Giving Compass' Take:

• Youth United for Action (YU4A) is a new online space via Facebook that connects youth activists and encourages collective impact solutions to problems in their communities.

• How will the emergence of more tech and social media help advance community organizing?

• Read about why it is time to invest in youth power.

November 8th, 2016. I was 17 years old. Like all other Americans, I had thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears regarding the election.

Throughout the election, with the direction and assistance of my civics and social studies teachers, I volunteered on campaigns, ran voter registration drives, canvassed from house to house talking to voters and helped organize debates between candidates running in my district to compensate for the fact that I could not vote on election day.

My teachers prioritized student civic engagement and constantly connected me with organizations and campaigns. With their help, I found a way to make my voice heard and have an impact. Though rewarding, this took extensive time and a 1:1 connection that not every student has the privilege or access to.

This experience is not unique to just me. Students across the U.S. feel voiceless, isolated and helpless as it is ingrained in us that our opinions don’t hold enough merit to impact politics or policy until we reach the, arbitrary, age of 18.

Back in 2016, I desperately needed a space where my voice mattered and where I could connect with others who experienced this same mystique, yet would not let their age prevent them from leading, innovating and advocating. This is why, today, I am excited to share the launch of a new online space for young changemakers: Youth United for Action (YU4A).

YU4A is a Facebook group comprised of students, young people and youth activists that are interested in creating solutions to the problems and challenges persisting in their communities. From free speech in schools to school safety to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, YU4A is a place for students to come together because we believe that a connected community, regardless of our identities, interests and perspectives, will advance our individual and collective impact.

Read the full article about youth online activism by Megan Simmons at Education Dive