Today’s guest blogger is Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org [1].
I’ve come up with one definition for my generation, the infamous Millennials: we don’t like being defined. We especially don’t like being defined by people who don’t have Facebook accounts, don’t know that RSS feeds are a legitimate way to get your news, have never used Twitter, don’t understand that we can text and listen and jokingly tell us that we must be “itching to go to the bar” after a well-delivered power point presentation at a conference at which I’m the youngest one, by years … so, please stop talking about me.
It’s a simple definition, but also intricate and powerful. Probably also scary for those that study our habits and analyze our trends. Although I’ve enjoyed the attention this election cycle has brought, the Millennials are here to stay. And yes, we’ll vote, and yes, technology is here to stay, and yes, democracy will be ok – better, even.
Along with the 4,641 Make It Your Own [2] proposals (an impressive 27% of which were submitted by individuals under 35 years old to the Case Foundation), Mobilize.org is doing our part. Mobilize.org is an all-partisan youth civic engagement organization dedicated to educating, empowering, and energizing young people to increase our civic engagement and political participation. We work to show young people how public policy impacts our lives, and more importantly – how we can impact public policy.
We are a youth-led, youth-run organization that models both the good and the bad of all you’ve been discussing. We’ve engaged thousands of young people from all side(s) of the aisle(s) in a collaborative, technologically savvy process called Democracy 2.0 [3] – our quest to not just define, but to build the democracy that I (and my millions and millions of Millennial friends) will be inheriting and leading. I should note, though, I can only account for 936 of them, as that is how many Facebook friends I have. :-)
Mobilize.org is part of a huge coalition of organizations, funders, advisors and institutions that recognize that millennials are the experts on the millennial generation. So, learn from me, and I’ll learn from you, but please … stop talking about me, and start doing with me.
Comments
Thank you for articulating this Ms. Enista. I could not agree more. I don’t know how many panels I’ve been on where people are telling ME about MY generation vs. asking me to offer them some insight on what I think. It’s time we started to build the democracy we hope to inherit, so good luck with that Democracy 2.0 thing and count me in!
Another grievance I would add is people trying to age me out of my own generation. I know I’m getting up there in age (just had my 28th bday), but when these “scholars” and “experts” keep telling my friends that they are too old, then I’m too old, soon my little brother and sister will be aged out of our generation.
This is OUR generation and Scott Beale, the eldest of our generation, described us well in the Millennial Manifesto. Let’s start looking more to leaders from within to define us, work WITH us, and be a part of this movement going forward.
Keep on mobilizin’ Maya!
You’re right Maya. The crucial change that Millennials bring to democracy is that we want to and are doing things for ourselves (and for others). We don’t want to be asked for input on policy and then sit back as the experts carry it out, we want to be the ones who do it. We want to identify the problems, find the solutions, and make sure everyone is part of making the solution happen.
Maya, this is such a great response to this article. Our generation is usual in that we are shaped by the world around us and technological developments but unique in how we have adapted our lives, organizing, and networking to fit into a technological world. We are active, involved, intelligent, and motivated to change the world. And we already are.
Maya, your words and actions are so inspirational, and I am so glad to read this. Our generation should be proud to be represented by people like you. The Millenials are indeed here to stay, and we know what we’re doing! Our generation has the power to change and we’re doing our part. Democracy 2.0 is phenomenal and having it become a reality is a dream come true.
Great post Maya, I totally agree.
However, (and sorry, I think I’m just contrary by nature) but I don’t think it is exclusively a definition for our generation. I think it is an issue all young generations have had to deal with. In fact it may be a classic Gen X movie (Breakfast Club) that said it best:
You see us as you want to see us… In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions.
But yes, please, please stop talking about me, and start doing with me.
Stop talking about me, start doing with me… and more importantly, stop telling us we are the “leaders of tomorrow” when so many of us are making real impact NOW.
Agreed! What people older than us don’t understand is that with all the ways we are connected to the world – blogs, social networking sites, email, etc. – we can speak for ourselves so much easier than used to be possible. So just ask! Also, instead of trying to control/manipulate our generation into what already exists, what they should be doing is providing resources and opportunities for us to make OUR goals a reality.
I think that those people who keep bringing down the Millenial generation feel threatened. This adds to what Millenials have to deal with as young professionals. But the silver lining is that there are those who acknowledge the value of having Millenials with all of our Web 2.0 expertise — for example, everyone loves having a bright, young leader like Maya around to tell them how to do things the right way. :)