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Vote DC 16 Coalition
Vote16DC, a coalition of DC youth, adult allies, and local organizations, is working to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in Washington, D.C.
About Vote 16
Vote16DC, a coalition of DC youth, adult allies, and local organizations, is working to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in Washington, D.C. The coalition is supporting the Youth Vote Amendment Act of 2018, a bill that was introduced in City Council in April 2018.
CREATE LIFELONG VOTERS
Extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in DC can go a long way to ensuring that the District's young people become engaged, lifelong voters. Research shows that voting is a habit, and 16 is a better time to establish that habit than 18. Our democracy works best when more people participate, and lowering the voting age is an important step to make sure young people build a habit of engagement that can last a lifetime.
STRENGTHEN CIVIC LEARNING
Students learn best when the material they study in school is relevant to their lives outside the classroom. The DCPS social studies curriculum includes semesters on US and DC government, and there is no better way to make these classes relevant and powerful than by inviting young people into the voting booth.
ENSURE YOUTH VOICES ARE HEARD
Voting is the most reliable way for ordinary citizens to influence the government, and elected officials naturally pay most attention to those who vote. There is no better way to make sure that young people's voices are heard when it comes to local policymaking than by giving them the right to vote.
“If we were able to vote, we would vote for politicians who would actually improve the school system since we the youth know best. We know what works for us and what doesn’t; we would be able to create a better system for all students resulting in a permanent effect, one that doesn’t only last for ourselves, but for our siblings and for future generations of students.”
United Leaders 4 Freedom
A coalition of youth leaders of color, activists and organizations from around the city who have joined forces to make a greater impact ensuring all youth in D.C. have a voice.
About United Leaders 4 Freedom
United Leaders 4 Freedom is a coalition of youth leaders of color, activists and organizations from around the city who have joined forces to make a greater impact ensuring all youth in D.C. have a voice.
We are looking to support 25 young people throughout D.C. to join this coalition and meet once a month to:
1. Learn from each others expertise and experiences;
2. Gain advocacy and organizing skills through a racial and gender equity lens;
3. Develop and organize around a youth led policy agenda to inform and push policy change in D.C. around issues identified by the coalition and their peers.
All young people will receive a small stipend for their participation, support with food and transportation to attend meeting and be peered with an adult mentor to support them in this work. We meet every other Saturday.
We are excited about beginning this journey with you.
DC Girls Coalition
About DC Girls Coalition
Mission
DC Girls Coalition (DCGC) will work to elevate and amplify the voices of young women, girls, femmes, non-conforming and young women/girls of color of trans experience in the District of Columbia. DCGC, comprised of youth-serving and advocacy organizations, will adopt and implement policy recommendations that centers their leadership and addresses their needs.
Vision
DCGC believe that in order to generate solutions that are affirming for all girls, including non-conforming, young women and girls of trans experience, we must see them as they are: multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, and dynamic.
We envision a city in which youth within these groups are at the table identifying solutions that will work for the issues they face every day. The DCGC strives to reduce the criminalization and adultification of girls of color, by uplifting girls as leaders and building a network of organizations dedicated to advocating with youth of color and adopting policies and practices that center around their needs.