizations,
these inspiring individuals taught us about the power of youth voices. We also had the privilege
of getting perspectives from adults that help oversee youth advocacy and encourage young
people to engage in political and social-justice efforts.

ELIANA- First, we talked about the reasons behind the rise in youth involvement in
advocacy and why this participation is important. We found that as the youngest
generation, we have a lot of power and responsibility.

MARY- We are the people that are going to inherit this planet, and the state that we inherited and
we want it to be pretty good. It's never too young to become politically active and aware. And
there's Many things wrong with our society that I feel like older generations don't specifically
understand or aren't willing to really understand it.

SAM - Mary Oliver is a sophomore at Montgomery Blair High School, and has
campaigned for Joe Biden, as well as Representative Julie Oliver from Texas.

NORAH- So on a very interpersonal level, my friends and I have really grown in the political
sphere in the past year or so. And that kind of hitting High School mark is when you kind of start
to hear the horrors of the world if you haven't already experienced them through your social
economic situation, or your racial identity. (8:02)

SOPHIA- Norah Lesperance is a sophomore at Albert Einstein High School and an active
member of her school’s changemaking organization, climate change group, and
gay-straight alliance program.

SIMRAN- So if the youth aren't involved, like our elected officials, both locally and nationally,
are never going to hear what we have to say. So we have to get involved in issues that are
important to us, like gun reform and climate change, otherwise, they're not going to pay attention
to us. (8:45)

ELIANA- Simran Thakkar is a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, and this past
election, she was a fellow with the One Michigan campaign as well as an intern for Jon
Ossoff during the Georgia runoffs.

(FILL IN)

SAM - We also discussed Gen Z’s unique approach to advocacy and what makes us
especially fit for the task of creating change.

SOFIA- Um, well, I think the most impactful way that Gen Z specifically has changed. Politics is
we've changed political organizing. And I think that, like, even the most progressive policies that
we've kind of, like, rallied behind, like, as a generation, I think like something that's like a
generational value is like gun control and climate activism.

SOPHIA- Sofia Roehrig is a junior at Montgomery Blair High School. She has worked
with Congressman Jamie Raskin through his Democracy Summer Program, and
campaigned for candidates in state races.

CULVER- ...too often issues that involve students are dominated by adults. (0:56-1:01)
But one thing that they can do at any age, is to help influence the conversation. And I think that's
one thing for law students to remember is that, you know, regardless of, you know, their, their,
their age, or where they're located, they can always speak up and help influence how the
conversation unfolds, and they can insert things that are being ignored. (1:44-2:06)

ELIANA- In addition to speaking with student activists, we also spoke with Rahman
Culver, the diversity and inclusion instructional coordinator at Montgomery Blair High
School.

(FILL IN)
SAM- Next, we discussed with interviewees the ways in which youth are most effective in
creating change through advocacy.

DANA- It's civic duty, it's not always going to be fun. But there's ways to make it fun. I think
finding somebody that really represents you that really cares about you. Finding a great group of
people that you love to work with. Civic Engagement is a several step process. But I think it
starts with educating students on I think the world and their place in it.

ELIANA- Dana Graham is a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, and has run
mayoral campaigns as well as phone banked for numerous candidates on local, state and
national levels.

SIMRAN-So find a candidate that you're passionate about, and start volunteer, volunteering with
them, make some calls, texts, bank, do some live drops, drop some information at people's doors,
that's what's going to impact you and your family and your community the most.

NORAH-Talking with people is really the way you get stuff done, especially when you're
younger. And then as you get older, you can go work on public policy, work on people's
campaigns, go into politics yourself, if that's your thing. (5:25-5:55)

(FILL IN)

SOPHIA- Finally, we asked about the ways in which education can be reformed to promote
youth advocacy and open up opportunities for all young people.

ILANA- All the classes should be comparing that you know, having current events assignment,
talking about, the current events are going on in the world and connecting everything, because
every single thing that you do, whether I'm driving down the street, whether I'm buying a soda at
the store, it all plays back into politics. And as the new generation grows, people need to be able
to see that easier, by which I think would be so much easier if our education system was just
connecting everything. (13:07 - 13:37)

ELIANA- Ilana Levine is a sophomore at Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland.

She is a young activist and the president of her school’s change organization, which gives
her tons of experience and knowledge.

CULVER- So can students and administrators and teachers and educators more broadly be even
more deliberate about infusing in some of these advocacy opportunities into that service line
framework? Absolutely. (12:08-12:23)

And additionally, I'd say it's also important because the earlier that students get involved in these
structures, the earlier that they understand how local politics operate, how certain positions,
engage in the process, the earlier that they get involved, there's going to be more understanding
on how to influence that process. (4:36-4:59).

NORAH- The way that those classes are taught are not necessarily preparing students to be
members of our political environment. Like as a student who's taking AP Gov right now, there's
a lot of history like it's basically another history class, what we're learning. And I still don't know
how to register to vote. I don't know anything about my local. Well, I do know, because I
researched it myself. But if you just take that course, you wouldn't get anything about your local
political environment, how to be involved at a national level, can you become a politician? like
none of that is involved in the course. And I wish it was. (1:40-2:28)

CONCLUSION

SAM - Advocacy has served as an outlet for teens to speak about their beliefs and create change
during the most isolating time of our lives.

SOPHIA- It has provided us with a way to channel our frustration into a positive effort and act
on issues we are passionate about. It is crucial that all teens have access to opportunities in
activism.

ELIANA- Our education system must provide an environment for students to learn about the
current political and social atmosphere, and encourage them to get involved.

DANA- Like, eventually, you're not going to be 15 or 16. And in school forever, eventually it's
going to be your world and why would you not? You want to prepare yourself for it. You Want, I
personally want to create the most beautiful, vibrant, eco world that I can before I step into it for
myself for my friends, for future generations, I think, um, like young people have young people
are Dreamers. And I think that's a really beautiful thing because they haven't, whether it's naivety
or just plain wanting to make a change, I think young people have a perspective and ideals that
nobody else can. And they, it's important that they have a voice at the table. (9:50)