| rt of ongoing efforts to motivate young people to | | | | important to them.” |
| engage in the political process, the League of Young | | | | Last month Black Youth Vote! hosted a |
| Voters Education Fund (LYVEF) recently teamed up | | | | comprehensive training in Washington, DC to prepare |
| with the National Coalition on Black Civic | | | | state BYV! coordinators to go into their community |
| Participation’s (NCBCP) Black Youth Vote! | | | | and galvanize young voters. Nearly 80 youth |
| (BYV!) for an innovative civic participation training at | | | | organizers from across the country engaged in |
| North High School in Des Moines, IA. The youth later | | | | interactive workshops and panel discussions to train |
| participated in the Black and Brown Forum Presidential | | | | them on voter registration, mobilizing young voters, |
| Debate. | | | | voter protection, and educating the youth on issues |
| Organizers underscored the importance of voting in | | | | impacting their demographic. |
| the Jan. 3, 2008 primary even though people of color | | | | “There are a number of issues important to |
| make up less than six percent of the Iowa population. | | | | Black youth including the unprecedented levels of |
| “We are working diligently to educate young | | | | African American incarceration, high school expulsion |
| people on the role the primaries play in the political | | | | rates, and their economic future,” said Jordan |
| process,” said Rob “Biko” Baker, | | | | Thierry, BYV! national coordinator. “Black Youth |
| LYVEF organizing director. “We used | | | | Vote! connects the dots between voting and resolving |
| edutainment - spoken word and writing exercises - to | | | | issues effecting their everyday life.” |
| tie the struggles faced by young adults to the power | | | | “It’s a new day in America. Black youth |
| of the vote.” | | | | under 35 represent nearly 50 percent of the Black |
| “Young people must learn the entire process. | | | | American electorate,” says Campbell. |
| From getting youth-oriented issues on the table during | | | | “Black youth have the power to impact the |
| the primaries, to holding elected officials accountable | | | | serious problems confronting the Black community. |
| once they’re in office,” adds Melanie L. | | | | Their movement was energized with the historic |
| Campbell, executive director and CEO of the NCBCP. | | | | participation of young voters in the 2004 election, |
| “This is one of many trainings we are hosting | | | | followed by the massive demonstration in Jena. Black |
| across the country to educate young people on the | | | | Youth Vote! is helping to channel that movement |
| importance of voting and teaching them how to | | | | energy into the 2008 election cycle,” she adds. |
| mobilize their friends and family around issues | | | | |