Generation Citizen opens with a call to reimagine democracy by recognizing youth voice and civic imagination as essential civic infrastructure and makes the case for why expanding youth access to civic opportunities is essential to democracy’s next 250 years. The essays that follow feature personal reflections from young people on the experiences that shaped their civic identities—from advocating for change in their schools to engaging local leaders and organizing in their communities.

Generation Citizen: When did you first begin to see yourself as someone who could influence change in your community?

Sumaiya Alam: My seventh-grade class had been working on a project to improve the food provided by the Department of Education and get halal food into our school. We worked for almost half the school year in our social studies class. I was chosen along with two other classmates to present the project at the New York City Bar Association for Civics Day. There, I saw how attentively community advisors listened and took part in our conversations that we had regarding our school system, which felt incredibly empowering. This whole experience taught me that I can create systemic change when I already have so much support from civic educators and organizations like Generation Citizen. I no longer just talk about the issues in my community, I actually do something about them.

Generation Citizen: How did your experience with Generation Citizen shape your understanding of civic engagement?

Sumaiya Alam: There are so many people my age that have such great ideas, but everyone requires a little courage to actually do anything with them, and that’s what Generation Citizen truly did for me. It sparked in me a more profound way of thinking about society and my role in it. I learned that the government is built from its people and without us engaging in democracy and partaking civically, impact may not be possible.

Read the full article about youth civic engagement by Sumaiya Alam at Nonprofit Quarterly.