Increased youth civic engagement improves academic performance and social-emotional well-being. Young people can also build skills and networks through it.
FREMONT, CA: The more people get involved and take action, the more just and equitable our communities and our democracy become. Youth civic engagement should be emphasized because it is a habit like any other: early starting can form a lifetime habit of civic engagement. Our democracy will flourish when young people develop healthy civic habits, skills, and commitment. As more and more diverse young people gain skills and knowledge and become empowered to effect change, decision-making becomes more representative, and communities benefit.
Youth civic engagement is crucial for a variety of reasons. While young people are not monolithic group, certain characteristics make them powerful civic actors, and their participation carries benefits. Their perspectives on local issues are unique, they often bring new ideas, and they can be inexhaustible sources of energy and passion for social change.
Here are some reasons why youth civic engagement is important:
Democracies: There is a massive stake in the decisions that shape the country for young people. The issues that affect youth include education, healthcare, the environment, immigration, housing, gun violence, and foreign policy that may send them or their peers to war. By voting and participating in civic life, young people can bring valuable perspectives to these issues and contribute to shaping their future. By excluding or not involving youth, we are not truly representing all people, and we are not reaching our full potential as a democracy.
Designed for youth: Participating in communities and being part of groups that work together on a cause has numerous benefits for young people. Youth engagement can improve academic performance and social-emotional well-being. Through it, young people can develop skills and networks that are valued in the workplace, which can lead to economic mobility. A powerful and lasting effect can be achieved when youth feel empowered to take action and see their efforts result in positive change.
In the interest of communities: Youth are integral to their local communities: they shape their culture and have extensive social connections. In addition to experiencing a community's problems firsthand, young people are often on the front lines of activism and other efforts. Research previously revealed that higher levels of civic engagement could help communities weather economic downturns and reduce unemployment.
In the interest of equity: Racial, gender, educational, socioeconomic, and many other factors contribute to opportunity gaps and inequities that prevent individuals and communities from thriving. Underrepresentation in civic and political life is a result of marginalization or oppression, particularly among non-white, immigrant, and/or low-income communities and individuals. Often, their voices go unheard, their problems unaddressed, and injustice perpetuates itself in a vicious circle of disengagement and neglect. For a more just and equitable society, focusing on youth civic engagement is a critical task in addressing these intractable gaps.
