CIVICALLY ENGAGE US NOW AND THANK US LATER

The case for wrap around civic engagement programs and investments to build and sustain

communities and social interactions in Gen-Z and Gen Alpha.

By Harison Clark

In a world of data models and fast paced market challenges our world seems to be changing and innovating in every facet except one. What was once touted as the future has long since been replaced by ideas of super computing or drone taxi technology but when did the youth stop being the front of innovation? In the United States we’ve enjoyed break neck pace of technological revolution after revolution making our everyday lives easier except for how we show up in our communities, but there are advocates and organizations dedicated to change this in the realm of civic engagement with all acts of change there have always been robust coalitions of people on the ground giving life to the people’s ideas. Let’s face it, it’s a fact that youth development programs in civic engagement are our only way forward to address our communities’ greatest challenges from climate change, socioeconomic disparities and mental health. However, without proper investment of resources and guidance we risk the chance that these burgeoning change makers will go unnoticed and unappreciated.

Organizations like Teen Empowerment have been at the forefront of youth development and

advocacy since 1992. The Center for Teen Empowerment has dedicated itself to transforming

communities, creating safe spaces and investing in the power of youth and adult partnerships by launching TE studios, an arts encompassing social program where young people express

themselves and promote change through positive art. TE understood the importance of elevating youth participation and ideas and saw it drastically missing in the civic engagement landscape. From this unmet need Teen Empowerment worked collaboratively to create the Boston Community Action Team or (BCAT) this civic engagement group has been responsible for voter registration canvassing, educating and holding elected officials accountable to a youth agenda and since its inception the team has worked to inform state policy on the gig economy law, advocated for restorative justice via the city of Boston’s Reparations Task Force, notably registered over 300 individuals to vote during the Covid-19 pandemic and regularly hosts talk backs and forums for youth centered policy holding elected officials accountable. The chief executive officer Abrigal Forrester had this to say about the impact he’s seen.

“It is deeply inspiring to witness young people who once felt hopeless transform into passionate advocates for community change, using their voices and lived experiences to shape strategies rooted in real understanding. Youth want to lead community transformation - at TE, they are doing just that!”

Just recently we’ve begun to understand the impact of policies such as the SAVE act will have on young people and their ability to be civically engaged research done by Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning reports that “The SAVE Act requires that individuals present in-person proof of citizenship to an election official. According to data from the Election Administration and Voting Survey, only 6% of voter registrations (among potential voters of all ages) in 2022 occurred in person at an elections office, which underscores the reliance on other registration processes (including other in-person options, like the DMV) that may be rendered inoperable by the SAVE Act.”( Suzuki & Booth, 2025) The analysis of these outcomes only reinforce the dire need for investment into youth development programs focusing on civic engagement lest we lose a generation of change makers and innovators an NIH study in 2023 found that “Civic engagement in adolescence can have positive effects in adulthood as well, both in terms of better emotional regulation and greater sense of empowerment and a higher likelihood of engaging in civic activities as an adult” (Martini et al., 2023) not only are programs like Teen Empowerment activating young people as civic leaders they are creating civically engaged adults the literal life blood of our democracy. But don’t take it from me here’s what some of the youth organizers we work with have to say about being a part of a program like Teen Empowerment “I really enjoy working at Teen Empowerment because of the amount of resources it provides. And it gives me a good feeling to help the community and put on events. I’ve been a Youth Organizer since November 2023 and my favorite event is the Annual Somerville Peace Conference — it makes us work together as a team and create a really dope show to talk about immigration, mental health and violence.” — Delmy Santos, age 17. During a time when mental health and isolation reports among young people are at all times high, civic engagement programs are a source of hope and community for young people who feel often excluded from meaningful ways to impact their communities.

The vehicle of ownership and empowerment in adolescent civic engagement drive creative

solutions and offer perspectives to the beneficiaries of these programs that helps them navigate through life one program attendee had this to say,

“I like making new friends — without TE I Would just be in my house alone; but now I have a

space to meet new friends and be paid for it . I was a troubled teen before this; TE helps people like me. The staff are actually people I want to talk to. When I moved here from Providence all I saw at first was that Somerville was super gentrified compared to where I was. But when I came here, I realized there are still a lot of problems in this community. So, working at TE I get to help out and give back. — ZAYDEN Garcia, 18

The benefits to the community are clear by empowering young people to show up civically, we create a strong and consistent engaged public who will for years to come advocate and engage in programs and activities that serve the neighborhood. The only question left to answer is why not invest more resources into programs and activities like these that have a proven return on investment? It's time to accept that the next revolution to take the world by storm is the youth civic engagement movement. We've seen influencers and advocates attract millions of followers and views inspiring the younger generation to claim our role in society and fulfill our civic responsibility. Now it's time for our adult counterparts to acknowledge our talents and potential and invest in the future for all of us. You'll be glad you Civically Engaged us now so you CAN thank US later.