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Tag Archives: 22×20

29Mar 2021

Teen Civic Engagement Committee Call for Volunteers – APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 23

by admin

In 2019, the 22×20 Taskforce was established as YALSA’s in-kind contribution to the work of the 22×20 campaign. This TF remained active for two years and went through many changes as they faced challenges, including the pandemic. At Midwinter 2021, the TF submitted a recommendation to create a committee that focuses on teen civic engagement that was approved by YALSA’s Board of Directors.

YALSA leadership is now seeking volunteers to serve on the Teen Civic Engagement Committee. The committee will create resources, training, and events that support members in centering engaging diverse teen voices and elevating issues that are important to them.

According to a study done by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, California teens who are engaged in civic life are healthier and are more likely to consider attending college. This study, and others like it, show how vital the work of this committee will be. If you are currently a member of YALSA, and creating resources to support our members in this work sounds fun, then I encourage you to apply. This promises to be an exciting opportunity! Volunteer Here.

For additional information please visit the committee’s webpage. Please feel free to email me at mcbride.melissa@gmail.com with any questions about this committee. Applications are due April 23rd.

Melissa McBride is currently an elementary school librarian in Long Island, NY. She is a member of the YALSA Board of Directors.

30Jul 2020

Celebrate National Voter Registration Day Sept 22

by Kate Mcnair

Started in 2012, National Voter Registration Day is celebrated every fourth Tuesday of September as an effort to spread awareness about voter registration opportunities and reach voters who might not otherwise register. This year, your Library can amplify and join in the efforts to help teens register to vote in upcoming elections. Here are four ways you can join in.

  1. Become a partner: Sign up to be National Voter Registration Day partner sites. ALA recently hosted a webinar on how  you can participate, you can watch the recording here.
  2. Find a partner in your area: You might already have a local organization like League of Women Voters that is a partner already, looking for a home for their event.
  3. See what’s already planned in your area: You can find out what events are already registered in your area on this handy map.
  4. Use their helpful resources: National Voter Registration Day partners with NonProfit VOTE to provide valuable information about voting rules, deadlines, and ID laws for each state. If you have teens wondering about voting for the first time, what ID they will need to take to the poll, how to register if they are homeless or housing insecure, this is a great resource.

ALA has a host of other resources around voter engagement and registration you might find useful. Especially the Voting & Elections Toolkit (by state) organized by the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT).

05Mar 2020

Pizza and Politics

by Kate Mcnair

pizza and politics

As part of YALSA’s partnership with the 22×20 Campaign, an effort to increase youth engagement and participation in the next national election, the 22×20 Taskforce is interviewing library staff working providing new and exciting civic engagement programs for teens. Taskforce member, Kate McNair interviewed Laura Panter and Cara Perry from the Sachem Library in New York about their program Pizza and Politics.

For readers who aren’t familiar, can you describe the program?

We reach out to local official’s offices to invite a politician to speak with teens about what they do, how politics impact their lives, and how teens can get involved over a pizza dinner. Pizza & Politics is not a new concept; there have been events for all ages since 2008. Our focus is on connecting teens with community leaders, but it can be adapted for other age groups.

You both wrote an amazing article on the mechanics of Pizza and Politics for SLJ, for those who might want to replicate the program in their library. In the article you set out your goals: 

“Our goals for the program are to help teens gain a general understanding of how politics work, show them how this impacts them and their community, and give young people ideas on how they can get involved. We really want to empower teens and make them aware that their voice can make a difference. We also see this program as an opportunity to be an “ice breaker” between teenagers and local politicians with the hope that meeting face-to-face will give the teens confidence to reach out in the future with questions, problems, ideas, or as volunteers.”

Is there a moment or memory from a Pizza and Politics event that really illustrates how you were achieving these goals?

It can take a little time for the teens to warm up, but once they feel comfortable and have that ‘aha’ moment where they ask a question, that is a great feeling. We have had teens ask extensive (unprompted) questions about school safety, gun control, environmental concerns, abortion, and other difficult topics. There have even been teens who stayed around to talk to our guest after the program. That interaction makes us feel like we are doing something important for the youth in our community.

What has most surprised you about Pizza and Politics?

I think ‘delighted’ is a better word than ‘surprised’. We know that teens are aware of and concerned about what is going on in the world around them, but we don’t always get to see them express their feelings or know what they are thinking. It’s wonderful to watch them show their interest and passion about social topics through the questions that they ask. It’s also fantastic to see the politicians directly engaged with the teens; they don’t get that opportunity often and they have expressed gratefulness for these events. When you see the ‘wall’ come down between the teens and our guests as they get real with each other that is an amazing moment.

Speaking of politicians, how do you decide who to invite and are there any tips you can share to secure a yes from elected officials? Is there a trick to when you send the ask? Do you send the invitation or does it come from your director?

There aren’t any strict guidelines, but we like to ask politicians that represent our district in some capacity so that they can speak about topics and issues that are relevant to our communities. We are open to anyone from the local to the federal level. We do prefer to make contact in-person first; we have met politicians at Sachem Public Library events and other public events. If it is appropriate, we will bring up the program and give a quick background to gauge interest and then follow up with their office. The invite comes from us, although we will take recommendations from any staff member in the library. There really isn’t a trick to timing the call other than giving them plenty of time to plan ahead and being open to what will work with their schedule.  For example, making the ask close to election season would not be an ideal time to secure an event.

What was the one lesson you learned from hosting Pizza and Politics over the years? Any rookie mistakes someone else can avoid when following in your footsteps?

Have the pizza delivered and make sure you have extra staff on hand to help with signing teens in, distributing the food, clean up, and handing out certificates. You want to be able to focus on your guest and making sure the event is running smoothly.  In addition, always have a list of prompt questions on hand just in case you get a group of teens who are shy in asking the first question.

What kind of impact has Pizza and Politics had on the teens who attend? Can you see any impact on the politicians who participate?

This program for the teens and the politicians has had an overwhelmingly positive impact. It is exciting and rewarding to have teens engaging in discussions with politicians. Politicians have told us they enjoy the opportunity to meet and speak with this age group in a casual setting.  It also gives our guests time to talk about volunteer opportunities available to teens and ideas on how teens can get involved in their community by attending different community events throughout the year that are offered by politicians’ offices.  Intern programs at the county and state level for older teens can also offer great experiences that can be put on college and job applications

Where is Pizza and Politics headed in 2020? Are you planning any other civic engagement programming for teens?

We plan to continue to offer more Pizza and Politics programs in 2020 although we do not have set dates as we go to print with this interview.  We are also in talks to partner with official’s offices on other learning opportunities being offered by our local public officials.  As we plan these new initiatives to bring more civic engagement opportunities to the teen audience, it shows us we are continuing to meet our goals of getting teens involved in their community.

04Mar 2020

First-time Caucus and Primary Voters

by Kate Mcnair

The Iowa Caucus on March 3 set the stage for young voters to make their voices heard. Twenty-four percent of caucus goers were ages 17-29 (up from just 18% in 2016). (If you want to read more interesting statistics about the youth vote in the Iowa Caucus and what it might mean for youth engagement in the election overall, I strongly suggest CIRCLE’s analysis of the exit polls.)

As more states prepare for caucuses and primaries, GODORT (ALA’s Government Documents Round Table) has put together an impressive list of resources. You’ll find information on:

  • How to get registered (deadlines, requirements and more)
  • Voter rights
  • Spanish language resources
  • What will be on the ballot
  • Lesson and classroom plans about elections

As CIRCLE points out in their analysis of exit poll data from Iowa, caucuses and primaries are a measurement of the most engaged voters. If Iowa marks a trend, then youth voting could be increased in the national election in November (perhaps topping the 39% of eligible voters 17-29 who turned out to polls in 2016).

Resources like the one from GODORT and statistics from organizations like CIRCLE can help YALSA members prepare the teens we serve to participate and vote (if they are eligible) in the next election.

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