what are your first memories of United States politics maybe you remember going
States politics maybe you remember going
States politics maybe you remember going to the polls with your parents on
to the polls with your parents on
to the polls with your parents on Election Day maybe your first memories
Election Day maybe your first memories
Election Day maybe your first memories come from something you learned in
come from something you learned in
come from something you learned in school a picture you saw in a textbook
school a picture you saw in a textbook
school a picture you saw in a textbook or something one of your teachers or
or something one of your teachers or
or something one of your teachers or classmates said maybe politics wasn’t
classmates said maybe politics wasn’t
classmates said maybe politics wasn’t something that was talked about in your
something that was talked about in your
something that was talked about in your family and your knowledge of US politics
family and your knowledge of US politics
family and your knowledge of US politics came from something you saw on TV or
came from something you saw on TV or
came from something you saw on TV or read in the newspaper when I think of my
read in the newspaper when I think of my
read in the newspaper when I think of my first memories of u.s. politics three
first memories of u.s. politics three
first memories of u.s. politics three specific memories come to mind the first
specific memories come to mind the first
specific memories come to mind the first is the 2000 presidential election at the
is the 2000 presidential election at the
is the 2000 presidential election at the turn of the century I was five years old
turn of the century I was five years old
turn of the century I was five years old and I do remember actually being pretty
and I do remember actually being pretty
and I do remember actually being pretty excited to find out who the next
excited to find out who the next
excited to find out who the next president would be I remember sitting at
president would be I remember sitting at
president would be I remember sitting at the foot of my parents bed watching the
the foot of my parents bed watching the
the foot of my parents bed watching the election results roll in on TV I was
election results roll in on TV I was
election results roll in on TV I was pretty thrilled to find out who the
pretty thrilled to find out who the
pretty thrilled to find out who the winner would be but I was suddenly
winner would be but I was suddenly
winner would be but I was suddenly pretty bummed when I found out I had to
pretty bummed when I found out I had to
pretty bummed when I found out I had to go to sleep early we actually wouldn’t
go to sleep early we actually wouldn’t
go to sleep early we actually wouldn’t know who the president would be until a
know who the president would be until a
know who the president would be until a few days later that year spoiler alert
few days later that year spoiler alert
few days later that year spoiler alert Al Gore does not win my second memory
Al Gore does not win my second memory
Al Gore does not win my second memory comes from around the same time when I
comes from around the same time when I
comes from around the same time when I was four or five years old before I was
was four or five years old before I was
was four or five years old before I was old enough to go to school I would eat
old enough to go to school I would eat
old enough to go to school I would eat my breakfast and lunch on a placemat
my breakfast and lunch on a placemat
my breakfast and lunch on a placemat very similar to this one a placemat of
very similar to this one a placemat of
very similar to this one a placemat of the presidents of the United States of
the presidents of the United States of
the presidents of the United States of America I would eat my grilled cheese
America I would eat my grilled cheese
America I would eat my grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup lunches with
sandwich and tomato soup lunches with
sandwich and tomato soup lunches with the eyes of 42 middle-aged or older
the eyes of 42 middle-aged or older
the eyes of 42 middle-aged or older white men staring at me this was more
white men staring at me this was more
white men staring at me this was more than just a placemat this was my first
than just a placemat this was my first
than just a placemat this was my first exposure to our nation’s issue with
exposure to our nation’s issue with
exposure to our nation’s issue with representation in politics I was not yet
representation in politics I was not yet
representation in politics I was not yet even five years old and I was already
even five years old and I was already
even five years old and I was already thinking well maybe if you aren’t white
thinking well maybe if you aren’t white
thinking well maybe if you aren’t white and you aren’t a man you aren’t even
and you aren’t a man you aren’t even
and you aren’t a man you aren’t even allowed to
allowed to
allowed to the president a few years later when I
the president a few years later when I
the president a few years later when I was 11 or 12 in the fifth or sixth grade
was 11 or 12 in the fifth or sixth grade
was 11 or 12 in the fifth or sixth grade I was at my best friend’s house when her
I was at my best friend’s house when her
I was at my best friend’s house when her grandma asked me Hilary what do you want
grandma asked me Hilary what do you want
grandma asked me Hilary what do you want to be when you grow up well naturally
to be when you grow up well naturally
to be when you grow up well naturally like all elementary schoolers I said I
like all elementary schoolers I said I
like all elementary schoolers I said I think I want to be a politician her
think I want to be a politician her
think I want to be a politician her response was not what I was expecting to
response was not what I was expecting to
response was not what I was expecting to hear she said you don’t really want to
hear she said you don’t really want to
hear she said you don’t really want to be like one of those crooked politicians
be like one of those crooked politicians
be like one of those crooked politicians do you I had no idea what to say or to
do you I had no idea what to say or to
do you I had no idea what to say or to think I was hurt I was upset because in
think I was hurt I was upset because in
think I was hurt I was upset because in my mind at that age a politician was a
my mind at that age a politician was a
my mind at that age a politician was a leader someone who wanted to make a
leader someone who wanted to make a
leader someone who wanted to make a difference in their communities and to
difference in their communities and to
difference in their communities and to help others
help others
help others these memories from my childhood so
these memories from my childhood so
these memories from my childhood so early on helped me to form my opinions
early on helped me to form my opinions
early on helped me to form my opinions and my beliefs related to leadership
and my beliefs related to leadership
and my beliefs related to leadership politics and government
politics and government
politics and government you see growing up we are constantly
you see growing up we are constantly
you see growing up we are constantly absorbing information from our
absorbing information from our
absorbing information from our surroundings from the people in our
surroundings from the people in our
surroundings from the people in our households our family and friends our
households our family and friends our
households our family and friends our teachers and our classmates
teachers and our classmates
teachers and our classmates trust me this is no different for kids
trust me this is no different for kids
trust me this is no different for kids today in my free time I volunteer at
today in my free time I volunteer at
today in my free time I volunteer at elementary schools talking to kids about
elementary schools talking to kids about
elementary schools talking to kids about voting and the democratic process
voting and the democratic process
voting and the democratic process six-year-olds talk to me about the
six-year-olds talk to me about the
six-year-olds talk to me about the current administration’s proposed border
current administration’s proposed border
current administration’s proposed border wall fifth graders tell me that when
wall fifth graders tell me that when
wall fifth graders tell me that when they are someday elected to office that
they are someday elected to office that
they are someday elected to office that they will end the drug epidemic in West
they will end the drug epidemic in West
they will end the drug epidemic in West Virginia these kids are so in tune with
Virginia these kids are so in tune with
Virginia these kids are so in tune with the problems in our communities and
the problems in our communities and
the problems in our communities and what’s happening in the world today and
what’s happening in the world today and
what’s happening in the world today and it’s not just because of what they see
it’s not just because of what they see
it’s not just because of what they see on TV but also because of the
on TV but also because of the
on TV but also because of the conversations we have when we are around
conversations we have when we are around
conversations we have when we are around them full-time I work for a nonpartisan
them full-time I work for a nonpartisan
them full-time I work for a nonpartisan nonprofit organization called inspire us
nonprofit organization called inspire us
nonprofit organization called inspire us we work to support high school students
we work to support high school students
we work to support high school students to register their peers to vote and get
to register their peers to vote and get
to register their peers to vote and get them out to the polls students as young
them out to the polls students as young
them out to the polls students as young as 14 and 15 years old are registering
as 14 and 15 years old are registering
as 14 and 15 years old are registering their peers to vote because they see
their peers to vote because they see
their peers to vote because they see voting as a responsibility
voting as a responsibility
voting as a responsibility yet when they log on to Facebook or
yet when they log on to Facebook or
yet when they log on to Facebook or Twitter or whatever social media
Twitter or whatever social media
Twitter or whatever social media platform kids use these days they see
platform kids use these days they see
platform kids use these days they see politics portrayed as destructive
politics portrayed as destructive
politics portrayed as destructive divisive and us-versus-them aside from
divisive and us-versus-them aside from
divisive and us-versus-them aside from just working with young people look at
just working with young people look at
just working with young people look at me I’m a young person myself I’m 23
me I’m a young person myself I’m 23
me I’m a young person myself I’m 23 years old a millennial and part of the
years old a millennial and part of the
years old a millennial and part of the new largest voter eligible age group in
new largest voter eligible age group in
new largest voter eligible age group in the United States as a young voter I
the United States as a young voter I
the United States as a young voter I want to see adults and older generations
want to see adults and older generations
want to see adults and older generations setting a better example for the types
setting a better example for the types
setting a better example for the types of conversations we need to be having
of conversations we need to be having
of conversations we need to be having about politics and the ways that we are
about politics and the ways that we are
about politics and the ways that we are engaging in politics and our communities
engaging in politics and our communities
engaging in politics and our communities and as an adult I love to see kids and
and as an adult I love to see kids and
and as an adult I love to see kids and young people inspired and empower to
young people inspired and empower to
young people inspired and empower to talk about politics and empower to be
talk about politics and empower to be
talk about politics and empower to be leaders in their communities so that’s
leaders in their communities so that’s
leaders in their communities so that’s why my big idea my idea worth sharing is
why my big idea my idea worth sharing is
why my big idea my idea worth sharing is that we must spearhead a shift in our
that we must spearhead a shift in our
that we must spearhead a shift in our political culture to change the way we
political culture to change the way we
political culture to change the way we view and talk about politics so that we
view and talk about politics so that we
view and talk about politics so that we are encouraging each other not deterring
are encouraging each other not deterring
are encouraging each other not deterring one another from getting involved in
one another from getting involved in
one another from getting involved in politics right now we are living in a
politics right now we are living in a
politics right now we are living in a very divided political climate now is
very divided political climate now is
very divided political climate now is not the time to neglect your civic
not the time to neglect your civic
not the time to neglect your civic health or the Civic health of the young
health or the Civic health of the young
health or the Civic health of the young people in your lives lucky for you all
people in your lives lucky for you all
people in your lives lucky for you all I’ve developed an easy three-step not
I’ve developed an easy three-step not
I’ve developed an easy three-step not planned but dream in the words of dr.
planned but dream in the words of dr.
planned but dream in the words of dr. Martin Luther King jr. to change the way
Martin Luther King jr. to change the way
Martin Luther King jr. to change the way you think about talk about and
you think about talk about and
you think about talk about and participate in politics
participate in politics
participate in politics step one change the way you perceive
step one change the way you perceive
step one change the way you perceive politics we often see politics as black
politics we often see politics as black
politics we often see politics as black and white or rather blue and red many of
and white or rather blue and red many of
and white or rather blue and red many of us find a party we tend to agree with
us find a party we tend to agree with
us find a party we tend to agree with and then tend to stick to that side
and then tend to stick to that side
and then tend to stick to that side public distrust in our governor
public distrust in our governor
public distrust in our governor is at an all-time high some of this has
is at an all-time high some of this has
is at an all-time high some of this has to do with legislative gridlock and
to do with legislative gridlock and
to do with legislative gridlock and politicians unwillingness to compromise
politicians unwillingness to compromise
politicians unwillingness to compromise but what if we as citizens and as
but what if we as citizens and as
but what if we as citizens and as constituents change that narrative what
constituents change that narrative what
constituents change that narrative what if we start talking about politics as
if we start talking about politics as
if we start talking about politics as issue based and not party based what if
issue based and not party based what if
issue based and not party based what if the conversation wasn’t about who was a
the conversation wasn’t about who was a
the conversation wasn’t about who was a Democrat and who is a Republican but
Democrat and who is a Republican but
Democrat and who is a Republican but about the problems we see in our
about the problems we see in our
about the problems we see in our communities and how we can actually work
communities and how we can actually work
communities and how we can actually work together to compromise and to solve them
together to compromise and to solve them
together to compromise and to solve them honestly I’ve never met a single person
honestly I’ve never met a single person
honestly I’ve never met a single person whose ideals and morals are 100%
whose ideals and morals are 100%
whose ideals and morals are 100% completely defined by one party or
completely defined by one party or
completely defined by one party or another so let’s not pigeonhole
another so let’s not pigeonhole
another so let’s not pigeonhole ourselves let’s open up our minds to
ourselves let’s open up our minds to
ourselves let’s open up our minds to talking about the issues not just the
talking about the issues not just the
talking about the issues not just the parties step two evolve the way we
parties step two evolve the way we
parties step two evolve the way we discuss politics I know it’s so taboo to
discuss politics I know it’s so taboo to
discuss politics I know it’s so taboo to even imagine talking about politics in
even imagine talking about politics in
even imagine talking about politics in the workplace even though that is where
the workplace even though that is where
the workplace even though that is where some of us spend a majority of our time
some of us spend a majority of our time
some of us spend a majority of our time I previously mentioned this divided
I previously mentioned this divided
I previously mentioned this divided political climate because of that we
political climate because of that we
political climate because of that we aren’t eager to have these uncomfortable
aren’t eager to have these uncomfortable
aren’t eager to have these uncomfortable conversations but if we aren’t talking
conversations but if we aren’t talking
conversations but if we aren’t talking about current events and we aren’t
about current events and we aren’t
about current events and we aren’t talking about the news what type of
talking about the news what type of
talking about the news what type of example are we setting for our kids our
example are we setting for our kids our
example are we setting for our kids our grandkids our students and our siblings
grandkids our students and our siblings
grandkids our students and our siblings everyone has that friend or that family
everyone has that friend or that family
everyone has that friend or that family member who posts so fervently on social
member who posts so fervently on social
member who posts so fervently on social media about their political opinions
media about their political opinions
media about their political opinions it’s so awkward because you know they
it’s so awkward because you know they
it’s so awkward because you know they completely disagree with you you just
completely disagree with you you just
completely disagree with you you just want to avoid them at all costs at a
want to avoid them at all costs at a
want to avoid them at all costs at a family gathering but I challenge you to
family gathering but I challenge you to
family gathering but I challenge you to take that step to actually spark a
take that step to actually spark a
take that step to actually spark a conversation related to politics step
conversation related to politics step
conversation related to politics step one when talking politics is to listen
one when talking politics is to listen
one when talking politics is to listen to their perspective sometimes it can be
to their perspective sometimes it can be
to their perspective sometimes it can be hard but to foster productive civil
hard but to foster productive civil
hard but to foster productive civil discourse we have to lend our ears step
discourse we have to lend our ears step
discourse we have to lend our ears step two is to be engaged try to actually
two is to be engaged try to actually
two is to be engaged try to actually understand where they’re coming from
understand where they’re coming from
understand where they’re coming from what experiences have you had that
what experiences have you had that
what experiences have you had that have led you to believe this or believe
have led you to believe this or believe
have led you to believe this or believe this or think this way step three is to
this or think this way step three is to
this or think this way step three is to present your point of view when you’re
present your point of view when you’re
present your point of view when you’re sharing opinions you have every right to
sharing opinions you have every right to
sharing opinions you have every right to contribute to the conversation as well
contribute to the conversation as well
contribute to the conversation as well so don’t be afraid to share your
so don’t be afraid to share your
so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and the last step is
experiences and the last step is
experiences and the last step is definitely the most important it’s to
definitely the most important it’s to
definitely the most important it’s to find common ground
find common ground
find common ground having civil discourse talking about
having civil discourse talking about
having civil discourse talking about politics talking to someone who
politics talking to someone who
politics talking to someone who disagrees with you is not necessarily to
disagrees with you is not necessarily to
disagrees with you is not necessarily to agree with them but to realize that we
agree with them but to realize that we
agree with them but to realize that we all have different backgrounds and we
all have different backgrounds and we
all have different backgrounds and we all have differing opinions but I
all have differing opinions but I
all have differing opinions but I believe deep down that many of us all
believe deep down that many of us all
believe deep down that many of us all want the same things for ourselves for
want the same things for ourselves for
want the same things for ourselves for our families and for our societies
our families and for our societies
our families and for our societies having these conversations is not
having these conversations is not
having these conversations is not necessarily to agree but to acknowledge
necessarily to agree but to acknowledge
necessarily to agree but to acknowledge that we’re all different
step three is probably the most
step three is probably the most important
important
important everyone knows the saying that actions
everyone knows the saying that actions
everyone knows the saying that actions speak louder than words I don’t think it
speak louder than words I don’t think it
speak louder than words I don’t think it could be more important when it comes to
could be more important when it comes to
could be more important when it comes to politics we participate in our
politics we participate in our
politics we participate in our communities in different ways but some
communities in different ways but some
communities in different ways but some of us feel as though our voices don’t
of us feel as though our voices don’t
of us feel as though our voices don’t matter in fact that’s a huge battle I
matter in fact that’s a huge battle I
matter in fact that’s a huge battle I have when going into high schools kids
have when going into high schools kids
have when going into high schools kids say that their vote doesn’t make a
say that their vote doesn’t make a
say that their vote doesn’t make a difference when in reality it does there
difference when in reality it does there
difference when in reality it does there are elections all the time that are
are elections all the time that are
are elections all the time that are determined by a single vote in our
determined by a single vote in our
determined by a single vote in our communities there’s actually a recent
communities there’s actually a recent
communities there’s actually a recent story out of Virginia I’m not sure if
story out of Virginia I’m not sure if
story out of Virginia I’m not sure if any of you heard or read about this but
any of you heard or read about this but
any of you heard or read about this but in Virginia in the November election in
in Virginia in the November election in
in Virginia in the November election in a single House District the Democratic
a single House District the Democratic
a single House District the Democratic candidate won by a single vote then a
candidate won by a single vote then a
candidate won by a single vote then a ballot was found and on that ballot the
ballot was found and on that ballot the
ballot was found and on that ballot the voter had voted for the Republican
voter had voted for the Republican
voter had voted for the Republican candidate a panel of judges ruled this
candidate a panel of judges ruled this
candidate a panel of judges ruled this ballot to be valid and so accounted in
ballot to be valid and so accounted in
ballot to be valid and so accounted in the race bringing this race to an even
the race bringing this race to an even
the race bringing this race to an even tie and in Virginia in the case of a tie
tie and in Virginia in the case of a tie
tie and in Virginia in the case of a tie you pull a name out of a bowl so they
you pull a name out of a bowl so they
you pull a name out of a bowl so they pulled the name out of the bowl and the
pulled the name out of the bowl and the
pulled the name out of the bowl and the Republican candidate won now this this
Republican candidate won now this this
Republican candidate won now this this isn’t just any race the Virginia House
isn’t just any race the Virginia House
isn’t just any race the Virginia House race in which a name was drawn out of a
race in which a name was drawn out of a
race in which a name was drawn out of a bowl it determined whether
bowl it determined whether
bowl it determined whether but the house would stay in Republican
but the house would stay in Republican
but the house would stay in Republican control or if it would break 50-50 so
control or if it would break 50-50 so
control or if it would break 50-50 so now it’s 51 to 49 and the Republicans
now it’s 51 to 49 and the Republicans
now it’s 51 to 49 and the Republicans are in control in Virginia this is the
are in control in Virginia this is the
are in control in Virginia this is the power of one vote of your voice I
power of one vote of your voice I
power of one vote of your voice I realize that some people don’t
realize that some people don’t
realize that some people don’t participate in politics and that we all
participate in politics and that we all
participate in politics and that we all have different ways that we want to get
have different ways that we want to get
have different ways that we want to get involved 2018 is an election year so I
involved 2018 is an election year so I
involved 2018 is an election year so I encourage you if you do vote please take
encourage you if you do vote please take
encourage you if you do vote please take a child or a young person with you and
a child or a young person with you and
a child or a young person with you and show them how the process works I work
show them how the process works I work
show them how the process works I work with high school students who honestly
with high school students who honestly
with high school students who honestly don’t understand sometimes and sometimes
don’t understand sometimes and sometimes
don’t understand sometimes and sometimes it takes an older person just teaching
it takes an older person just teaching
it takes an older person just teaching them the process and talking to them
them the process and talking to them
them the process and talking to them about voting
about voting
about voting perhaps you’re very politically active
perhaps you’re very politically active
perhaps you’re very politically active and you want to attend a rally or
and you want to attend a rally or
and you want to attend a rally or volunteer on a campaign these are also
volunteer on a campaign these are also
volunteer on a campaign these are also great opportunities to engage young
great opportunities to engage young
great opportunities to engage young people in these activities maybe you
people in these activities maybe you
people in these activities maybe you choose to protest or petition these are
choose to protest or petition these are
choose to protest or petition these are your rights and it’s so important that
your rights and it’s so important that
your rights and it’s so important that we talk to our young people about those
we talk to our young people about those
we talk to our young people about those rights that we have in the United States
rights that we have in the United States
rights that we have in the United States and if you don’t want to participate in
and if you don’t want to participate in
and if you don’t want to participate in any of these ways you can always watch a
any of these ways you can always watch a
any of these ways you can always watch a debate or stay up to date in the news
debate or stay up to date in the news
debate or stay up to date in the news and encourage conversation ask those
and encourage conversation ask those
and encourage conversation ask those kids in your lives in your lives what
kids in your lives in your lives what
kids in your lives in your lives what did you think about this event or what
did you think about this event or what
did you think about this event or what do you think about this issue I’m around
do you think about this issue I’m around
do you think about this issue I’m around kids all the time and trust me they are
kids all the time and trust me they are
kids all the time and trust me they are always eager to give you their opinion
always eager to give you their opinion
always eager to give you their opinion and their ideas I know it might seem
and their ideas I know it might seem
and their ideas I know it might seem trivial and I know that some of you
trivial and I know that some of you
trivial and I know that some of you might not apply any of this to your life
might not apply any of this to your life
might not apply any of this to your life some of you might give this a second
some of you might give this a second
some of you might give this a second thought when you leave tonight but I
thought when you leave tonight but I
thought when you leave tonight but I encourage you to change the way you
encourage you to change the way you
encourage you to change the way you participate in politics by just a bit in
participate in politics by just a bit in
participate in politics by just a bit in this election year engage a child or a
this election year engage a child or a
this election year engage a child or a young person in your family or someone
young person in your family or someone
young person in your family or someone you know in these important sometimes
you know in these important sometimes
you know in these important sometimes uncomfortable conversations you never
uncomfortable conversations you never
uncomfortable conversations you never know a young kid a young person in your
know a young kid a young person in your
know a young kid a young person in your life that you know might someday want to
life that you know might someday want to
life that you know might someday want to be on a placemat themselves
”
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