YOUTH VOICES
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Washington University. Prior to that, Draisen graduated high school in 2021 disappointed in what he had accomplished. He began to de - velop the idea to start an organization that could overcome the bar - riers to power that all young people face. Following a year of laying the groundwork, the organization successfully launched this spring 2023, growing to over a dozen team members working towards a shared mission of increased youth involvement in politics. You can follow along with their work or get involved @dem.at.home on In - stagram. Next Steps: Ramping Up Local Engagement While Democracy at Home is made up primarily of GW students right now, the legislation will always be written by students native to the District of Columbia. Since much of the team is relatively new to Washington, they are taking steps to learn more about the District. The team will become better informed through their canvassing and outreach efforts, as well as through the Youth Power Coalition build-out process. Dem@Home is also seeking input from D.C. high school students specifically and invites them to join the Youth Power Coalition when it convenes. Democracy at Home drafted a comprehensive policy platform on education and created guiding values for issues that matter most to the young people of the District, touching on topics from environ - mental justice to fair healthcare. These policies are held up by values that nobody should go without three meals a day, and climate change should be a focus of public school curriculums. Nevertheless, the platform is a “living document” best informed by community members. Over the course of the next several months, the team will be ramping up canvassing efforts, connecting with people anywhere from online to Metro stops to right at their doors, to ensure this platform includes everyone’s voices. Democracy at Home is employing proven tactics to help young peo - ple create meaningful change, combining traditional political cam- paign strategies with grassroots activism. This combination seeks to harness the power of collectivism in order to advocate for policies that benefit young people. Drawing on his time organizing as a student in Boston, Draisen stressed the importance of “relational organizing,” especially in lo - cal political activism given the “lived experience” so many people in the city share. Draisen hopes to bring this energy into Democracy at Home when they start meeting in-person this fall. In a region where so much of the focus is placed on our federal gov - ernment, these young people believe that opportunities for impact- ing local policies are too often overlooked. What Democracy at Home seeks to accomplish is a bold mission, and it’s that trailblazing spirit that guides the organization towards its goal of producing and passing legislation. Merely creating the legislation will certainly be rewarding for youth. However, Draisen is even more excited for what comes af - ter the legislation is drafted: An all-out blitz of community members taking part in direct action including rallies, dropping banners across the city, and lobbying the city council. The team is dedicated to the work and is full of ideas, growing from a small team to establishing several partnerships with nonprofits in a matter of months. They hope to continue that growth, bringing more young people and allies into the fold. Call to Action: Scan to Join Democracy at Home is currently expanding their actions, press, and policy teams. Roles are varied, but may include planning ac - tions, giving interviews, and writing legislation. If you are interested in helping young people across the city gain political power, scan the continued on page 82
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PATHWAYS—Fall 23—75
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