“Is Anyone Listening?”
Generation “Why” Sounds Off
On Government, Civics, Politics, and Public Service

Issue Overview: Hear Today, Bonds Tomorrow

Youth civic engagement in this nation has long been a story of peaks and valleys, of shouts and whispers. Rewind to the Sixties: Young people all across America answered President Kennedy’s call to serve their country. They joined the Peace Corps, volunteered in their communities, and claimed a substantial role in the political process. From leading lunch-counter sit-ins that struck at segregation to organizing mass protests against the Vietnam War, young people consistently expressed their opinions on important issues. And they voted in large numbers, too!

Fast forward to the Nineties: Surveys indicate that young people’s interest in politics and their overall trust in government had faded significantly. A once loud voice turned remarkably quiet.

Today, a much different situation is emerging. As a direct result of the terrorist attacks on September 11 and the subsequent U.S.-led war on terrorism, young people are now considerably more positive about voting and politics, according to Short-Term Impacts, Long-Term Opportunities, a national survey of 1,500 young adults between the ages of 15 and 25. Sponsored by the Council for Excellence in Government’s Partnership for Trust in Government and Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and by the Center for Information and Research in Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), this study also indicates that young people’s trust in government has recently skyrocketed.

But there is a caveat: While young people feel better about the political process, recent events have not yet galvanized how they behave. Compared to survey results as recent as 1998, voter registration, volunteering, and civic and political engagement have actually decreased among young people.

This irony poses a major challenge: How can we turn good vibes into action? Perhaps the best way to start exploring this question is to simply listen carefully to civic-minded young people from Generation “Why.”

That’s exactly the idea behind the Partnership for Trust in Government’s Youth Council. Selected for their leadership capabilities, this group of dynamic young people—formed in 2001—meets twice yearly to provide fresh perspectives on youth civic engagement. They’ve already contributed their time and talent to several successful initiatives, including the Take your Kids to Vote/New Jersey campaign and the Declaration Generation project.

The most recent Youth Council summit took place on January 25 and 26, 2002, at the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Twelve members participated in a focus group and interacted with special guests—highly talented young people who currently hold prominent positions in the public sector. Throughout, Youth Council members energetically examined the topics of government, civics, politics, and public service.

The following report captures the highlights of what they had to say. In conjunction with the Short-Term Impacts, Long-Term Opportunities survey, the Youth Council meeting revealed several overarching themes that can help politicians, government officials, private- and non-profit sector representatives, journalists, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders learn how to strengthen the bonds of youth civic engagement:

• While they may be a little skeptical about government and politics, many young people care deeply about this country and seem poised to increase their level of civic engagement. But to harness this potential, stakeholders must provide young people with strong leadership and opportunities to exercise their civic muscles.
• There are numerous strategies that can help stakeholders motivate more young people to participate in community and political activities—particularly when it comes to voting.
• Many civic-minded young people are interested in public service, but need stakeholders to furnish more encouragement and direct guidance on how to pursue a career in this field.