Mobilize.org has joined in with Change.org on this effort to include citizen-generated solutions to the new presidential administration.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Changeorg-MySpace-Join-Forces-Launch/story.aspx?guid={D9EAC19E-3C98-49F3-B018-D94515B549EC}
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Youth Vote Impacts '08 Election
Politico's David Kuhn writes in a piece entitled, "Obama has historic youth mandate" that the President-elect's "34 point margin of victory with voters under 30 was the largest in a generation, [and] cut across lines of class, color and education." He calls it the "most impressive youth mandate in modern American history." Kunh notes that the youth made up 18% of the electorate (one point higher than 2004) and had 52%-53% turnout among registered voters (about four points higher than 2004). Click here for more analysis from CIRCLE.
The claim Ruffini makes that is most surprising, however, is that had young people voted in the same numbers and manner as they did in 2004, Obama would have won the election only by 2 points, and more surprisingly, would have lost 73 electoral votes. While that would not have changed the outcome of the presidential race, it certainly would have made it substantially tighter. In congressional and state races throughout the country, it is almost a certainty the youth decided the outcome of some. Ruffini writes, "Obama has reshaped the electorate" partially through new voter registration but more-so by "gobbling up" most existing young voters.
To me, these and many other articles seem to beg three large questions: if this "historic" election only brought 53% of young people out to the polls, what will it take to increase that number (which, in my opinion, is still embarrassingly low for a thriving democracy)? Is the 25 point margin favoring the Democrats in this election the result of the last eight years and present circumstances, or is it part of a larger political realignment? Perhaps most importantly in practical terms - now that most of America has recognized the enormous "mandate" Obama has from young people, how should he act on it?
Feel free to sound off in the comments section.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Independent Sector..Rocks..
I’ve had a long, exciting 72 hours and I’d like to thank my new friends at Independent Sector (www.independentsector.org), especially Andrea, Jamie, Megan and Erica for an amazing first conference. I spent the past three days in Philadelphia at the Our Hopes, Our Voices, Our Future Conference and learned more than I have in a LONG time. I had the pleasure to sitting on a panel with Ben from NAACP and Janet from La Raza and I am in awe of all that they’ve accomplished, and continue to work towards.
I could blog about it, but I couldn’t write about it as well at Katya from Network For Good did – so please read her blogs from the conference here: http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com/. And in an attempt for blatant self-promotion, she wrote about me, so check it out and comment...
Thanks Katya, the Independent Sector Team and all the other amazing people I’ve meet this weekend... If your organization isn’t a member of IS yet – you should be... If for no other reason than to see Diana Aviv dance her heart out.
I could blog about it, but I couldn’t write about it as well at Katya from Network For Good did – so please read her blogs from the conference here: http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com/. And in an attempt for blatant self-promotion, she wrote about me, so check it out and comment...
Thanks Katya, the Independent Sector Team and all the other amazing people I’ve meet this weekend... If your organization isn’t a member of IS yet – you should be... If for no other reason than to see Diana Aviv dance her heart out.
Veterans Day 2008
“Based on the Great Legacy that We Have Inherited…”
…So reads the first paragraph of the Mobilize.org Democracy 2.0 Declaration. And on this Veterans Day, an annual federal observance since 1954, when Armistice Day was broadened to include a commemoration of all US veterans who have served in military conflicts, there is no better way to talk about the high level of civic participation and engagement that have come to define the unique position that the Millennial Generation finds itself in, than to look to our forefathers and to their heroic offerings in advance of the essential causes which strengthen our inherited democracy.
In May 2005, the World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington as a long overdue tribute to the men and women who served in the greatest mobilization of land and sea forces, as a domestic population and homeland economy, in history. At the ceremony, NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, whose national bestseller named this generation rightly, and simply, The Greatest, provided insight into the all-consuming national wartime effort.
“Men, women, young and old, everyone had a role. Farm boys who had never been in an airplane were soon flying new bombers with four engines. Surgical nurses were in mash units on front lines operating while they were being shelled. Teenagers were wearing sergeant stripes and fighting from North Africa to Rome. Guys from the city streets were in close quarter combat in dense jungles. Women were building ships and whatever were needed and driving trucks. Kids went without gum and new toys and in too many cases they went the rest of their lives without fathers they never knew,” he said.
Hearing again of the stories of the World War II Generation, reflective of themes which are deeply rooted in American ideals of neighbor-helping-neighbor, unity and selfless sacrifice and service to country and community over individual interests, we hear a calling as great as all others, we see what it is that we are striving again to achieve and we feel a purpose propelling us towards great action.
Our generation’s task is to preserve this inspiring microcosm of the American spirit.
Working with local organizations, schools, veterans groups and community leaders throughout the country, the Veterans History Project run through the Library of Congress, seeks to preserve the stories and thoughts of American veterans in a single national collection. The ongoing project, begun in 2000, currently has over 50,000 stories on a searchable online database, many in digitized multimedia form.
In Connecticut, an effort to document and write biographies on each veteran killed during the Vietnam War resulted in the publication of a book, “612,” representing one entry for each life lost. This research project was conducted through students inside a small town middle school, completely outside of their structured educational curriculum. Yet, through their work on the project, these students experienced firsthand the raw emotion of family members still grieving for their loved ones nearly thirty years after the conflict ended. They heard stories of bravery and sacrifice and gained a new appreciation and understanding for an era in American history in which this nation suffered through one of its most painful periods, marked by cultural division and strong sentiments regarding America’s military involvement in Vietnam. Eight years after the first idea for the project, the town dedicated a permanent memorial listing each name of the 612, the only place in the state where all of the fallen heroes are memorialized together. On Veterans Day and throughout the year, citizens throughout this country join together to remember and honor a sacrifice which extends beyond the confines of any history textbook.
As Millennials look to transition and transform demonstrated passionate concern for their country into action, through a new Administration that many believe will represent their voice over those of special interests, the 11th day of the 11th month provides appropriate moment to pause and reflect on a sacrifice that transcends personal beliefs and places America’s constitutional roots of justice, tranquility and general welfare above all others.
Through this recollection, we discover the American Democracy that Millennials have declared their commitment to act upon, for as each succeeding generation has taught us, Democracy is an unfinished project.
…So reads the first paragraph of the Mobilize.org Democracy 2.0 Declaration. And on this Veterans Day, an annual federal observance since 1954, when Armistice Day was broadened to include a commemoration of all US veterans who have served in military conflicts, there is no better way to talk about the high level of civic participation and engagement that have come to define the unique position that the Millennial Generation finds itself in, than to look to our forefathers and to their heroic offerings in advance of the essential causes which strengthen our inherited democracy.
In May 2005, the World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington as a long overdue tribute to the men and women who served in the greatest mobilization of land and sea forces, as a domestic population and homeland economy, in history. At the ceremony, NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, whose national bestseller named this generation rightly, and simply, The Greatest, provided insight into the all-consuming national wartime effort.
“Men, women, young and old, everyone had a role. Farm boys who had never been in an airplane were soon flying new bombers with four engines. Surgical nurses were in mash units on front lines operating while they were being shelled. Teenagers were wearing sergeant stripes and fighting from North Africa to Rome. Guys from the city streets were in close quarter combat in dense jungles. Women were building ships and whatever were needed and driving trucks. Kids went without gum and new toys and in too many cases they went the rest of their lives without fathers they never knew,” he said.
Hearing again of the stories of the World War II Generation, reflective of themes which are deeply rooted in American ideals of neighbor-helping-neighbor, unity and selfless sacrifice and service to country and community over individual interests, we hear a calling as great as all others, we see what it is that we are striving again to achieve and we feel a purpose propelling us towards great action.
Our generation’s task is to preserve this inspiring microcosm of the American spirit.
Working with local organizations, schools, veterans groups and community leaders throughout the country, the Veterans History Project run through the Library of Congress, seeks to preserve the stories and thoughts of American veterans in a single national collection. The ongoing project, begun in 2000, currently has over 50,000 stories on a searchable online database, many in digitized multimedia form.
In Connecticut, an effort to document and write biographies on each veteran killed during the Vietnam War resulted in the publication of a book, “612,” representing one entry for each life lost. This research project was conducted through students inside a small town middle school, completely outside of their structured educational curriculum. Yet, through their work on the project, these students experienced firsthand the raw emotion of family members still grieving for their loved ones nearly thirty years after the conflict ended. They heard stories of bravery and sacrifice and gained a new appreciation and understanding for an era in American history in which this nation suffered through one of its most painful periods, marked by cultural division and strong sentiments regarding America’s military involvement in Vietnam. Eight years after the first idea for the project, the town dedicated a permanent memorial listing each name of the 612, the only place in the state where all of the fallen heroes are memorialized together. On Veterans Day and throughout the year, citizens throughout this country join together to remember and honor a sacrifice which extends beyond the confines of any history textbook.
As Millennials look to transition and transform demonstrated passionate concern for their country into action, through a new Administration that many believe will represent their voice over those of special interests, the 11th day of the 11th month provides appropriate moment to pause and reflect on a sacrifice that transcends personal beliefs and places America’s constitutional roots of justice, tranquility and general welfare above all others.
Through this recollection, we discover the American Democracy that Millennials have declared their commitment to act upon, for as each succeeding generation has taught us, Democracy is an unfinished project.
Monday, November 10, 2008
GOOD Sheet--The First Hundred Days
GOOD Magazine has been releasing these handy little facts sheets, available online and at Starbucks. This is their newest one.
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/goodsheet/goodsheet009First100Days.html
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/goodsheet/goodsheet009First100Days.html
NYRA Launches Voting Age Video Project
Will Interview Youth about the Right to Vote
Cameras will be distributed to NYRA chapter leaders throughout the country who will reach out to students at their high schools to ask a simple question: “Do you want to vote?” The interviews will be conducted over the next year and made available online on YouthRights.org and YouTube.
“The reason many people today feel that young people are apathetic and don't want to be involved in the process is that nobody has really given them the opportunity to express this interest.” said Stefan Muller, Vice-President of the National Youth Rights Association, “If we ask young people what they think and are willing to listen, they'll have something to say.”
NYRA hopes to conduct dozens of interviews from a diverse cross-section of the nation’s youth that is reflective of the growing popular support for lowering the voting age nationwide.
About NYRA:
The National Youth Rights Association is a national, youth-led organization whose mission is to promote awareness of the legal and civil rights of young people in the
###
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Yes...We MUST keep up the momentum.
I have seen many articles in the wake of Tuesday's election surprised at the voter turnout among Millennials and instead of recognizing the Millennials as a new powerful voting bloc, they automatically began musing on whether members of the generation would actually make a difference or keep up the momentum.
Since this is OUR generation, what do you think?
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10939331?nclick_check=1
Since this is OUR generation, what do you think?
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10939331?nclick_check=1
17 Year-old Primary Voting and Engagement
Connecticut voters ratified a state constitutional amendment this week which would grant voting rights to 17 year-olds in party primaries if they will reach the age of 18 by Election Day. The amendment, which would make Connecticut the 19th state to put into law such a measure, was approved by voters by a nearly 2:1 margin.
“This will help encourage lifelong voting habits among young people. This will encourage not only voting, but working on primary campaigns and getting involved in the political process. It shows that with hard work, perseverance and a good idea, we really can amend our constitution to expanding voting rights in Connecticut,” said State Representative James Spallone, a member of the Judiciary Committee.
As an example of what this amendment will mean, if a young voter turned 18 in August 2008, making him eligible to participate in the November election, he would also have been able to vote in the February 2008 primary to select the candidates for the November ballot, even though he would still have been 17 years old at the time.
“With the passage of this constitutional amendment, thousands of 17 year-olds can now participate in the political process sooner and hopefully become lifelong voters. The passage of this amendment was due to the hard work and perseverance of high school students throughout the state of Connecticut who joined forces…we owe them a sincere set of gratitude,” said Secretary of State Susan Bysciewicz.
In an October statement released in support of the Amendment, Bysciewicz argued that if 17-year olds can sign up to serve their country in the military, then they should be able to choose their preferred candidates for office when they will be able to vote. “If our state’s young men and women at 17 years of age can make a decision and commitment of that gravity—knowing there is a great chance that they will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan—they certainly are capable and mature enough to cast a ballot in primary elections,” she said.
The passage of the amendment holds special significance for Connecticut because it was the first state to ratify the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which lowered the national voting age to 18, in 1971. That Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as not restricting states from setting a voting age below 18 but rather prohibiting them from setting an age above it.
A 1986 Supreme Court decision, Tashjian v. Connecticut, further specified that a state political party has the power to determine who is eligible to vote in their primaries, under their existing legal authority. As Adam Fogel, the Right to Vote Director for Fair Vote, explained in testimony to a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Committee in May 2008, it is in the political party’s interest to extend primary voting rights to 17 year-olds, “Studies show that if a young person votes for one party in three consecutive elections, that person votes with that party for life. Parties should be encouraging participation, not discouraging it—if a young person cares enough to participate and will be eligible to vote in the general election, we should provide them with that opportunity.”
Officials with the Connecticut Office of Secretary of State estimate that the passage of this Amendment could make as many as 10,000 new voters eligible to vote in the next primary elections, scheduled in September 2009 for municipal elections. The office said that it would work with high schools across the state to integrate knowledge of the Amendment into an existing requirement for civics education.
Connecticut joins Alaska, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington in having a 17-year old primary voting law.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey
We want YOUR input on our generation. Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey, available at http://tinyurl.com/5ulxnk.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Hard Choices And Challenges Follow Triumph
But what does this mean?. "After a victory of historic significance, Barack Obama will inherit problems of historic proportions.Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated at the depths of the Great Depression in 1933 has a new president been confronted with the challenges Obama will face as he starts his presidency".
Now that the whole euphoria is passing, it is time to continue getting informed, read, analyze and know all the new challenges and opportunities that this decision will bring to all of us, and how you can be part of this change.
For this reason, I recommend you to read the article posted today by Washington Post, titled: "Hard Choices and Challenges Follow Triumph" on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110500041.html?hpid=topnews.
It's November 5th: What Now?
Dear Friends,
It is the day after what has been the most important election of our lifetime.
At Mobilize.org, we are looking forward, creating ways to help YOU harness your energy from this election and make sustainable change in YOUR local communities and nationwide.
We want to give YOU a few ways to help us continue to “upgrade” democracy into 2009, and work to build a Democracy 2.0.
Here is our list of 5 things for getting involved on November 5th:
1. Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey.
Share your views on current events, your generation, and our democracy. Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey, (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=o_2fBLiJ6QlxCTr9HiIwoheQ_3d_3d). Feel like doing more with the survey? Email Christina Gagnier at christina@mobilize.org to become a survey administrator!
2. Get your friends involved today. Ask your friends to join our social networks.
Mobilize.org is available on all your favorite social networks: Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Get your friends engaged!
3. Read the Democracy 2.0 Report.
Released in October 2008, read Mobilize.org’s Democracy 2.0 report, (http://www.mobilize.org/index.php?tray=content&tid=top359&cid=IS6), on its trailblazing project to get Millennials involved in upgrading our democracy.
4. Be a Resident MoBlogger and create a video sharing your election experience.
Got something to say? We want to read it! Join our MoBlog team (http://mobilizedotorg.blogspot.com/) and comment on what you care about most. Mobilize.org wants you to share your election experiences. Get your videophone or a laptop and post video clips of your thoughts on the election.
5. BYOC with Mobilize.
Join us for our first social media meetup! Bring yourself, your computer, and invite five of your Facebook friends to Mobilize.org’s first social media meetup. November 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Mobilize.org. Hear from and engage with your peers in the non-profit, business, and tech communities about a question on all of our minds: What Now?
Keep Mobilizin’ –
Maya and the Mobilize.org Team - Ian, Christina, Ana, Nick, Kenneth and Gloria
It is the day after what has been the most important election of our lifetime.
At Mobilize.org, we are looking forward, creating ways to help YOU harness your energy from this election and make sustainable change in YOUR local communities and nationwide.
We want to give YOU a few ways to help us continue to “upgrade” democracy into 2009, and work to build a Democracy 2.0.
Here is our list of 5 things for getting involved on November 5th:
1. Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey.
Share your views on current events, your generation, and our democracy. Take the Democracy 2.0 Survey, (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=o_2fBLiJ6QlxCTr9HiIwoheQ_3d_3d). Feel like doing more with the survey? Email Christina Gagnier at christina@mobilize.org to become a survey administrator!
2. Get your friends involved today. Ask your friends to join our social networks.
Mobilize.org is available on all your favorite social networks: Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Get your friends engaged!
3. Read the Democracy 2.0 Report.
Released in October 2008, read Mobilize.org’s Democracy 2.0 report, (http://www.mobilize.org/index.php?tray=content&tid=top359&cid=IS6), on its trailblazing project to get Millennials involved in upgrading our democracy.
4. Be a Resident MoBlogger and create a video sharing your election experience.
Got something to say? We want to read it! Join our MoBlog team (http://mobilizedotorg.blogspot.com/) and comment on what you care about most. Mobilize.org wants you to share your election experiences. Get your videophone or a laptop and post video clips of your thoughts on the election.
5. BYOC with Mobilize.
Join us for our first social media meetup! Bring yourself, your computer, and invite five of your Facebook friends to Mobilize.org’s first social media meetup. November 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Mobilize.org. Hear from and engage with your peers in the non-profit, business, and tech communities about a question on all of our minds: What Now?
Keep Mobilizin’ –
Maya and the Mobilize.org Team - Ian, Christina, Ana, Nick, Kenneth and Gloria
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Update on Delaware Valley School Board Controversy--Our Watch of a Millennial Candidate
Update on the situation with Millennial school board candidate Ryan Balton:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/NEWS/811050331.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/NEWS/811050331.
Barack Obama the President-Elect of the United States
It's been called. After a historically long election, Barack Obama has been called as the next President of the United States.
Get Minute-by-Minute Coverage on the Election from Millennials
Check out Chris Golden and Nick Troiano giving the play-by-play of the 2008 election at http://270to44.blogspot.com.
Mobilize.org featured on BET
Check out our Mobilize the Polls program, featured on BET.com.
http://www.bet.com/News/Decision08/beheard_news_NewsArticlePoliticsHotlineVotingDirtyTricks.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic
http://www.bet.com/News/Decision08/beheard_news_NewsArticlePoliticsHotlineVotingDirtyTricks.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic
Democracy 2.0 Report Available
The Democracy 2.0 report is now available for download.
To order a hard copy of the report, you can fill out the form in the side column of this blog.
Feel free to use the comment feature to leave your feedback about the report.
V-O-T-E!
Mobilize.org encourages all Millennials 18 and older to head to the polls today. No matter what side of aisle you fall, a vote today strengthens our generation's voice.
If you have any problems at the polls, please get a hold of us at 866. MOBILIZE.
If you have any problems at the polls, please get a hold of us at 866. MOBILIZE.
Monday, November 3, 2008
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