Guest blogger Maya Enista [2] is Chief Executive Officer of Mobilize.org [3], an all-partisan network dedicated to educating, empowering and energizing young people to increase civic engagement and political participation.
The current economic state for young Americans, and all Americans, is a frightening one. It tells the story of growing national debt; increasing personal debt; many instances of irresponsible spending and lending practices on college campuses and in low-income communities; inadequate health care coverage; and rapidly disappearing safety nets for our generation. These factors, coupled with the fact that we are living in a time of innovation and growth in our country, mandates that we find sustainable and creative ways to solve the problems of our society and ensure that in defining these solutions – we are not bankrupting our futures.
There are many approaches with which one might begin to attack the problems laid out above, but as the Case Foundation [4] believes, most would fail without ensuring that citizens are at the center of solving their own problems. It is this belief, and the support of the Case Foundation, that has enabled us to create the Democracy 2.0 process, where members of the millennial generation work collaboratively to build the democracy that we will inherit.
Given the severity of this national crisis paired with the innovation, collaboration and technological savvy of the millennial generation – it’s imperative that we take immediate and collaborative action to put our economic future on a sustainable and improving path. Mobilize.org has heard this clear call for action from our membership. To respond to the growing concern among all generations, Mobilize.org and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation are hosting a millennial convening to explore the barriers preventing our generation from achieving financial health. It will take place November 18th – 20th in and it will be titled, Exploring the Millennial Generation’s ROI where we will bring together 150 millennials for discussion, debate and action on this important question.
As loyal Social Citizens readers know, the theory of change of Mobilize.org, entitled Democracy 2.0, prescribes that it’s not enough for millennials to identify their most pressing individual issues, but that the millenials must take the lead and work collaboratively to propose solutions to these issues and then obtain the resources needed to implement and institutionalize those solutions. To that end, Mobilize.org anticipates that it will award grants up to $25,000 for selected projects and proposals that rise to the top during our time together, through the use of interactive keypad voting technology. Additionally, funded ideas will become 12-month projects of Mobilize.org, whose partner network and funders are committed to further building their success. Mobilize.org is a millennial built, millennial led organization that understands that the economic well-being of this generation is the key to our success, both today and tomorrow. However, we also know that we cannot do it alone and we see the value in working in true intergenerational partnerships to solve society’s most pressing problems.
To apply to attend the Summit (travel + accommodations are covered by Mobilize.org) or for more information, please visit www.mobilize.org [5]. Our application window is open for just eight more days, and we encourage you to share this announcement with your network of friends and colleagues. Please join us in Chicago for this important conversation, and more importantly – as we seed the action steps that will highlight the leadership, perseverance, innovation and creativity of the Millennial generation.
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