Youth and political activism have always paradoxically gone hand in hand. It is often that young people feel disenfranchised . This is something that the Youth Progressive Policy Group (YPPG) of New York and New Jersey are fighting to fix.

YPPG’s ambassador from LaGuardia High School, Isabel Janovsky ’19, said in an interview that the YPPG is “a group of students from New York and New Jersey looking to engage in civics and the democratic process.” Their mission is to help the youth of today have a voice in such politically tumultuous times. “YPPG inspires individuals to take action and take control of their lives and their futures in their districts.”

The relevance of the YPPG today is not lost, given that age between voter demographics is quickly becoming a relevant statistic. In the EU brexit referendum in 2016, the youngest groups of voters, age 18 to 24, voted dramatically in favor of remaining in the EU, while voters over the age of 50 typically voted for leaving the European Union.

The vigor of youth is a powerful tool in the political landscape. “I remember last year, after the presidential election, many students were talking about protesting. Over a year later and that passion has not gone away,” said Janovsky. It is obvious that the students of the YPPG are striking while the iron is hot, and their strikes are getting louder and louder.

The relevance of the YPPG today is not lost, given that age between voter demographics is quickly becoming a relevant statistic.

The group is focused on multiple goals, including expanding outwards in the long-term. Janovsky explained, “By gaining influence in New York City, the YPPG will be able to work with other groups to give young people the rights they deserve,” In the short term, their next big goal is the passage of the Young Voter Act, a bill currently in the state senate that would lower the New York voting age to 17, which would ensure that all teenagers are educated in how to participate in their own democracy. To this end, the YPPG has set about reaching as many students to get them to contact the state legislators.

At the heart of the YPPG is the philosophy that change begins with us, and unfortunately we don’t have much choice. To get in contact or learn more about the YPPG, you can find their website at YPPG.org, their twitter at @YPPGofficial, or email them at [email protected]