NextGen America, 20 Leading Youth Mobilization Orgs, Call on Elected Leaders to Advance Youth Agenda

Letter to President Biden, Congress, outlines key legislative priorities for young voters in the year ahead

Austin, TX — Today, NextGen America and a group of 20 coalition partners announced the 2023 Youth Agenda, a document outlining young voters’ legislative priorities for the coming year. The agenda is also being sent with a letter to President Biden and Congress. NextGen America, the largest youth vote organization in the country, kicked off the campaign with a press conference on the national mall Monday afternoon. The event was led by NextGen America President and Executive Director Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez and featured additional remarks from partner spokespeople.

The agenda addresses ten key issues: climate change, the student debt crisis, economic justice, abortion rights, criminal justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence, protecting immigrants, ongoing attacks on our democracy, and youth representation in government. The letter, co-signed by partner organizations like Color of Change, Unidos Action Fund, Sunrise Movement, Supermajority, Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Blue Future, Dream.Org, Voters of Tomorrow, NAACP Youth & College, United We Dream Action, and March For Our Lives, represents the hopes, vision, and demands of young people ages 18-35 across the country for our government.

“Following record-high turnout among young people in recent cycles, it’s become clear that the youth vote is now the most powerful and important voting bloc in the country,” NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said. “The 2023 Youth Agenda is a blueprint for action – created by young people for young people – and we urge President Biden and other elected leaders to take action on these priorities. Young people are a force to be reckoned with, and if you want the support of the youth vote, you need to listen to our call for change. This agenda is just the start of what we are looking to accomplish. Together, we are using our collective voice to push our leaders to action and build a better future for all.”

“The next generation of young people are already using their power to mobilize communities across the world. They understand firsthand the repercussions of ignoring the systematic shortcomings from the generations before us,” said Brandon Tucker, Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Color Of Change. “It’s time we unite for racial justice and for the advancement of our democracy. We are honored to join NextGen to lift up alternatives to policing, reimagine this country’s approach to higher education, and fight for a public safety system that calls out officials and organizations that have exploited prosecution and punishment for years. The 2023 Youth Agenda is ambitious, and we are excited to create pathways together for stronger, safer and more equitable communities for all.”

“Our generation propelled the Democratic Party to victory in 2018, 2020, and 2022, proving we are a force to be reckoned with,” said Ellen Sciales, Communications Director for Sunrise Movement. “Young people everywhere are united around pushing our government to go big and bold – from reaching 100% clean energy by 2030 to ending gun violence in our schools. We will not stop fighting for the world we deserve, and neither can President Biden if he’s serious about keeping his promises and energizing young voters ahead of 2024.”

“When we announced our ‘Gen Z Agenda’ a year ago this week, we knew the proposals were bold,” Jack Lobel, Press Secretary for Voters of Tomorrow said. “Yet we knew every one would be possible with support from a broad coalition of Americans. That’s why we are so grateful to be teaming up with NextGen America and others to expand the scope and ensure young Americans at large are represented. Our generations are united in our vision for a healthier, safer, and more equitable future — and we won’t stop fighting until we get there.”

“In every election since millions of young people marched in the streets in 2018, young people have broken voting records and decided elections with our votes. We are the difference-makers and we’ve come into our political power,” said Mariah Cooley, youth board member at March For Our Lives. “ We are also the generation that grew up learning to use a desk as a shield from bullets, whose grandmothers’ had more reproductive rights than we do, and whose future is threatened by the climate crisis. It’s urgent that our political leaders listen to us and advance an agenda that creates a greener, safer, more just future. The NextGen 2023 Youth Agenda does just that, by outlining precisely how we can build a brighter, more inclusive future for our nation, and we’re proud to support it.”

“The 2023 Youth Agenda represents the views of many Young Americans and the issues most important to our generations. YouthInGov is thrilled to see so many of the YouthInGov coalition members working together on this agenda,” Eve Levenson, Co-Founder of the YouthInGov Coalition said. “Since 2020, 100+ youth organizations have coalesced around the need for increased representation of Young Americans in policies AND in personnel across the federal government which is why the Youth Representation components of this Youth Agenda are so crucial.”

“There’s a lot of conversations about the problems impacting our communities, but we have to tell young people that they have the power to create the solutions.” said Wisdom Cole, National Director of NAACP Youth & College. “The Youth Agenda encompasses key education and economic issue areas essential for young Black leaders to build political power and thrive in 2023. Education is supposed to be the key to financial freedom, not the barrier. The student debt crisis is a major concern for Black voters and must be a top priority for President Biden. In the midst of our current economic uncertainty, many borrowers are concerned about job security and their ability to shoulder the unbearable burden of student loan debt alongside rising interest rates, and higher costs of living. Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, President Biden must continue this fight.”

“The 2022 midterms proved what we already know: A multiracial, intergenerational coalition is key to winning progressive policy, and young voters — particularly young women voters — are our greatest hope for change,” said Lauren Rangel, Partnerships & Campaigns Manager at Supermajority. “Young women are the fastest growing segment of the progressive voting bloc, and they know that the issues we need to address — from abortion access to climate change to ending gun violence and so much more — are all connected. The 2023 Youth Agenda is a reflection of the power young people hold when they come together to make change, and we couldn’t be prouder to join NextGen America in working for a future where we are all truly equal.”

“Latinx youth along with young voters of all backgrounds have sent a powerful message with their historic increases in voting: youth will have their issues be addressed. Young voters are united around a progressive policy agenda that gives everyone a fair opportunity at the American dream. This collective power will only grow as more younger Latinos age into the voting process. UnidosUS Action Fund is proud to stand with NextGen America to release this historic agenda.” said Rafael Collazo, Executive Director, UnidosUS Action Fund.

“Young people are fired up and ready for change! We showed up to defend our democracy in record numbers in 2020 and achieved the second highest youth midterm turnout in 30 years this past cycle,” Michelle Ming, Political Director of United We Dream Action, said. “The 2023 Youth Agenda is a reflection of what we demand from our leaders to move young people forward with action on the key issues we care about – from combatting the climate crisis, to addressing gun violence, to passing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Young people are instrumental to winning elections, and we are going to make sure that our elected leaders make good on their promises to us!”

“Our youth today face unprecedented challenges from intersecting issues such as climate change and the ongoing fight for basic protections. Despite these threats, they remain committed to not only being a part of the solution, but leading the charge,” Savanna Neb, Our Climate’s Federal Field Organizer said. “It is essential for young people to have their voices heard at the highest levels of government and to advocate for the creation of thriving systems through legislation and policies that benefit everyone – especially our most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Our Climate fully supports the 2023 Youth Agenda which aligns with our mission and vision to ensure an equitable, just, and thriving world through the empowerment and mobilization of young leaders!”

“Blue Future believes that it is our responsibility to hold President Biden and our leaders accountable to their commitments and address the issues of today with clear, policy solutions,” said Morgan Stahr, Co-President of Blue Future. “The 2023 Youth Agenda was created by young people for young people. We are uniting, across race and place, to own our seat at the table and to say no decisions about us, without us. Together, we will inspire, mobilize and invest in young people to organize for a brighter tomorrow.”

“For young people across the nation, climate change is not a political issue; it’s about their health, their homes, their careers, and their future,” said CeCe Grant, Director of Government Affairs at Dream.Org. “Regardless of political party, young voters are looking to their elected officials to take meaningful climate action and build a healthier, more sustainable world for all. As a leading voice for climate equity, Dream.Org is proud to support NextGen America’s 2023 Youth Agenda.”

“Too many young people in our nation struggle to afford housing and other basic needs,” National Network for Youth Executive Director Darla Bardine said. “Our elected officials have a responsibility to ensure our young people have their basic needs met and the ability to achieve their fullest potential. That is why we are proud to support NextGen America’s 2023 Youth Agenda.”

“Young people have demonstrated over and over their commitment to fighting for a more equitable America and dismantling oppressive systems. Gen Z is an economic, social, and political force, and the 2023 Youth Agenda reflects the demands of the next generation of Americans,” Harmonie Ramsden, National Community Engagement Director of Generation Ratify, said. “Young women and queer people are under attack in our campuses, places of employment, and governmental bodies. The 2023 Youth Agenda is a representation of the intersectionality of Gen Z, and Generation Ratify is proud to work with NextGen America to advocate for a brighter nation.”

NextGen’s launch of the 2023 Youth Agenda follows its historic work in 2022 to educate, mobilize, and register young voters across seven key states. These efforts contributed to blocking a much-predicted Republican ‘red wave,’ and underscored young voters as a powerful voting bloc in the country. NextGen’s announcement of the 2023 Youth Agenda is part of the organization’s ten-year anniversary celebration – marking a decade of activism and youth mobilization.

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About NextGen America
NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-35 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world. Since 2013, NextGen America has registered more than 1.3 million young voters and contacted 9.6 million young eligible voters during the historic 2022 midterm elections.