Youth Voice Plus Youth Vote | Wendy Lesko | TEDxYouth@Columbia

kids should be seen and not heard that

kids should be seen and not heard that attitude is so as a young people are

attitude is so as a young people are

attitude is so as a young people are finally being viewed by adults as we

finally being viewed by adults as we

finally being viewed by adults as we need their youth voice we want their

need their youth voice we want their

need their youth voice we want their ideas they have perspectives about the

ideas they have perspectives about the

ideas they have perspectives about the future that we don’t assess as older

future that we don’t assess as older

future that we don’t assess as older people so Youth voice is the new mindset

people so Youth voice is the new mindset

people so Youth voice is the new mindset and now you have mayor’s who will create

and now you have mayor’s who will create

and now you have mayor’s who will create youth advisory councils to get input

youth advisory councils to get input

youth advisory councils to get input from young people on how we might

from young people on how we might

from young people on how we might improve the mass transit system or what

improve the mass transit system or what

improve the mass transit system or what are we doing with relations with police

are we doing with relations with police

are we doing with relations with police or the summer jobs program we have

or the summer jobs program we have

or the summer jobs program we have school boards who will hold students

school boards who will hold students

school boards who will hold students forums to try to get more input not just

forums to try to get more input not just

forums to try to get more input not just from the best and the brightest students

from the best and the brightest students

from the best and the brightest students but what are students struggling with in

but what are students struggling with in

but what are students struggling with in their schools restorative justice all

their schools restorative justice all

their schools restorative justice all these other issues that are concerning

these other issues that are concerning

these other issues that are concerning young people but rarely are they invited

young people but rarely are they invited

young people but rarely are they invited into that arena not enough so there is a

into that arena not enough so there is a

into that arena not enough so there is a movement afoot to try to generate more

movement afoot to try to generate more

movement afoot to try to generate more of these ideas and really get action on

of these ideas and really get action on

of these ideas and really get action on them but the problem is youth voice

them but the problem is youth voice

them but the problem is youth voice fails usually to generate problems that

fails usually to generate problems that

fails usually to generate problems that move into action we have a problem of

move into action we have a problem of

move into action we have a problem of young people who may start up a proposal

young people who may start up a proposal

young people who may start up a proposal in their junior year of high school and

in their junior year of high school and

in their junior year of high school and just you know they move on they get busy

just you know they move on they get busy

just you know they move on they get busy whatever many ideas are unrealistic or

whatever many ideas are unrealistic or

whatever many ideas are unrealistic or unworkable right but that’s true

unworkable right but that’s true

unworkable right but that’s true any invention to keep business whatever

any invention to keep business whatever

any invention to keep business whatever the real problem though is a lot of

the real problem though is a lot of

the real problem though is a lot of decision makers school board members

decision makers school board members

decision makers school board members City Council members etc pay attention

City Council members etc pay attention

City Council members etc pay attention because they want to hear the ideas from

because they want to hear the ideas from

because they want to hear the ideas from young people but they tend not to pay as

young people but they tend not to pay as

young people but they tend not to pay as much attention to you because of your

much attention to you because of your

much attention to you because of your age why well one reason is politicians

age why well one reason is politicians

age why well one reason is politicians need to get elected so they pay more

need to get elected so they pay more

need to get elected so they pay more attention to people who turn out to vote

attention to people who turn out to vote

attention to people who turn out to vote who are they they tend to be old people

who are they they tend to be old people

who are they they tend to be old people senior citizens older voters cuz they

senior citizens older voters cuz they

senior citizens older voters cuz they are reliably gonna come out they take

are reliably gonna come out they take

are reliably gonna come out they take pay a lot of attention of people who

pay a lot of attention of people who

pay a lot of attention of people who give the money for their campaigns they

give the money for their campaigns they

give the money for their campaigns they don’t pay attention to 18 to 25 year

don’t pay attention to 18 to 25 year

don’t pay attention to 18 to 25 year olds why because the majority of these

olds why because the majority of these

olds why because the majority of these young voters do not turn out to vote so

young voters do not turn out to vote so

young voters do not turn out to vote so it’s like why bother because they’re not

it’s like why bother because they’re not

it’s like why bother because they’re not gonna pay attention to me etc etc and

gonna pay attention to me etc etc and

gonna pay attention to me etc etc and then if you’re under 18 you’re not

then if you’re under 18 you’re not

then if you’re under 18 you’re not eligible to vote so we’ll wait until you

eligible to vote so we’ll wait until you

eligible to vote so we’ll wait until you grow up and get old and all of that

grow up and get old and all of that

grow up and get old and all of that stuff there is a move to move from youth

stuff there is a move to move from youth

stuff there is a move to move from youth voice to youth vote because youth voice

voice to youth vote because youth voice

voice to youth vote because youth voice too often falls on deaf ears

too often falls on deaf ears

too often falls on deaf ears so the movement that is happening by

so the movement that is happening by

so the movement that is happening by students around the country is being

students around the country is being

students around the country is being endorsed by some bigwigs like there’s

endorsed by some bigwigs like there’s

endorsed by some bigwigs like there’s dr. Lawrence Steinberg he is the leading

dr. Lawrence Steinberg he is the leading

dr. Lawrence Steinberg he is the leading expert on the teenage brain and he says

expert on the teenage brain and he says

expert on the teenage brain and he says you know we know some young people get

you know we know some young people get

you know we know some young people get involved with you know drinking and

involved with you know drinking and

involved with you know drinking and driving in reckless behaviour and all

driving in reckless behaviour and all

driving in reckless behaviour and all that he says this is tied to hot

that he says this is tied to hot

that he says this is tied to hot cognition but that voting is not an

cognition but that voting is not an

cognition but that voting is not an impulsive act in fact a 16 year old he

impulsive act in fact a 16 year old he

impulsive act in fact a 16 year old he says possesses enough cold cognition to

says possesses enough cold cognition to

says possesses enough cold cognition to gather and analyze information as well

gather and analyze information as well

gather and analyze information as well as any adults and he says it is time we

as any adults and he says it is time we

as any adults and he says it is time we know so much more about the brain the

know so much more about the brain the

know so much more about the brain the adolescent brain it is time to lower the

adolescent brain it is time to lower the

adolescent brain it is time to lower the vote it’s been

vote it’s been

vote it’s been since 1971 so there are some lessons

since 1971 so there are some lessons

since 1971 so there are some lessons from around the world in Austria for the

from around the world in Austria for the

from around the world in Austria for the last ten years 16 and 17-year olds have

last ten years 16 and 17-year olds have

last ten years 16 and 17-year olds have voted what’s happened they are turning

voted what’s happened they are turning

voted what’s happened they are turning out at much higher levels than the 18 to

out at much higher levels than the 18 to

out at much higher levels than the 18 to 25 year olds in Scotland they recently

25 year olds in Scotland they recently

25 year olds in Scotland they recently had a referendum on whether or not to

had a referendum on whether or not to

had a referendum on whether or not to separate from the UK and become

separate from the UK and become

separate from the UK and become independent

independent

independent they allowed 16 and 17-year olds to vote

they allowed 16 and 17-year olds to vote

they allowed 16 and 17-year olds to vote once again 75% of 16 and 17 year olds

once again 75% of 16 and 17 year olds

once again 75% of 16 and 17 year olds turned out to vote much higher than the

turned out to vote much higher than the

turned out to vote much higher than the next age group and they voted

next age group and they voted

next age group and they voted independently from their parents often

independently from their parents often

independently from their parents often the idea that they’re going to be

the idea that they’re going to be

the idea that they’re going to be influenced by their parents it turns out

influenced by their parents it turns out

influenced by their parents it turns out 18 is a lousy age to begin to vote it is

18 is a lousy age to begin to vote it is

18 is a lousy age to begin to vote it is the year of intense transition and if

the year of intense transition and if

the year of intense transition and if you’ve just moved if it’s a boring

you’ve just moved if it’s a boring

you’ve just moved if it’s a boring election if there are no candidates that

election if there are no candidates that

election if there are no candidates that are interesting 18 year-olds may not

are interesting 18 year-olds may not

are interesting 18 year-olds may not vote until their mid 20s or may not get

vote until their mid 20s or may not get

vote until their mid 20s or may not get in the habit and so it’s 16 that is the

in the habit and so it’s 16 that is the

in the habit and so it’s 16 that is the time to start that habit so in only in

time to start that habit so in only in

time to start that habit so in only in two cities in the United States in

two cities in the United States in

two cities in the United States in Maryland have they allowed young people

Maryland have they allowed young people

Maryland have they allowed young people 16 and 17-year olds to vote just in

16 and 17-year olds to vote just in

16 and 17-year olds to vote just in local municipal elections this is where

local municipal elections this is where

local municipal elections this is where budget decisions get made about rec

budget decisions get made about rec

budget decisions get made about rec centers and swimming pools and all those

centers and swimming pools and all those

centers and swimming pools and all those issues that affect young people directly

issues that affect young people directly

issues that affect young people directly so the trend is happening and in

so the trend is happening and in

so the trend is happening and in Berkeley California some students said

Berkeley California some students said

Berkeley California some students said you know we love our student

you know we love our student

you know we love our student representatives who are on the school

representatives who are on the school

representatives who are on the school board we think that’s great but we

board we think that’s great but we

board we think that’s great but we really want to to be able to vote for

really want to to be able to vote for

really want to to be able to vote for every board member as students because

every board member as students because

every board member as students because as Amanda Ripley says she’s the author

as Amanda Ripley says she’s the author

as Amanda Ripley says she’s the author of the brightest kids in the world

of the brightest kids in the world

of the brightest kids in the world she says students are the most valuable

she says students are the most valuable

she says students are the most valuable but the least consulted education policy

but the least consulted education policy

but the least consulted education policy experts in America and the school board

experts in America and the school board

experts in America and the school board in Berkeley California said you know

in Berkeley California said you know

in Berkeley California said you know we really feel it’s okay if they vote us

we really feel it’s okay if they vote us

we really feel it’s okay if they vote us in an Internet in or out of office

in an Internet in or out of office

in an Internet in or out of office we need more student input and with that

we need more student input and with that

we need more student input and with that endorsement seven out of ten voters in

endorsement seven out of ten voters in

endorsement seven out of ten voters in Berkeley said yes and now it is the law

Berkeley said yes and now it is the law

Berkeley said yes and now it is the law one of the few school boards in the

one of the few school boards in the

one of the few school boards in the country where students themselves the

country where students themselves the

country where students themselves the experts behind the desk who have all

experts behind the desk who have all

experts behind the desk who have all kinds of different ideas and

kinds of different ideas and

kinds of different ideas and perspectives are they’re being able to

perspectives are they’re being able to

perspectives are they’re being able to vote in San Francisco another effort has

vote in San Francisco another effort has

vote in San Francisco another effort has been going on now they have tried three

been going on now they have tried three

been going on now they have tried three times to lower the vote to 16 not only

times to lower the vote to 16 not only

times to lower the vote to 16 not only for school board members but also for

for school board members but also for

for school board members but also for mayor for the Board of Supervisors and

mayor for the Board of Supervisors and

mayor for the Board of Supervisors and other key city officials and they are

other key city officials and they are

other key city officials and they are not giving up they were so well

not giving up they were so well

not giving up they were so well organized this last attempt where they

organized this last attempt where they

organized this last attempt where they had a marathon three-hour hearing a

had a marathon three-hour hearing a

had a marathon three-hour hearing a hundred students testified and one

hundred students testified and one

hundred students testified and one student said I I really feel if I can

student said I I really feel if I can

student said I I really feel if I can vote I’m gonna get my parents to vote

vote I’m gonna get my parents to vote

vote I’m gonna get my parents to vote there’s gonna be a trickle up and

there’s gonna be a trickle up and

there’s gonna be a trickle up and another student said my father’s

another student said my father’s

another student said my father’s incarcerated and he can’t vote and I

incarcerated and he can’t vote and I

incarcerated and he can’t vote and I feel I really need to do what is best

feel I really need to do what is best

feel I really need to do what is best for my country for my family and I need

for my country for my family and I need

for my country for my family and I need to be able to vote they knew that they

to be able to vote they knew that they

to be able to vote they knew that they didn’t have the public support so they

didn’t have the public support so they

didn’t have the public support so they held teach-ins students organize debates

held teach-ins students organize debates

held teach-ins students organize debates there are plenty of pros and cons on

there are plenty of pros and cons on

there are plenty of pros and cons on this issue but a lot of it was let’s get

this issue but a lot of it was let’s get

this issue but a lot of it was let’s get youth civic engagement going at an

youth civic engagement going at an

youth civic engagement going at an earlier age they created a crowdfunding

earlier age they created a crowdfunding

earlier age they created a crowdfunding campaign so that they could raise money

campaign so that they could raise money

campaign so that they could raise money to pay stipends to high school students

to pay stipends to high school students

to pay stipends to high school students to do door-knocking and to organize

to do door-knocking and to organize

to do door-knocking and to organize phone banking and canvassing well on

phone banking and canvassing well on

phone banking and canvassing well on Election Day November 8 2016 a quarter

Election Day November 8 2016 a quarter

Election Day November 8 2016 a quarter of a million votes cast it lost by 11

of a million votes cast it lost by 11

of a million votes cast it lost by 11 thousand votes

thousand votes

thousand votes it got 48% and it needed 50% and guess

it got 48% and it needed 50% and guess

it got 48% and it needed 50% and guess what

what

what these young activists are trying again

these young activists are trying again

these young activists are trying again for the year 2020 this is all of

for the year 2020 this is all of

for the year 2020 this is all of persistence and these young people and

persistence and these young people and

persistence and these young people and activists who are working on other

activists who are working on other

activists who are working on other issues they are using their research

issues they are using their research

issues they are using their research skills all of their advocacy and

skills all of their advocacy and

skills all of their advocacy and organizing skills and they’re doing

organizing skills and they’re doing

organizing skills and they’re doing real-world stuff so when we talk about

real-world stuff so when we talk about

real-world stuff so when we talk about apathy often it feels to mock leadership

apathy often it feels to mock leadership

apathy often it feels to mock leadership this is real-world stuff and when young

this is real-world stuff and when young

this is real-world stuff and when young people get defeated or ignored the best

people get defeated or ignored the best

people get defeated or ignored the best time is when they come back and they

time is when they come back and they

time is when they come back and they don’t give up and in the case of vote 16

don’t give up and in the case of vote 16

don’t give up and in the case of vote 16 this is these are efforts happening in

this is these are efforts happening in

this is these are efforts happening in small cities in new New Jersey to New

small cities in new New Jersey to New

small cities in new New Jersey to New Mexico and so one of the exciting things

Mexico and so one of the exciting things

Mexico and so one of the exciting things is letting younger people step up to the

is letting younger people step up to the

is letting younger people step up to the mantle and be treated seriously so that

mantle and be treated seriously so that

mantle and be treated seriously so that they are seen and heard and listened to

they are seen and heard and listened to

they are seen and heard and listened to and respected there is no minimum age

and respected there is no minimum age

and respected there is no minimum age for leadership and if you want to join

for leadership and if you want to join

for leadership and if you want to join this movement to lower the vote or if

this movement to lower the vote or if

this movement to lower the vote or if you want to put your passion into action

you want to put your passion into action

you want to put your passion into action for some other cause you care deeply

for some other cause you care deeply

for some other cause you care deeply about remember this if you think you’re

about remember this if you think you’re

about remember this if you think you’re too small to make a difference you’ve

too small to make a difference you’ve

too small to make a difference you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito thank

never been in bed with a mosquito thank

never been in bed with a mosquito thank you