Empower Future Voices to Make Intelligent Choices

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Central LA East LA San Fernando Valley City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Research shows that fewer than half of the eligible new 18-year-old voters register to vote. And, the figure is likely higher among under-served foster youth and systems-impacted youth (hereafter referred to youth participants), who are less likely to receive support and encouragement to register to vote. This cohort is further frustrated since they are also likely to lack the knowledge and skills to sort out facts from the flood of by mis/dis/mal information that is part of the voting process. Combine this confusion with the lack of support, and these youth participants feel frustrated and often hopeless. They fear making “the wrong decision.” So they forfeit their opportunity to engage with the process and are not represented in decisions made about their city, county, and state governance.

The Civic Education and Engagement goal is to welcome our youth participants into democracy with the knowledge, tools, and skills they need to effectively use their voices and make a difference.
As a result of attending the Civic Education and Engagement workshop series, which includes "Mis/Dis/Mal: Your 3 Worst Enemies and Your 3 Best Friends" (hereafter referred to as Mis/Dis/Mal Information Workshop), the youth participants will:
know how city, county, state, and national governments work,
know how a bill becomes law,
register to vote and promise to vote and
identify mis/dis/mal information.
As a result of attending the Civic Education and Engagement workshops, youth participants will be able to:
ask a city councilperson relevant questions about important issues,
check the status of state bills,
register another person to vote and promise to vote,
use trusted resources to find the truth as opposed to accepting mis/dis/mal information, and
make a social media post about the dangers of mis/dis/mal information.
Youth participants will meet with a city council person to learn about city government, how to make public comment about an issue, and then appreciate the power of their vote. Field work will include registering someone to vote, teaching a small group of people how to identify mis/dis/mal information and teaching about trusted resources.
Learning theory tells us that if you want to learn something for life, teach someone else.

Learning to identify mis/dis/mal information and knowing how to access trusted resources will prepare these under-served youth participants to make intelligent decisions and informed choices. Knowing how to spot mis/dis/mal information will empower these youth participants to ask thoughtful questions and focus attention on the issues important to them as well as issues important to their communities in general.
As youth participants teach their peers investigative skills in the Mis/Dis/Mal Information Workshop, they will become more invested in their communities. Government at all levels will need to pay attention to the issues important to these constituents.
Voices of these previous under-served youth will become stronger as confidence builds, eventually losing the descriptor "under-served".
Los Angeles County will see an increase in youth voter registration, voting, and civic engagement.