Our Mission
At Youth Voices of Los Angeles, our mission is to increase youth engagement in local politics, empowering young people to play an active role. We believe that the views of the youth are often overlooked in political discourse, and we aim to change that by creating platforms for the youth to voice their concerns and influence decisions that directly affect their communities. Through regular discussion panels, we provide a space for young people, run by young people. Here we engage in meaningful conversations about current events, have discourse over key issues, and contribute perspectives on matters that impact people’s lives. By gathering insights from these discussions, we not only amplify the voices of the youth but also use their collective opinions to guide our advocacy efforts, pushing for policies that reflect their values and priorities. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the youth voice is heard, valued, and has a real impact on political action in Los Angeles.
Why Does this Matter?
The Youth Votes for the Future.
Youth engagement in local politics is crucial for creating a future where young people are fully involved in decisions that shape their lives and communities. Despite making up a significant portion of the population, young people remain the smallest voting bloc in many elections. In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, only 42% of eligible voters aged 18-29 participated, compared to 73% of voters aged 65 and older. This lack of engagement leaves youth issues largely ignored in policy discussions, even though the issues that matter most to young people—such as climate change, affordable housing, and education—are essential to the future of our communities. The youth vote needs to be heard because the young people will live to experience the long-term impacts of today's policy decisions. The youth have a vested interest in the future and will be the ones to carry the consequences of current policies for decades to come. At Youth Voices of Los Angeles, we aim to bridge the gap by fostering active participation and empowering young people to take charge of their political future. By increasing youth involvement in local politics, we can ensure that the next generation's priorities are heard and acted upon.
Make it stand out
What we do
Step 1: Discussion and Gathering Ideas
Our advocacy process is designed to ensure that the youth voice is at the center of local political action. First, we figure out what the youth wants. We host weekly weekly discussion panels where young people come together to share their thoughts, discussion key issues, and engage in debate about policies that are important to them. These discussions, combined with feedback, and grassroots communication, enable us to gather the collective views and concerns of the youth. These views form our policy positions.
Step 2: Forming our Policy Positions
Next, we convert the insights and ideas from these panels and suggestions into clear, actionable policy positions. From these positions we create recommendations. We work with members of the community to ensure our recommendations accurately represent the needs and priorities of the youth.
Step 3: Advocating for Real Change
Once our positions are solidified, we advocate for change by submitting policy memos to local and relevant public officials, urging them to cosponsor legislation that aligns with the views of the youth. Finally, we leverage our website and social media platforms to raise awareness of our advocacy efforts and the relevant legislation to keep the community engaged in the process.